Concept :
My overall concept revolved around me and my environment. I wanted to separate the two boards into emotions which I feel and into emotions which translate to me visually. So it was basically what I see vs what I feel. The first board represents emotions which were inspired by feelings and not inspired by anything tangible in particular and the latter shows lines which were inspired by tangible objects and bodies around me. By combining the two sets of emotions I wanted to showcase who I was as a whole as I felt that emotions and how we express them are affected by our identity and our environment and that the two boards represent me.
Fragility :
My intention was to use bolder lines to juxtapose with weaker lines to show visual fragility in structure inspired by the textures of angular glass. By using lines to create triangular forms of different sizes I wanted to show visual fragility. I then chose the medium of shaven chalk to press it under the monoprinting machine because I realised that it creates micro-cracks and so I combined it with the lines to make it seem as though the fragile chalk is being held by the weak lines. I then used plastic to go over it to mimic the texture of glass.
Exploring the fragility of objects (glass) from angular forms and comparing it with the fragility of the human heart
Exploring mediums (Plastic & Chalk) to convey fragility
Distracted/Psychotic & Aggressive :
Spirals were the main characteristic of distracted and psychotic as I felt that spirals show a person in a hypnotic state (not conscious) and thus, distracted. Aggressive was more of a dynamic exploration by exploring motion blur and movement in a fast action (aggressive action).
Exploring spirals and aggressive movements (stabbing motion)
Experimenting with different 2D line textures and also with the sharpness of the knife and creating motion on a 2D plane.
Spontaneity :
I wanted to explore the visual elements of spontaneity such as that in nature and of the human body. To translate into the final work the spontaneous blooming of flowers and spontaneous body motions.
Exploring spontaneity in nature. using lines to show outward ‘exploding motion’
The explosive visuals of spontaneous outward body expression. Using the silhouette and lines to show explosive movement and trying new mediums
Ambiguity :
By using objects around me, I wanted to show ambiguity of personal objects (To represent ambiguity of my identity). By printing only one side of the object, it creates an ambiguous pattern which is hard to decipher and attempted to combine both themes.
Ambiguity of objects around me by printing one side of the object
Ambiguity of the human identity. Creating a smoky texture using chalk over prints of objects.
Awkward :
For awkward I wanted to use staring as a form of awkwardness as having your appearance being scrutinised causes discomfort to me. Thus, I experimenting with different methods of bringing that awkwardness out
Sea of stares
Creating a 3D ‘bulging’ effect to intensify awkwardness
Sloven :
As I identify as a sloven person, I wanted to show untidiness in my character. I also wanted to show that there is a system in sloven and vice versa.
Using thumbprints to create a visual mess but at the same time maintaining system with repeated patterns
I was being a Jackson Pollock. A straightforward visual mess using my fingers as the tool
Systematic :
I wanted to show rigid patterns and also incorporate the medium of wax into it as I wanted to show system even in the medium. Thus, I created patterns using wax to show that even if there’s a mess of paint around it, with a system it could still turn out as planned
System in chains and also exploring wax as a medium
Creating patterns with wax and watercolour paint
Turbulent :
Inspired by the turbulence of waves, I wanted to show up and down motion with violent movements. I explored using threads to simplify and almost abstract the motion of the waves
Exploring motion of waves using lines and contrast
Trying different mediums and different shapes to form the bigger picture
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Lyrical :
I wanted to use the lyrical motion of birds in nature and the lyrical motion of dance. Both visual aspects of my life and thus I wanted to abstract both subjects. Also explored how the fluidity of lines can create flow and smooth transitions for the whole composition.
Exploring lyrical nature of music and dance. Combining body movements and musical notes. Also wanted to explore fluidity of lines to bring the whole composition together
Experimenting with motion of music and motion of birds. Combining lines of musical notes and the motion of birds in flight
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Exhausted :
Being exhausted I just feel drained and my energy level fading away. Thus, I wanted to translate that into visuals
Drained battery/ Drained energy. I wanted to show a fading texture to show energy slowly fading away
Experimenting with the straw blowing technique
Anxious :
I wanted to explore the tensing of muscles. Thus the exploration of lines and contrasting colour to intensify the visuals of anxiety
Translating the tensing of muscles into abstraction
Contrasting mono prints over lines to create an extrasensory visual
Nonsensical :
I explored mandalas as they possess visual impact but with no meaning to the viewers and only to the artist themselves if any meaning at all
Collaging of mandalas to intensify ‘nonsensicality’
Sensual :
Sensual was more of exploration of the two colours black and white (negative & positive) and the smooth merging of the 2 colours.
Abstracting the human body and touch. Using colours to represent touch
Experimenting with the smooth merging of black and white
Bizarre :
Exploring bizarre shapes that would not be naturally occurring
Weird hybrid shapes
Manipulating splatters of paint to create shapes that are not naturally occurring from splatters
Embarrassed :
Bringing out the motion of ‘stay away from me’. With palms facing outwards to block my face and to create a barrier from me
Don’t look at me
Using plastic as a medium to create a barrier between me and the outside. Using hands as a medium once again
Indecisive :
Exploring the mediums of liquid paper (epitome of indecisiveness) and varying the mediums to show indecisiveness
Creating patterns using liquid paper
Miscellaneous :
Random scribbles of thoughts (sorry but I don’t think anyone can read my thought process handwriting >.< ) :
Final work :
So for the final layout I wanted to arrange the emotions by 2 categories. What I feel vs What I see around me.
Thus, the mediums and techniques used for the emotion directly beside each other were similar for the emotions which I felt had almost opposite yet similar characteristics.
Bizarre : Bizarre was inspired by weird shapes that are not naturally occuring. I decided to use a different coloured paper(yellowish tint) from the rest of the emotions so it stands out and looks ‘bizarre’. From the drops I shaded different shapes that wouldn’t occur when paint is splattered. I put Bizarre beside spontaneous as I felt like the most spontaneous things seem bizarre and used the method of splatter for both emotions.
Sloven : I identify as a very sloven person but I also want to show that there could also be system and details in slovenness. So I used my thumb, dipped in ink, and created a ‘visual mess’and then used a pen to trace my thumbprint and show the details in the thumb. I then spray painted over the prints with black spray paint to intensify the mess. I wanted to emphasize on the details of the thumb prints to show that there can also be details and systematic patterns in Sloven.
Turbulent : Inspired by waves, I wanted to show turbulent movements of lines and I used small circles to create mini water molecule-like forms and I intersected it using threads. I wanted to use threads for turbulent as I wanted to show intersection of lines and loops to create visual movement . By using threads for both lyrical and turbulent, I wanted to show that both emotions are fluid and are only differentiated by the aggression of the flow and that the flow is not interrupted, just of a different frequency.
Anxious : I wanted to use thin lines of anxious as I was inspired by the tensing of muscles. So I used pen to create very thin lines resembling muscles and then drew lines on the lino print ink to create a contrasting texture between the pen lines on the paper and the positive lines created by the mono-print. I wanted to show the random jitters you get from anxiety. By using rough and thick density lines in both anxious and aggression, I wanted to show that the two emotions possess very strong negative traits and both emotions are filled with aggressive movement.
Ambiguity : I used objects around my house like leaves, pen, cardboard, coins and keychains for this as I felt like if I show only one side of the object, it is very hard to figure out the identity of the object (reflective of our own identity). So I used them for mono prints to create random ambiguous textures and then went over it with chalk to resemble smoke and how it can conceal the identity of an object and create a visual distraction. I wanted to placed ambiguity beside exhausted as both show fading characteristics. The blurred ambiguity in objects and for exhausted, the blurred energy levels.
Embarrassed : I wanted to use my palm prints for embarrassed as I feel like the outward palm motion shows the thought of ‘stay away from me’. So I used my palm prints dipped in ink and then covered it with a piece of plastic to show the imaginary barrier you would wish to have from yourself and the outside world when you are embarrassed. I wanted to show that we are most fragile when we are embarrassed and thus the plastic barrier placed on top of the emotions. For embarrassed it serves as a barrier from the outside world and for fragile it serves as medium to hold the fragile object together.
Distracted : Spirals were the main inspiration and I felt like it shows distraction and affecting the flow of thoughts. I wanted to use smooth flowing lines below the spiral to show the smooth train of thoughts and the spirals interrupting the flow of lines. I went over the spirals with wax and then dripped paint downwards so it covers the smooth lines and avoid the spiral to show interruption in the flow of thought. I used lines for both as I wanted to show the connection between being distracted and indecisive as both go hand in hand when focus is being taken away.
Nonsensical : Nonsensical was inspired by mandalas as I feel like mandalas only have meaning to the creator as the shapes are inspired by the mind of the creator themselves. So I drew mini mandalas and cut them up to intesnify the nonsensical natue of it and then glue them together in a random order to show randomness. Both emotions of nonsensical and awkward possess traits which are very psychedelic and whimsical as I wanted to show the whimsical nature of being nonsensical and awkward.
Psychotic : I used a thick layer of Acrylic paint (Black & White) as I see psychotic as an emotion which is very heavy and thick in layers of personality. I wanted to create a swirling texture and turbulent blend between black and white to show the clashing of positive and negative emotions as the negative takes over the positive. Inspired by the yin and yang I wanted to show how the lack of balance can lead to psychocism.
Spontaneous : Spontaneous was inspired by the blooming of flowers and the explosive movement of the human body. I wanted to show explosive textures and thus I splattered black paint and from the splat I used pen to trace out lines to show the outward motion of the splat and also mimicing the shape of blooming flowers.
Systematic : I wanted to show a straightforward concept of system but using more of the medium to portray my idea. I feel like as long as there is a system, you could be messy and still achieve your goals. So I used wax to draw lines from equal distance and then splashed paint on them and eventhough the paint is messy around the lines, the wax lines are still clearly visible.
Lyrical : Lyrical was inspired by the birds as their smooth movement in the sky is similar to the smooth transitions in music. Thus, I monoprinted sillouettes of birds (cut from paper) from small to big and finally showing that it is bursting out of the confines of the box to show crescendo in music. I also added threads as I wanted to juxtapose it to turbulent as Lyrical has more smooth flowing lines which do not intersect.
Aggressive : Inspired by aggressive movement and the knife, I wanted to create sharp forms and also show aggressive movement. I decided to use the medium of paint and brush to show aggressive brush strokes and to go over it with pen in repeated angular motion to increase the density of the brush stroke to show the sudden ‘outburst’ of aggression. Surrounding the aggressive strokes are micro triangular forms to show pent up anger and how it could lead to sudden outbursts.
Exhausted : For exhausted I wanted to create a fading gradient texture (Showing fading of energy). I started uses dense paint and used a straw blowing technique to guide the water droplet and show the crawling texture on paper(To show exhaustion). I then diluted it to create the faded texture from dark black to a light grey.
Fragile : My intention was to use bolder lines to juxtapose with weaker lines to show visual fragility in structure inspired by the textures of angular glass. By using lines to create triangular forms of different sizes I wanted to show visual fragility. I then chose the medium of shaven chalk to press it under the monoprinting machine because I realised that it creates micro-cracks and so I combined it with the lines to make it seem as though the fragile chalk is being held by the weak lines. I then used plastic to go over it to mimic the texture of glass.
Indecisive : I used different mediums such as copic marker,colour pencil, pen, pencil and paint to create incoherent line patterns to symbolise indecisiveness. I also used the medium of liquid paper(epitome of indecisiveness to me) to show break patterns and random splotches of changed decisions.
Awkward : Awkward was inspired by awkward stares as I feel that staring can lead anyone to feel awkward. I used the medium of tissue as the bumpy textures ultimately lead to an uncomfortable feeling when it resembles the eye. I dipped in glue and white paint to create round balls and then added the pupils(black paint) on top and placed them altogether in two rows.
Sensual : Sensual has a similar concept with Psychotic as I wanted to show balance and smoothness with the two colours of black and white. As I feel like the lips are the most sensual part of the body, I wanted to use it as a tool to create smooth lines between the two colours to show touch and ultimately merging together as one.
What I see :
What I feel :
What I see vs What I feel :
Mediums & Techniques
Bizarre vs Spontaneous : Splatters of paint to show how the most bizarre things are usually the result of spontaneity
Sloven vs Systematic : Using my thumbprints as a tool and pen to go over the thumbprints, I wanted to show that even though it may look like a visual mess, there is still a system in it and for systematic, from far it looks like it has a very rigid and fixed form, but up close (using the wax and paint) there is also mess in it, showing how both seemingly opposite emotions can co-exist
Turbulent vs Lyrical : I used threads for both emotions as both emotions I feel are about flow. Although seemingly opposite, both emotions possess qualities of high and low and movement and are just different in frequency to me. I feel like whether turbulent or lyrical, it’s all about going with the flow.
Anxious vs Aggressive : I used pen for both emotions and I also wanted both emotions to possess contrasting qualities. Both emotions to me are very ‘out-of-body’ in a sense where you are not your normal self and I want to showcase that using contrast.
Ambiguous vs Exhausted : Both emotions to me possess ‘fading’ qualities. Fading of identity vs fading of energy. Thus, I wanted to use very light, gradient colours for both emotions.
Embarrass vs Fragile : I feel like you are most fragile when you are embarrassed as you are vulnerable to judgement.Thus I used plastic for both emotions to show how having a barrier could protect you but at the same time cause you to be more broken on the inside if that barrier’s integrity is jeopardised.
Distracted vs Indecisive : Both emotions have flowing lines using pen as I wanted to show the similarities in both emotions. By using wax on the spirals in distracted, I wanted to show the break in thought process (paint) and for indecisive I showed the break in thought by using different mediums and techniques for the patterns.
Nonsensical vs Awkward : I wanted to show the randomness or haphazard qualities of both emotions by using arrangement of the mediums. By collaging the mandalas and placing a sea of ‘eyes’, I wanted to show how both emotions can co-exist.
Psychotic vs Sensual : It’s all about the balance in emotions to achieve peace. When negative and positive emotions mix in a turbulent manner, it produces psychotic results and when they mix in a smooth and harmonious manner, it produces sensual.
Initial early artist’s reference:
Jackson Pollock
I really liked how Pollock managed to capture energy and movement in his artworks using contrast and unconventional methods of splattering paint. This was used in early conception of my ideas as I wanted to capture the style that each emotions possessed in a physical form.
That’s about it! Really enjoyed this project but glad it’s over!
