still working on digitising and finalising ideas, possibly stretching the eyeball graphic, cracking it like an egg etc
The abhuman, transience and narrative development
This post will focus on exploring the narratives that could be illustrated, and exploring the “abhuman”
The Abhuman
In literary studies of Gothic fiction, abhuman refers to a “Gothic body” or something that is only vestigially human and possibly in the process of becoming something monstrous,[4] such as a vampire[5] or werewolf.[6] Kelly Hurley writes that the “abhuman subject is a not-quite-human subject, characterized by its morphic variability, continually in danger of becoming not-itself, becoming other.”[7]
In the same way this leads me some possible purposes of this (probable) zine based exploration, and some questions to ponder, possibly explored within an experimental narrative:
- ero-guro-nansensu speaks of a rebellion and response to instability, and a sensationalised story based off a high profile murder — in this case, the weird, the strange and the almost perverted are captured in a fantasy world with a common theme of fragmentation. How does this speak to the morphic variability of the human body illustrated? In medical illustration, specifically a quote from The Sick Rose, “the images they (artists) made still speak of transience, the frailty of the flesh, the passing away of all things”…
- Leading to this: In that case are escapes like the worlds created within the ero-guro-nansensu transient? How do they live on. Or is the point of the ‘guro’ the escaping of the body’s trappings?
- Similarly is the point of the ‘guro’ to reflect the changing society upon the body, the only medium that people then seemed to have control over?
- Or a narrative demonstrating the futility of everything? A celebration of deviance.
- Possible narratives include:
- A graphic novel/strip speaking of common rebellions/deviants
- a graphic novel on the ways of societal collapse, reflected on the bodies of the common
- the narrative of disintegration and rebirth
Sketches, Development and Shiny New Books
Progress is made. I got a new book/reference, and found new direction and key words to look up.
Looking into the theme of ero-guro or ero-guro nansensu (erotic grotesque nonsense), a rebellion of grotesque imagery exploring the fragmentation of the body in Japan of the 1930s. I expanded the fragmentation of the society with its instability and purported that the body was an extension of this fragmentation, broken up in reflection of the political and economic turmoil. Looking to the works of Michael Reedy for examples of anatomical fragmentation, and The Sick Rose for examples of renaissance medical illustration, I hope to be able to make progress in this direction and to explore a narrative possibly surrounding the sick, the healed and the resurrected.
Below are selected sketches:
moodboard and idea
Idea III:Ero guro and Japanese Setsuwa
Overview/Abstract
This (experimental) project has to do with a previous work for URECA surrounding mythology as well as previous research in the field of Japanese erotic-grotesque (ero-guro-nansensu) With a special focus on grotesque representations in Japanese tales, this work hopes to shed light on the contexts and reasons behind Setsuwa tales.
Aesthetic Approach
- Illustrative
- Dotwork and linework
- Typewriter
- One color, Black and white
- Watercolor and hard lines (Aubrey Beardsley)
- Ukiyo-e effect
- Fabric Application
Content
- The Grotesque and Disembodied in Setsuwa tales
- Setsuwa Tales: Setsuwa means “spoken story”. As one of the vaguest forms of literature, setsuwa is believed to have been passed down or presented in the form of narrations. Setsuwa are based foremost on oral tradition and existed primarily as folktales or in other non-written forms before being recorded and committed to text. However, some writers question whether all setsuwa tales were originally oral tradition, or only mostly so. Although there are no formal rules regarding what constitutes setsuwa as a genre, stories in the setsuwa style “have in common brevity; an uncomplicated plot unfolded in plain, direct language; character delineation through dialogue and action rather than through description and psychological analysis; and a predilection for amusing, starting, dramatic, or marvelous subject matter.”[attribution needed]
Setsuwa vary quite considerably in topic, but can be divided into two main groups: general and Buddhist. Buddhist setsuwa often contain themes of karmic retribution or miracles, while the content of “general” setsuwa is largely either secular in nature or focused on traditional Japanese religion and spirituality such as Shintoism.
Many setsuwa collections were compiled during the Heian and Kamakura periods (8th-12th centuries, 12th-14th centuries). These collections were often assembled by Buddhist monks, but the authorship of many such works is still unknown or heavily debated.
Keywords/ themes
- Narrative, graphic storytelling, lore, mythology, history, japanese culture
Proposed mediums/methods of research
- Journals
- Zines
- Books
- Art books
- Fabric pattern design
Artist/writer references
- Ambiguous Bodies: Reading the Grotesque in Japanese Setsuwa Tales, by Michelle Osterfeld Li
- Makoto Aida
- NOBUYOSHI ARAKI
Moodboard and inspirations
The two ideas I have so far either explore body horror and abjection or a personal narrative exploring memory, journaled and documented through zines.
Artists that I find applicable
Makoto Aida: I love Aida’s style of body horror. After looking through pictures of other work featuring ero guro nansensu, I did feel that a lot of the work previously created was mainly for shock factor, to intimidate people with in-your-face blood and gore. Makoto Aida’s work is different — a more thoughtful and subtle art that remains thought provoking, something that only stirs horror when examined up close.
Idea Sheet and Early Development
Idea I
Overview/Abstract
The project aims to propose an alternative way of looking at the way our bodies work, reversing the way bodily reactions to viruses or certain illnesses maybe referred to as deformations instead of adaptations. The project will also explore the abjection of bodily fluids, looking to turn their compositions into patterns.
Aesthetic Approach
- Illustrative
- Anatomical
- Dotwork and linework
- Aged
- Typewriter
Keywords/ themes
- Abjection, illness, anatomy, transformation, body horror
Proposed mediums/methods of research
- Medical Illustration
- Codexes
- Bestiaries
Idea II
Overview/Abstract
This (experimental) project has to do with documentation and a personal habit of journaling. Combining poetry and drawing, this project proposes an insight into the narrative of constant creation.
Aesthetic Approach
- Illustrative
- Dotwork and linework
- Typewriter
- One color, Black and white
- Watercolor and hard lines
Content
- Stream of consciousness
- Stories
- Fragmentation
- Narrative
Keywords/ themes
- Narrative, graphic storytelling, diaries, journals, found items, libraries, stories, poems, words, experiences, personal, memory
Proposed mediums/methods of research
- Journals
- Zines
Artist/writer references
- Anais Nin
Hello world!
Welcome to Open Source Studio. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!