Forrest Gump: Final Work!

Hey guys!! Here’s my final write up on my final work for Foundation 2D Project 2: Forrest Gump. So far this was the longest project we’ve had and I think it really shows haha. Here’s the earlier post that detailed my research and brainstorming for quotes:

Forrest Gump: Research

Anyway no more rambling, let’s get straight into it!!


[ T H E M E  :  S C I E N C E   F I C T I O N   F I L M S ]

dunzi dunzi dunzi dunzi

In my previous post I did mention that I had like a sci-fi theme in mind, so I just went with that because the sci-fi genre is the genre that I’m the most fascinated (and confused) by and I just really love them. I actually was also considering doing a series starring quotes from Quentin Tarantino films instead because I’m a really big fan of his film direction and aesthetic, but in the end that was more limiting so I decided on the sci-fi theme instead.

I decided to go with a more serious and sullen vibe for the pieces, and wanted to bring in the reoccurring theme across many sci-fi movies of human nature, and ‘what does it mean to be human’. (I suddenly thought of Ex Machina and now I’m sad I didn’t research on it help) I also wanted to involve the design principle of unity and variety, so I decided to use hands as a motif across all my pieces. My general approach for formulating the visual interpretation of the quotes was to draw upon the themes of the movies and at the same time, look at the literal aspects of the quote.

was not supposed to put this in but i legit love LOVE harrison ford yall

[ G A T T A C A ]

“You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it Anton; I never saved anything for the swim back.” – Vincent Freeman, Gattaca (1997)

Forrest Gump: Gattaca print, Niki Koh

This was the first print that I did for the project. To be honest I spent way too much time on it – almost 7 hours?? After that I decided to reduce the intensity in the designs for my subsequent compositions cos I honestly didn’t (and still don’t) have a lot of time HAHAA.

Plan for Gattaca print

The literal aspect of the quote that was in the final print was the usage of water as a nod to the word ‘swim’, in the form of a stormy, dark sea. The original hands were supposed to be cupped, but none of the cupped hands I found online looked good when in threshold, so I substituted them for a pair that looked like they were praying or giving something up, as a reference to the phrase ‘I never saved anything’. The themes I drew from the film to put into the print was the theme of intergalactic travel, as the film’s plot is about a man who is genetically disabled, but still dreams of pursuing a career in space due to his extreme passion for it. Hence, the numerous mythical representation of constellations located within the circle of stars in the print.

Gattaca (1997). Image taken from www.joshldavis.com

Initially I also wanted to place a rocket within the cupped hands but I figured that would result in too many elements within the print.

Initially, the print was like this:

First draft of Gattaca print

The feedback that I had gotten was that there were too many cluttered figures in the circle and it was hard to figure out what they were. (Also I forgot about following the dimensions and it was really big LOL) However because I didn’t have time to edit the print before silkscreening, I decided to just silk screen this original print on the bag, which I will go into detail about later!!

Yup but for the final presentation I decided to put less figures into the circle and increased their scale so they would be more obvious. The difference isn’t very big though so maybe my efforts were futile?? :’)

Nevertheless, this print is the one which I liked a lot as well as a bunch of other classmates too so I’m glad about that!! (A friend told me it looked very bengz though lmao she’s not my friend anymore humph)

Continue reading “Forrest Gump: Final Work!”

Forrest Gump: Research

10 September 2017 (This post was kept in my backlog for some reason)

Hello!!

It’s only been a day since I posted lol but I gotta keep working this week or else I’ll drown in work. :/ And it’s raining….gotta get back to hall….life sucks. JAYKAY (not really) but it’s time to move on to the next project: Forrest Gump, where we’ll be picking four movie quotes and creating prints from icons and dingbats and things like that to be silkscreened on tote bags omg. I think lots of people are super excited about the silkscreening :3c I’m more excited about being able to pick movie quotes though! Never really mentioned it to people in NTU for some reason but I’m quite the film enthusiast although recently I’ve not been able to find time to watch anything. 🙁 Anyhow, we’re supposed to conduct research (and supposedly watch films but there are only 24h in a precious day I can’t afford that) about the quotes and pick pictures based off that.

I already have some ideas about the quotes, but I’m thinking of maybe picking a theme, like picking quotes from sci-fi films, or maybe I should go contrary to that and pick a movie from four different genres. Anyway,

[ QUOTES ]

[ 1 ]  “You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything for the swim back.” – Vincent Freeman, Gattaca (1997)

Gattaca is my all-time favourite film!! I could watch it forever hah. :’) But this quote seems a bit like it needs a lot of context for those who don’t know the film :/ Am I supposed to explain the plot here? (edit: i watched the second half of it again and i cried again help im dead on the inside) Alternatively, I could use this line:

[ 2 ]  “For someone who was never meant for this world, I must confess I’m suddenly having a hard time leaving it.” – Vincent Freeman, Gattaca (1997)

Gattaca (1997). Image taken from www.wondersinthedark.wordpress.com

 

[ 3 ]  “Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others – past and present. And by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.” – Sonmi-451, Cloud Atlas (2012)

[ 4 ] “No matter what you do, it will never amount to anything more than a single drop in a limitless ocean.”

“What is the ocean but a multitude of drops?” – Adam Ewing, Cloud Atlas (2012)

Cloud Atlas (2013). Image taken from www.archdaily.com

 

[ 5 ]  “I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it’s both.” – Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump (1994). Taken from www.gifimage.net

 

[ 6 ] “Now watch closely, everyone. I’m going to show you how to kill a god. A god of life and death. The trick is not to fear him.” – Lady Eboshi, Princess Mononoke (1997)

Princess Mononoke (1997). Image taken from www.moviemezzanine.com

 

[ 7 ] “You talk about redefining my identity. I want a guarantee that I can still be myself.”

“There isn’t one. Why would you wish to? All things change in a dynamic environment. Your effort to remain what you are is what limits you.” – Puppet Master, Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Ghost In The Shell (1997). Image taken from www.thterrortime.com

 

[ 8 ] “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” – Roy Batty, Blade Runner (1984)

Blade Runner (1982). Image taken from www.filmschoolrejects.com

 

[ 9 ] “Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!” – Truman Burbank, The Truman Show (1998)

The Truman Show (1998). Image taken from www.aceblackblog.com

 

[ 10 ] “I hope life on Earth is everything you remember it to be.” – Gerty, Moon (2009)

[ 11 ] Gerty, we’re not programmed. We’re people, do you understand?” – Sam Bell, Moon (2009)

Moon (2009). Image taken from www.billysteele60.wordpress.com

Continue reading “Forrest Gump: Research”