DESIGN 4 MEDIA ; FINAL

I originally wanted to incorporate a fourth panel which would have been a photo of her capture, a sailor. The poem would also be assumed to have been written by him, but because I wasn't able to add that element to this series, I think even without it the three images still hold on their own. I think the images allow the piece to have a little more mystery and when looking upon it, it could be assumed that the viewer is the capture or that perhaps these images and chicken scratch thoughts are just close knit treasures hidden in the capture's journal ; just blown up, making it more real, and making the viewer perhaps a little uneasy. That what they are seeing, they weren't meant to see. That it was a secret. 

I suppose I could also say, I'm displaying it in such a way that may be close to what a freak show at a circus would be like, uplifting the curtain to show the viewer something that they are curious about and can't believe is real, it's in your face and it's blunt and you can't look away.


The poem it self is quite simple, basically saying how could this creature who appears to be helpless and so beautiful be something that is the opposite; Unknown and very scary. I wanted there to be a magical yet restless quality about this series as well as wanting to develop and create a story. I wanted to make the impossible, possible. dream a little, exaggerate even more with this concept of mermaids.



As I had stated before, I wanted the mermaid to appear as though she is luring the viewer closer which goes along with the history of their seductiveness. Even though the tables have turned and she is the one captured and in an unknown environment she still holds that mysterious and scary quality.


I printed all three images (8.5 x 11) on transparency paper to go along with the whole concept that she is from the sea, the transparency has that see through, watery appearance. Also, to go back on how her capture could see through her tricks in attempt to capture her. I also didn't want to show images of her as a whole, because she isn't. She is "chopped up" and in an environment not of her understanding, she is skewed, along with her tail that seems to be disappearing, or that she is getting weaker.

I ultimately wanted these to be framed and hung on the wall.

DESIGN 4 MEDIA ; 04

I decided to use a poem that my friend Lindsey Yi and I wrote to tie my images together, it would be my fourth panel but I think I may just use three images ; her legs that I've collaged to make a fin. the image above, and the poem. I wanted it to be from the view of her capture.

DESIGN FOR MEDIA ; 03

I did a few experiments using transparency paper, a lot of the printers ate up the paper so only two turned out. I think I'd like to use this process for my final and continue building upon the transparency so it's still a collage aesthetic.

+ I don't like the placement of the transparency over this image, so it needs to be fixed.
but the image below the transparency I feel works great because it's an image of sea creatures making a human face/body which would relate to my project because the siren is out of her element, so it feels like she is dreaming of her home and what she knows as home.

I also want to try images less busy, maybe just of water or even text underneath.

DESIGN FOR MEDIA ; 02

This is another photo from the series, I still have yet to incorporate collage but it

would be rather simple to collage a fin over her legs since she has already the basic

shape. I want to see how colors would look on top of this with magazine textures

etc

+ I also wanted to mention that I do like the tilted horizon line in this photo, I think it gives off the wayward ocean, as if this picture were to have been taken on a ship. Also, could portray the uneasiness the siren gives to viewer.

DESIGN FOR MEDIA ; 01

The photo shoot this morning went really well! still editing photos, but here is a preview of one. I did a few not in the bathtub, but the ones that were in the bathtub turned out to be my favorites. Going to collage a few of the others and see how that turns out.

DESIGN FOR MEDIA ; 01

I'm not able to do my photo shoot until Friday morning but I was wanting to shoot in both color film and digital ; for examples of what I am aiming for here are two photographs of mine ;

+ This photo is shot in natural light which is the kind of light I'm looking for.

 + The theme

 

So, the main ideas I am headed towards, again are: siren, fashion, natural light.

I will update again on Friday with a sample of my photos.

DESIGN FOR MEDIA ; 00

Thinking more about this project is leading me towards a more fashion aspect.

How could I create images without letting the viewers know straight away it's a siren? (by using collage or being put in a bathtub?) what ways or props could I use to insinuate that they are ethereal, otherworldly, not human? 

With that in mind, I still want to explore with the idea of collage and... if it doesn't turn out at least create a picture that is able to stand alone, perhaps where I use the body and it's shapes to create a tail, putting the models two legs together, perhaps have them wear patterned leggings // pants to create a texture that their bottom half is a tail. 

I'm not sure who made this dress, I wasn't able to find the designer but I would really like to use this color palette in some way, either it be with clothes or props: white, teal, blue, grey

and the second one is from Rosemount Sydney Fashion Week, 
which is an application of make-up I'd like to try.

  

and I still want to use natural light,

maybe explore with flash a little bit like with Viktor Vauthier's photos:

DESIGN FOR MEDIA ; 00

//INSPIRATION\\

LURE : 

1.

a. Something that tempts or attracts with the promise of pleasure or reward.

b. An attraction or appeal.

2. A decoy used in catching animals, especially an artificial bait used in catching fish.

3. A bunch of feathers attached to a long cord, used in falconry to recall the hawk.

tr.v. lured, lur·ing, lures

1. To attract by wiles or temptation; entice.

2. To recall (a falcon) with a lure.

What first came to mind for this project after viewing Hiroshi Hayakawa's work was to do a photo and collage series around something that is of magical interest. Hiroshi's photo emulsions were unique, dark, and mysterious which really lured the viewer in. I want to do something that will incite that same reaction.

And so, to "lure" I thought of bait to catch fish, the ocean, mermaids... I grew up by the beach and with a lot of my art work I tend to create works related to mermaids // or Sirens who in Greek Mythology were dangerous and seductive.

I want to create images that are the opposite of Hiroshi's work in the sense that they will appear to be lighter, more colorful, and magical but will have the dark undertones that go back to the root and the history of what Sirens did to lost sailors.

Even though sirens are found on the coasts of rocky beaches, I wanted to modernize my idea and turn it around; to put the sirens out of their element and to assume that they were the ones caught, tempted, and lured. My shots would be similar to Mathilda's as they would be in the bathtub but I would collage on top of my photo a fish tail etc.

Mathilda Eberhard's work for inspiration

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathildaeberhard/5392380229/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathildaeberhard/5392376761/in/photostream

As well as this video by Canada. I love the colors used, natural light.

http://vimeo.com/15959610