2D PROJECT 1 // WIP updates

THEMATIC APPROACH
The understanding of body parts – making use of different parts of the body to portray the concept, idea, or keyword.

  1. DANCER
    Typography: Humans
    To relate my whole project as one, I decided to create a night setting and as I shoot “ZIYU”. Due to the lack of manpower, I had to work within my means and edited myself multiple times into the artwork.

    However, I’m not exactly satisfied with the outcome yet, thus I will be trying out variations but still stick to this idea to see if other methods may work out better!

  2. NARCISSIST
    Typography: Dada/collage
    I’ve always believed that everyone is a narcissist to a certain extent. As for me, I think I may be a little bit more narcissist than an average person…… ^.^” but I embrace this fact! So I browsed my photo album and compiled a folder of images to form “ZIYU”. With dada art, I would be collaging 2 different set of images, playing with greyscale and coloured image to show the letters Z-I-Y-U clearly. Some classmates suggested that I should stage some images to contrast the letters even more; for instance, greyscale images on the background to be straight face or blank expression while the colour images that will be forming the letters would be with big smiles and contrasting expressions.

    Another concept of mine would be to put my current self as coloured images forming Z-I-Y-U and as for background, it will be greyscale of my younger self. This concept would portray another meaning behind the selection of images – to show that when we were younger, we weren’t sure of being vain or to dress up more and stuffs, so that would be quite dull, thus B/W at the background. As for now, I love myself and how I look more, so the poses, expressions and the whole look and feel for the letters would be outstanding and vibrant; hence, explaining the growth of myself as well.

    – images are compiled but not collaged

  3. NOCTURNAL LIFESTYLE
    Typography: Neon lights/digital
    Beng a commercial dancer cum student is quite tough on the body as dancing usually happens in the evening or night while studies in the day. During holidays or competition period, it is clear that I turned into nocturnal mammal as I usually start my day at about 4pm, and end dance around 4am, then shower, rest up a little and sleep till late afternoon again. So with studies in the schedule as well, I usually only get 2-3hours of sleep a day, which is really really damaging on my health, but I do enjoy all that trainings and performances, so I named this nocturnal lifestyle instead of lack of sleep!

    So my concept is to snap a picture of my tired eyes after practices end at 4am or 5am, and that would be the background of the picture. Z-I-Y-U would then be included in neon fonts as it gives a more saturday-night-out feel (like bars or theatre or places people usually visit at night).

    I refer this idea to Dan Flavin, an artist whom does a lot of projects on neon lights, I learnt how he places different coloured lights together and made use of colour theory. He also had varying methods like reflections, the abstract placement of lights and so on, white I would experiment on the my eyes – Z-I-Y-U multiplying on the pupil of the eye to portray a look of the contact lenses.
    dan flavin 1 dan flavin 2 dan flavin 3Useful link : https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-artists-who-work-with-neon

  4. TRAVELLER
    Typography: digital/positive and negative space
    When I think “traveller”, I’d picture a pair of legs in the motion of walking; a camera; a luggage, a many many smiles! My initial idea was to use dingbats and play with positive and negative space, like Shigeo Fukuda.shigeo
    However, if I make use of this method, it would be off the thematic approach I have in mind for this project. Thus, I will adopt this idea, and make use of my friend’s leg as I direct this photoshoot and still play with positive and negative space, except that it would not be dingbats, but it will be real physical humans and items.

Alter Egos

[LIST]

Five Fictional Characters

  1. Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens in High School Musical)
    gabriella-montez-profileIn the movie, Gabriella is a person who loves to perform singing and dancing in her college days, and she is also madly in love. I felt really relatable when I watch her because I really enjoy singing and dancing and I am heavily involved in these activities in school, just like Gabriella.
  2. Remy (Rat in Ratatouille)
    Ratatouille-remy-spoon1Remy is an idealistic and ambitious rat in the show, feeling inspired, he wanted to become a chef so bad that he hid in the protagonist’s hat to cook. Just like me, whenever I feel inspired or have the determination to do some thing, I would give my all and become quite stubborn in a positive way!
  3. Shen Jia Yi (Michelle Chen in You are the Apple of my Eye)
    shen jia yiA couple’s romance – they liked each other but they didn’t confess…… ^.^”
  4. Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders in How I Met Your Mother)
    "Benefits" -- Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Ted navigate being exes who are now roommates and discover they get along better when theyÕre sleeping together on HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, Monday, January 12 (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Ron P. Jaffe/FOX ©2008 Fox Television. All Rights Reserved.Outgoing, slightly indecisive, jump ship (career) very often
  5. Cheon Song-Yi (Jun Ji-Hyun in You Who Came from the Stars)
    cheon song yiShe thinks that she is actually very fabulous and glam (some times she really is, because she is a celebrity), but she’s actually quite candid and spastic

Five Public Figures

  1. Beyoncé
    beyonceEveryone knows that Beyoncé is a really independent woman, and she is a feminist. The main quality that I found between the both of us is not feminism, but performing. She always characterizes herself on stage in such a way that she is as queen or a diva, which happens to me a lot on stage too!
  2. Sylvia (NightOwl Cinematics)
    sylviaSylvia is the owner of Night Owl Cinematics (Local YouTube Channel) and the reason why I find us relatable is that I came across her vimeo doing corporate videos or wedding videos. Thus, she does film for a living and that is what I am considering. Also, she often self-direct and act at the same time, which is also what I aim to do. Thus, I really find a strange connection between the both of us.
  3. ChaeLin (CL)
    CL-Hello-Bi-ches
    She used to be in a performing group, but now she’s exploring much more on her solo career. She is very daring at trying new styles and things and not afraid of people judging her.
  4. Parris Goebel
    parris-goebelVery successful dancer, tour around and danced for many international artistes. Recently directed a movie, and also assisted Justin Bieber in his new album.
  5. Tyra BanksTyra-Banks-Photography
    Professional model and she used to have her own talk show. Now, she is just focusing on America’s Next Top Model, nurturing new talents and creating opportunities!

Five people I know/have known

  1. Uli Chan (Fashion blogger+model)
    ulimaliUli is my secondary school friend and she has since gained a lot of knowledge and skills from her past experiences. From her own hobby of collecting magazine cut-outs of fashion column, she started blogging about herself and her fashion and is now a pretty famous fashionista. She was featured in many magazines like Nylon, NuYou and I feel a connection with her because I love to do video-blogs!
  2. Gavin (Mediacorp Artiste)
    gavinGavin is my polytechnic friend, and through the Mediacorp Hey Gorgeous scouting, he managed to earn himself a contract and is now in the local showbiz industry! He also does a lot of music covers and that is also why I feel relatable to him.
  3. Xavier (Dancer)
    xavier
    Instructor in Singapore, but travelled around and got scouted – he ended up touring with a USA instructor over in Europe, Japan, and back in Singapore too. Recently participated in Mediacorp Channel 5’s The Dance Floor and got 1st Runner Up.
  4. Carmen (Dancer-student)
    carmen
    My best friend! Cliques really well and we have many things in common! Most importantly, we dance and participate in competitions together. 🙂
  5. Aprilia (Dancer-student)
    aprilia
    Dance mates since 2010, and we only recently realized how much things in common we actually have – life goals. And we would always get performance opportunity together, which allows us to grow together as well 🙂

[SELECTED CHARACTER]

BEYONCÉ
Whenever I have a performance regardless whether it is singing or dancing, I’ll usually remind myself that I am not Ziyu for that hour, I am Beyoncé, or Zeyoncé; so that I can get into the mood and character and portray my alter ego instead of this usual Ziyu you see everyday. Many people think I am just a girl next door, but has anyone encountered the other side of me off-stage?

[1-min VIDEO]

Password: QUEENZ

Typography research // hello card

Hi all! I’m Ziyu and below are my research on some ideas to execute typography. I focused mainly on key words and approach  instead of specific artist, hence, designs and pictures are mostly from google images or pinterest:

research2

research3

research4

research5

research6

research7

Hello card:

Typography –

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

I love places with vintage décor and objects, thus, I picked a vintage font to represent myself. I wanted to play with the positive and negative space, however, after trying out with a full solid black background, I felt like it didn’t quite show who I am because I’m usually quite an outgoing and loud person, so I used bright colours with dancing silhouettes to depict my positive personality!

Abstract Solution –

As a dancer, my footwear is really important to me and I wanted find out from the perspective of my shoes and its effect from my foot-work during my routine. The above short-video documents on my usual rehearsal – I attached the card under my heels and danced for awhile with it. The after-effect looks scratched and marred with dust, which also depicts the life of a commercial dancer; it may seem like its a glamorous job and we’d have a lot of fun and enjoyment through dancing but we may also get hurt from falling, trying stunts, having long duration of rehearsals etc, which may not be the healthiest lifestyle you could live.

Conceptual – 

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Many people identify me with my smile, thus I compiled and cut smiles from magazines and did a collage of it on the card. I placed “On Air” within the artwork because I secretly want to be in the media industry, hosting, acting or anything alike (don’t think it’s a secret anymore ^.^”). Not only that, I feel like whatever people say is really impactful whether it’s some thing good or bad, positive or negative, and it’s all up to oneself. Therefore, the mouth is a pretty important representation of me!

4D Assignment 1

Task 1: Me

I could be dragging my feet and dreading the harsh physical trainings in studio…

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

…but I know as long as I don’t give up and practice hard,

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

I will still get the spotlight on stage that I enjoy being under.


Task 2: Object and Representation of self

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Owning a product from a brand that hasn’t been shipped and sold in Singapore officially, I feel exclusive.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Applying make-up does not conceal fears of flaws, but it brings out a different you.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

I can be confident, I can express sadness, and I can look ecstatic as well!

 


Task 3: My World

 

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Just where can you still spot such a letterbox in Singapore?

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Do you still gather at your corridors or backyard to have a chat or hang out with your neighbours and friends; or do you even know your neighbours’ names?

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Are your friendships so strong, you are confident that you will all grow old together?

 

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Do you find serenity in this nostalgic setting after a long day in the city buzz, fighting to survive in this competitive society?