Tag: Abstract

The Creature

April 27, 2017 / Zhang Longfei / 1 Comment

The Creature

2017

Experimental film

3840×480 pixels

About

An experimental film which describes a life cycle of various abstract forms, from birth, maturation to death and allows audience to judge what creature they look like by imagination.

With the help of chemical reaction of putting food coloring in milk, the coloring molecules are pushed away to different directions continuously by milk molecules, which creates an unexpected “color explosion”. The autonomous chemistry not only creates chaos and but also serendipity and inspiration.

Media wall @ North Spine, NTU

Photo by Solomon Qeuk Jialiang

Prototype 01

March 6, 2017 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Video sequences

Below is the visual sequences in the video: simplicity to complex, to Simplicity again

“The Thing” is an experimental and generative video art with the use of simple chemical reaction in milk, which depicts an alien’s lifecycle abstractly. The autonomous chemistry not only creates chaos and but also free imagination based on individual’s experience and background.

In this stage, the proposed work, in URL link below, is prototype 1, not final and still in the process. The design treatment and editing are going to be more polished in the final work.

Prototype 01

password:123

Testshoot and concept

February 10, 2017 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

THE THING

Having done some test shoot, I finally decided I will go for creating illusional creature with milk and paint.

It is been experimented by others for a lot of time that if you put paint and dish soup together into milk, it will create amazing effect.

The oil will create bubbles that will constrain paint into a sphere.

Test in post production

By mirroring 4 footages, it creates a nice patterns but lesser creature.

By only flipping once and feathering the edges, the visual becomes more lively and organic.

By twisting its hue, it gives more Alien-like look

Concept

It describes a birth of “The Thing” abstractly from nothing to complexity, and finally to nothing again, which indicates the nature of life.

Moodboard

Hello my name is_____

January 22, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

1.TYPOGRAPHY

Concept

Applying a mixture of Chinese and English letters from my name to represent my identity and imply my strong interest in typography and design.

2.ABSTRACT SOLUTION

Concept

Symbol of eye and colorful light rays indicate my desire in exploring and experimenting new things.

3.CONCEPTUAL

Concept

Using negative film to represent my favorite hobby ‘Photography’ literally.

ABOUT DREAM

October 20, 2015 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

About dream is a photo essay portraying the dreams occurring in different levels of sleep, light sleep, deep sleep and REM (rapid eyes movement). Dream in light sleep seems to be a mixture of reality and fiction. In the first stage, I started losing my consciousness and became more tentative of surrounding things, like air-conditioning and fans. Then I morphed into a flying insect and exited my room, which marked the complete loss of consciousness. Dreams now turned to be more vague and hard to recall in deep sleep. Foreground and background appeared to emerge. In the last stage, vivid dreams occurred and were often memorable. In the video, I was put in a familiar, but bizarre place and trying to hide from the crowds. In the middle of escaping from the place, the exposure of myself awakened me to reality.

Methods of shooting

Detach the lens and use big aperture to create macro and title-shift lens effect.

Sketches

Sequence Flow

Rough Storyboard

NURSERY RHYME

October 6, 2015 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Final

HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL.

Solution:

Frame 1 humorously resembles a scene from movie ‘Matrix’ , while bringing contrast to convey a depth and creating a downwards movement by repeating the subjects.

In Frame 2, the repeated trees are arranged around a central point, directing along different scales, to create a swirling movement towards the main character.

SKETCH DEVELOPMENT

Frame 1

HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL.

Frame 2

HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL.

ALL THE KING’S HORSES AND ALL THE KING’S MEN.

SOLUTION:

In Frame 1, horses and knights are arranged in radial balance from small to big size, which gives a distinct focal point to King’s throne.

Frame 2 and 3 demonstrate repetition and patterns in a random way. Different subjects are contrasted in size, position and rotation, bringing dynamism into the layout.

SKETCH DEVELOPMENT

Frame 1

ALL THE KING’S HORSES AND ALL THE KING’S MEN.

FRAME 2

ALL THE KING’S HORSES AND ALL THE KING’S MEN.

FRAME 3

ALL THE KING’S HORSES AND ALL THE KING’S MEN.

GOULDN’T PUT HUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN.

SOLUTION:

The main subject is broken into pieces, creating various shapes. Harmoniously all shapes unites into a brand-new piece, which creates a sense of completeness.

SKETCH DEVELOPMENT

Frame 1

GOULDN’T PUT HUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN.

Frame 2

GOULDN’T PUT HUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN.

Frame 3

GOULDN’T PUT HUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN.

THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON.

SOLUTION:

Frame 1 and 2 depicts a cow orbiting a plate, contrasted by different size, in an asymmetrical layout.

Frame 3 demonstrates cows riding on the moon and flying to the sky in an symmetrical way, while contrasted by reversing color.

SKETCH DEVELOPMENT

Frame 1

THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON.

Frame 2

THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON.

Frame 3

THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON.

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE.

Solution:

Frame 1 demonstrates a flow of shoes flying towards a woman, who is in the upper third of layout. And white space casts on the main elements as if the light is shining through a open door, which makes the composition more cinematic.

Sketch Development

Frame 1

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE.

SHE HAD SO MANY CHILDREN SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Solution:

Frame 1 and 2 are exploring different spatial composition.

Frame 1 depicts a direction from bottom to top and mimic the explosion from a small point to the entire filled up space. It demonstrates contrast by silhouetting out a woman figure.

Frame 2 depicts a flow from far to deep space, creating a silhouette of a lady shoe to indicate where they live. Finally the flow ends at where the woman stands, portraying a progressive problem to her.

Sketch Development

Frame 1

SHE HAD SO MANY CHILDREN SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Frame 2

SHE HAD SO MANY CHILDREN SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEN WHIPPED THEM ALL SOUNDLY AND PUT THEM TO BED.

Solution:

In Frame 1, Baby is threatened by pointed wood sticks and away from his toy.

SKETCH DEVELOPMENT

Frame 1

THEN WHIPPED THEM ALL SOUNDLY AND PUT THEM TO BED.

Principles of Design

September 21, 2015 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Principles of Design

The principles of design describe the ways that artists use the elements of art in a work of art.

Balance

Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space. If the design was a scale, these elements should be balanced to make a design feel stable.

In symmetrical balance, the elements used on one side of the design are similar to those on the other side;

In asymmetrical balance, the sides are different but still look balanced.

In radial balance, the elements are arranged around a central point and may be similar.

Emphasis

Emphasis is the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc.

Movement

Movement is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the work of art, often to focal areas. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color within the work of art.

Pattern

Pattern is the repeating of an object or symbol all over the work of art.

Repetition

Repetition works with pattern to make the work of art seem active. The repetition of elements of design creates unity within the work of art.

Proportion

Proportion is the feeling of unity created when all parts (sizes, amounts, or number) relate well with each other. When drawing the human figure, proportion can refer to the size of the head compared to the rest of the body.

Rhythm

Rhythm is created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organized movement. Rhythm creates a mood like music or dancing. To keep rhythm exciting and active, variety is essential.

Variety

Variety is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the viewer’s eye through and around the work of art.

Unity

Unity is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the work of art, which creates a sense of completeness.

Assignment 1 LINE

September 13, 2015 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

“ A LINE IS A DOT THAT WENT FOR A WALK ”

Project brief:

Use concept of line to interpret eighteen topics following the template given on the assignment sheet.

Aim:

The project suggest infinite possibilities in using drawing medium to create abstract marks, that would express each subject, evoke emotions meanings within given parameters of a limited space.

Final Strips

Anxious

Awkward

Ambiguous

Project 1 PROCESS

September 13, 2015 / Zhang Longfei / 5 Comments

PROCESS

The main materials I used are pencil, charcoal, marker. I was exploring and resolving interaction between line, shape, form, space scale, texture, color and value.

Cutting out covers and pasting strips

Final Presentation

NONESENSICAL

Definition: Having no meaning; making no sense.

Concept: Created a texture in chaos in size, position and opacity by using different pens and material like glue stick and correction pen.

ANXIOUS

Definition: Showing worry, nervousness or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

Concept: Using different thickness of lines crossing each other to make viewers to feel about being trapped and create an atmosphere of claustrophobia.

SENSUAL

Definition: Relating to or involving gratification of the senses, especially sexual gratification; Sexual attractive.

Concept: In order to imitate female S shape body, I was experimenting with cursive and continuos lines in various width by using a calligraphy pen.

EBARRASSED

Definition: Feeling guilty and shame, usually as a result of something wrong you’ve done.

Concept: It is the feeling that when you have done something perfect or in the middle of doing some work, but by accident you ruined it. So I was experimenting doing perfection vs mistake to create an embarrassing atmosphere.

AWKWARD

Definition: Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction

Concept: Being different or outstanding make me feel awkward. Creating a ‘special’ one in the composition make viewers to experience awkward moment.

BIZARRE

Definition: Very strange, unusual, especially in a striking or shocking way.

Concept: Creating unconventional and weird graphics to mismatch, and be off balance in terms of compositing and design.

EXHAUSTED

Definition: Drained of energy or effectiveness; Extremely tired.

Concept: Line is a result of moving dots. In other words, Dot is when line got tired and strop somewhere.

FRAGILE

Definition: Lacking of solidity or strength and liable to break; Vulnerably delicate.

Concept: Creating very thin and weak lines with soft pressure on the pen.

SYSTEMATIC

Definition: Characterised by oder and planning.

Concept: Creating pre planned and repeated graphics to show there is a pattern to follow.

LYRICAL

Definition: Having the form and musical quality of a song and especially the character or a songlike outpouring of the poet’s own thoughts and feelings.

Concept: Inspired by the movement of instrument and musical conductor, I was creating a repeated pattern with different scales in order to mimic the music rhythm.

TURBULENT

Definition: Characterised by unrest or disorder or insubordination; (of a liquid) agitated vigorously; in a stated of turbulence.

Concept: Creating swirling lines by using dry Chinese brush, which can create a very rough edge.

PSYCHOTIC

Definition: Characterised of suffering from psychosis.

Concept: Inspired by a thrilling movie <Shining> where the main actor repeated writes one sentence saying : “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy” and goes mad. I was trying draw repeated circles by very thin marker to fill up the space and leave only little breathing space for viewers.