Typography chapter 5: Work in progress

My paper cut attempt: to portray the depth of the box.

I had this idea while researching on this project. At first I wanted to make a Pandora’s box for myself. Using just black and white papers and tiny little foams, I created a sense of depth in the composition.  However, I feel that the workmanship is not there and the structure itself is quite fragile…so in the end I decided to forgo the idea.

My attempts to arrange the compositions and create the types:

My questions during the group consultations – Is it okay without a background or is it too plain? What should I include in background?  Should I manipulate the drawings digitally? Any idea how I should portray the last panel – hope?

curiosity
curiosity
desire
desires
fear
fear
My (failed) attempts to manipulate my drawings digitally:

I tried to find a lot of different boxes as the background:

It was a disaster…

curiosity box

curiosity 2

curious 1

My ‘dabao’ (Takeaways) from the group consultations: 
  • Can try using negative spaces to portray the word. In that way, the background is not too blank.
  • Try using another symbol to represent hope in the last panel because the whole series are related to symbolism.
  • It is not necessary for digital manipulation if it is not fitting.
The process of making the real box and the layers in between.
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last layer
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cutting out A5 board for every compositions

Typography chapter 6: Final

P.S. I'll upload 'chapter 5: work in progress' at a later timing >< Here's the final.

Final

Layer by layer:

Layer 1: The story.

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All of us keeps a Pandora box deep within our mind. It is a box that contains our fears, phobias and desires all the evils in the world. By being aware of the things inside our Pandora’s box, we can in turn learn how to heal ourselves. Do you have fears? If so, what do you fears?

Now, let me bring you through a journey of my Pandora’s box.

Layer 2: I am a magnifying glass.

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Magnifying glass symbolizes curiosity, the urge to search for more information. he key in the composition represents answers, it could also be seen as the key to the lock of the Pandora’s box. To me, Curiosity is a very important trait that exist in almost everyone. Curiosity is what makes our life more interesting. It is also what drives us to learn. However, Curiosity can be dangerous at times. (in the case of Pandora’s box)

Layer 3: I am an octopus

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Octopus have many tentacles, and tentacles represents greed and desires. As a normal human being, I desire for more and better stuff. More money, more food, more clothes, better cars, better pens, better laptops and also better grades.  (In other words, I fear failures) However, I don’t really recognize that as an extremely bad side of me. I see desires/expectations as something that drives me to work harder.

Layer 4: I am a raven

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Raven are very closely connected to loss and death. I do have deep dark fears – I fear losing loved ones, I fear endings and I fear death.

Layer 5: I am an oak tree

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Oak tree represents courage and hope. I chose to draw an Oak tree in both summer and winter form to show that Oak trees are mighty and strong. I am an Oak tree – I stand strong through all things and I never lose hope because I believe that hope is the only thing that is stronger than fear.

Note to self: Stay strong! Stay hopeful!

 

Presentation

Last minute solutions:

The following setup is an attempt to make my cardboard box look more mysterious and more like a legit pandora’s box. (Because sadly I couldn’t find any nicer box at home)

Firstly I made a scroll by printing out the pandora’s story and dabbing tea onto the back of the paper to make it look like an old paper. Then I went out to pluck some leaves and branches and borrowed some red cloth and a lamp from the foundation drawing room (It is like a props room~)

Here’s how the setup looks like:

Typography chapter 4: Pandora’s box

Inspired by the Greek Mythology:

The story.

In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman on earth. Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, to create her and he did, using water and earth. The gods endowed her with many talents; Aphrodite gave her beauty, Apollo music, Hermes persuasion, and so forth. Hence her name: Pandora, “all-gifted”.

When Prometheus stole fire from heaven, Zeus took vengeance by presenting Pandora to Epimetheus, Prometheus’ brother. With her, Pandora had a jar which she was not to open under anycircumstance. Impelled by her natural curiosity, Pandora opened the jar, and all evil contained escaped and spread over the earth. She hastened to close the lid, but it was too late. The only blessing to the entire incident was that at the bottom of the jar, layed the gift of hope.

 

The Idea.

Pandora’s box, to me represents one’s subconscious mind. Pandora was given a jar filled with many sickness, desires and the many evils of the world. All of these are present in our subconscious mind. I believe that our subconscious mind not only has the power to manifest our most precious dreams and wishes but also our fears and hidden desires.

We all carry a Pandora’s box in our minds. By becoming aware of the things we have buried inside the box, we may be able to find hope and in turn heal ourselves. So…what do you have inside your Pandora’s box?

1. I am curious

  • Due to Pandora’a curiousity, she opened the Pandora’s box.

Research:

  • Magnifying glass – represent curiosity, the urge to search for more information.
  • At the spiritual level the magnifying glass in the dream means that the dreamer must take a closer look at his behavior, if he wants to move forward on the path of spiritual development.
typography_by_ygt_design
Searching for more information

 

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Taking a closer look

 

My pandora’s box – Fears and desires.

2. I fear losing/endings

Research:

  • Dark crows – closely connected with death and loss.
  • Cutting of ropes – endings
Inspired by Jee young Lee.
Inspired by Jee young Lee.

3. I desire for more

Research:

  • Octopus tentacles – represents greediness, the desire to grab more things in your hands.
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Meaning: Neediness or greediness

 

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Meaning: Grabbing or grasping, trying to take control over something

4. I am Couragous

Research:

  • Oak Tree – The mighty Oak is a symbol of courage and strength, legend has it that it is the most powerful of all trees, the Mighty Oak stands strong through all things.
oak-01
Mighty and strong. Symbol of hope and power.

 

 

Typography chapter 3: More artist research.

Jee Young Lee.

Transforms Her Small Studio Into Dreamlike Worlds Without Photoshop

Artist JeeYoung Lee‘s work Stage of Mind is a series of images constructed in her tiny, room-sized studio in Seoul, South Korea. Since 2007, she has been transforming the space into wildly colorful and ephemeral dreamscapes, each scene painstakingly created by hand and without digital manipulation.

Some examples of her work:

Nightmare.

Lee used paper clips for this image. They bear no threat in real life, but she wanted to highlight how small worries can compile into a burden we carry through life. The clips stick to the woman as she walks away just like troubles do.
Lee used paper clips for this image. They bear no threat in real life, but she wanted to highlight how small worries can compile into a burden we carry through life. The clips stick to the woman as she walks away just like troubles do.

Black Birds.

“For me large birds are threatening, and the image of their feathers, beak, and curved talons is frightful,” says Lee. The scene is fraught with turmoil, and the doors represent future changes and challenges that the artist will have to go through.
“For me large birds are threatening, and the image of their feathers, beak, and curved talons is frightful,” says Lee. The scene is fraught with turmoil, and the doors represent future changes and challenges that the artist will have to go through.

 

Reaching for the stars.

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It is made of over 2,000 paper cups that were stacked together as bricks of a fragile castle, which represents the human need for betterment. Lee explains: “I wanted to express the process of heading toward your desire, along with the effort it takes to achieve your dream, which is represented by the star.”

 

I feel that Jee young’s work is very inspiring. Handicraft and skill aside, Lee’s work is permeated with complex layers imbued with personal meaning and symbolism. A mixture of childhood hopes and adult fears, Lee navigates her constructed landscapes as a wondering and apprehensive protagonist.