Toilets: Our Shared Space (Gallery)

(Do refer to Lydia’s Post for alternative post about the final product, and Vanessa’s Post for more detailed explanation of the creation of the music prompts.)


A collection of research material leading up to the final day itself.


Hint sites themselves

 

 


Password: Toilet


Smile for the Camera! Final Group Photo, it’s a success!

ZINE: Final Product

ZINE: Final Product


Zine: Research (Part 2)

STYLE STUDY: Trying out different styles


After deciding on Architecture as a theme, I went searching on themes that I feel would best bring out what I love about the aspect. I eventually decided on the doodle-style; for its whimsical, playful yet rebel-like energy in them. The organisation yet messiness of it captures the essence of the place definitely.

Hence I sketched out the designs and layout; played with a few designs here and there with the theme in mind, used a tad of blue here and there for some variations in the designs. It saved indesign arranging-time for the layout since it was previously drawn and thought out in the design stage. It was a little confusing at the start, but helped with the usage of a trial prototype.

Scanned and cleaned up (Added 3 mm bleed-area with marking):

Que Sera Sera: Research & Progress

2D II PROJECT 1: QUE SERA SERA (Research and Progress)


Ideation Process (Thoughts and Research)

 

Task: Come up with 4 chosen professions, use fonts or materials to represent them in their finest (The work, the stereotypes, fonts associated with the profession)

Chosen Professions: Lawyer (Defence Attorney), Doctor (Ophthalmologist), Soldier (Land Intelligence) & Zoologist (Veterinarian)

1) LAWYER – Defence Attorney (First two Pictures above)
Thoughts: I have always wanted to stand in court, suavely defending your clients and working your way up to be the highest Legislature position in the country. When thinking about lawyers, I initially thought of  lawyers being masters of deception; hence the gestalt elements in their design since they hide more than what you see at first glance. Courier New (Typewriter font) also reminded me of the court case files that are thought of when you think of lawyers as their association with font types.

Eventually I went with the idea of Defence Attorneys being the “Scott-Free Jail” card (Monopoly) to their clients, hence I played with the stereotypical black and white stripes of the known prison uniform from the old west.

 The hidden dollar sign in the letter “S” also symbolised how it is a monetary-driven profession as well, with it balancing the weigh to the law in defence attorneys. After all, it depends on the amount of cash one can fork out to matter bring out the best in a lawyer.

2) Doctor (Ophthalmologist)
A fancy-word for optician (or more medically-inclined if you prefer); it is one of the top-top earning fields in the doctoring world as of now. I figured I would try my hand at it since it is such a well-known profession in the developed world society now.

I thought of how Ophthalmologists provide vision back to their clients. Looking into the known icons of the profession, I looked at eye charts and some inspiration online. Initially, I wanted the worlds to be done in Braille to show that Ophthalmologists provide vision-aid back to their clients so they can see again: though it didn’t work out since it can suggest otherwise of a person seeking help only when he or she is beyond redemption.


Hence, I stuck to the age-old representational way for Ophthalmologists: Eye Charts. It was interesting creating the arrangement of the chart though; it took quite a bit of kerning  experimentation to get the right layout.

3) Soldier (Land Intelligence)
Had I have a stronger, fitter bill of health, this would have definitely been my career choice. The discipline and strong culture behind this job seems just right for me, with the right amount of espionage and work if you work at the intelligence-gathering department.

I looked into Morse code for this, since it is a well-know code. Since it island-intelligence, I also looked into the topological design aspect of making the map as part of the font, disguised yet readable if one were to look closer.

Yet, when I thought of soldier, the first thing that came to mind were dog tags. It seems unique of the culture. Hence, I figured, why not combine the icons together to form the best representation.

  Added droplets of blood to well, show the sacrifice that the profession has on the field as well.

4) Zoologist (Vet.)
Animals are definitely a favourite of mine; considering how they are the more honest beings of us. The rawness of their nature made me fall in love with them, hence I wanted to try my hand at this profession.


I looked into symbols and designs regarding animals, then figured I preferred the aspect of animals and design being combined into one and went researching along that field.


With the stencil font as the backing (since animal crates in Africa are stereo-typically used in that font, I figured it would be the best representation.) Then I figured and went ahead to add into the design with animal fur to show the realistic aspect of the work. The fur can be nice and smooth, yet clumpy and messy when added on just as the less glamorous aspect of the work. (Collected them from the groomer since the pet-clinic had a separate section at the groomers for their work. Had a larger concentration of animal fur as well.)

Digital Files to be printed:

 

Que Sera : Final Product

Final Presentation of Project 1: Que Sera 

Japanese Christian Art Presentation

Japanese Christian Art Presentation – Calista, Margaret & Shu Yi

Guo Xi Article Discussion

(Above: Old Trees, Guo Xi, Source: China Online Museum)


Thoughts: The widely Artistic statement; or what was thought to be Guo Xi’s vision put into words, left behind during the flourishing era of the Northern Song Dynasty comprises of concepts that greatly dealt with the relation of nature and its harmony with mankind. It likened mankind’s behaviour to akin of the naturalistic mountains; the Chinese idiom of ‘There’s always a mountain higher than the other’, to how nobility ranking affected the imperial court. 

Yet so, the artists then strive for a form of almost Utopia-like concept towards their depiction; if you were to observe more closely behind the intentions and symbols behind their understanding towards the landscapes. There were little to no chaos dated in the artworks themselves, and even when to which there are cases of Princes of other greater provinces paying respects to a Lord of higher rank, there was no form of humiliation; even when kowtowing to a man might be against the ‘face’ and pride of the high-ranking prince. It seems as though people were in harmony as much as nature is; where there’s a natural order of things (the mountains will always be bigger than the sizes of trees, and trees will always be larger than the average man); the respect and understanding of how mountains varied in appearance from the four seasons also further proved the need to depict the nature as it is, where by capturing the epitome of its heightened accuracy yet only opting to pick the most aesthetic elements from nature allowed them to remain true to their concept of wanting to remain as authentic as possible by making the picture have a stronger, slightly more minimalist approach rather than being too messy in the eye for the person to be able to effectively ‘go into the mood’ of the atmosphere.

It is also interesting to note that modern day knowledge of how nearer objects are characteristically recognised to be darker in colour due to the proximity of the eye, as compared to the higher shades of objects further away; were already used to depict the distance of the mountain in Guo Xi’s painting during the Northern Song period, showing great care on their part to ensure the level of accuracy in their works. Furthermore, mountains that are further away were also less detailed and more blurred in their depiction; similar to how it is viewed to the naked eye. Still, the understanding how larger mountains also served as the purpose to showing a more looming sense of presence, a larger figure and in a sense, creating a sense of intimidating and respect is also seen in the workings. The combination of such a technique alongside with the perspective continuing on behind seamlessly, prevalent to landscape works during the Northern Song period, eventually supports its way to the heavenly-like, elegant landscape akin to the deity realm. The floating, other-worldly notion is then, able to wind its way through to the viewer’s eyes.

The ethereal-like  depiction, yet shows a remarkable understanding behind the purpose and concept of how lighting and shades work hand-in-hand together when it comes to the depiction of distances in relation to the mountains. With these tools, they strive to create and capture the intended mood of the moment, be it tranquillity or peace of any sorts. As quoted, painting should be done in a manner ‘ambitious yet not superfluous’. Attention is also paid to the smaller details, for smaller details can also sum up the bigger picture; in the case of how the mountain that is lacking in the presence of haze around them is akin to the the spring season without the coming and blooming of flowers amongst them. The respect and reverence towards the more highly regarded form of art, Chinese Poetry and Literature, has also left its mark over at the importance and weigh placed behind the brushstrokes used to depict the trees then. By notion of Chinese intellects then, the strength of the brush also lends weigh to the feelings of the artist then. A strong, wider brushstroke for stronger intentions, which was recognised widely by the Chinese to depict their emotions. 

Proposal for Art History Essay (Week 10)

Feedback from last week (Important points to note): 
1. Need a stronger, clearer claim: are you comparing the intentions behind the building of the tomb figures by the two rulers? If so, how are you planning to do this?

2. To improve on introduction by adding in contextual information and other main points to the supporting of the evidences, especially textual evidences. 

3. To work the ideas to support the essay into the thesis and make it stronger. Look more into the terracotta warriors segment. AND not to abbreviate the Japanese.

 TASK Peer review (Week 10): Introduction and two paragraphs with a point for peer review at tutorials.


Proposal #2 – Tentative Title: The

Tentative Claim:
The probable, similar intentions behind the creation of the clay Terracotta figures found in the First Emperor’s tomb and the Haniwa figures found in a Japanese Emperor’s tomb. (Namely Emperor Nintoku and Ojin during the Kofun period)

Edition #1:
The intentions behind the building and creation of the Terracotta figures in the First Emperor’s tomb and the Haniwa Figures found in Japanese Emperor Nintoku’s tomb are similar towards their purpose of serving the Emperor in their afterlife. It is a point of contention as seen from the crossing similarities and minute differences in their characteristics and histories, namely: the History behind the Holy, Deity-like Statuses the Emperors enjoy, their size and appearances, as well as the material intricacies the figurines themselves were made in. I believe that the life-size Terracotta warriors found in the burial mount in Lintong, Shanxi Province in China were every bit as valuable and important to the smaller, plains for the Haniwa figurines based in the suggested burial location over at Osaka Plains at the Daisen Kofun for Emperor Nintoku. It is essential to bear in mind that both Emperors were thought to be descendants of the heavens; to which the influence vastly affects the whole purpose behind the creation of the Haniwa figurines and Terracotta warriors respectively.

1. Holy statuses of the Emperors
2. Size and Appearances
3. Materials

> 3 supporting arguments (Condensed.)
1. Quantity and Placement of figurines
Japanese: More decorative and ornamental like trophies, rewarding of the general worthy of serving by emperor’s side previously. At entrances, like guards? Huge quantity of 11k in numbers at Nintoku’s grave; three mounts too. Reflects status.
Chinese: Servants, similar to ancient Egypt. Numerous, refer to history that they are used to replace live human sacrifices due to the lack of manpower. Even to the point there is almost a battalion like sequence to them. Coloured and intricate; best for the emperor? Lifelike since they represent real funerary goods.

2. Size and appearance
Japanese: Slightly smaller than life-styles, but realistic in its depiction of the samurai armour.
Chinese: Life-sized with varying expressions; have proven to be coloured but paint faded over time and erosion.

3. Materials
Japanese: Clay
Chinese: Terracotta