DESIGN PRINCIPLES // FINAL PROJECT : VISUAL ANALYSIS & FINAL BLOG
06.06.2022 - 27.06.22 / Week 11 - Week 14
Lim Yi Xvan 0354552
Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Instructions
Week 11
On week 11, we were assigned to choose one design work of our choices that involves in the theme of 'Reduce Inequalities'. Then we were to write a visual analysis report on that in about 500 words. What's the title 'Reduce Inequalities' mean? It means a big difference between groups which lead them into different situations which have brought big impact for their lives.
Visual Analysis
Observation:
This is a portrait of Frida Kahlo by Maryann, featured in the centre of the composition. It's in two schemes of colours, which are black and white, red and orange. The colours on the background is created in watercolour texture. There're uneven colours of red and orange in watercolours applied on the background. Following with a black and white portrait on the front which is created by sketching. In details, there're two circle light colour hue of red on her cheeks. There're a group of flowers gathered as a head accessories which the flowers are black and white but with few hints of red and orange. Leaves like plants were applied on the middle of left and right of the self portrait which were in lines of white. A big space of white were preserved blank as a border of the whole design art.
Analysis:
This is a symmetrical portrait design work. With the emphasis on the portrait on the front with an outstanding black and white structure and a contrast background of red and orange applied on the back. With the contrast of colour used on the background which make the viewer have their eyes focus on the portrait first then only the details on the background. The face of Frida Kahlo was also being emphasise with the use of highlights on shades and the hues on the cheek. There're repetition of flowers and leaves like plants found on the design which the leaves like plants in white lines then the group of flowers above the head. The repetition of flowers gathered also brings out unity. Movement also can be seen in here as seen that the brushes on the background is continuously brushed down and have brushes texture on the edge. Proportion is also applied on this as there're amount of blank space preserved as borders for the layout, creating hierarchy too. First, we see the portrait first, then only the background also with the details.
Interpretation:
This is a modern portrait of Frida Kahlo by a France street artist, Maryann. Frida Kahlo is a sign of woman's inner power, and also a symbol of resilience. In the years of revolution, she was always used as a popular representative in the feminist movement. This design work shows that even if the portrait is in black and white which seems no attractions but with the hues of contrast applied on the background brighten up herself. In the meaning of even of her abilities, still can't avoid on her creativities. As we knew on the 70s, there're a huge inequalities of the positions for woman between man. The design work created by Maryann is to shout out for woman and also an admiration for Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo reminds us on how one's should not be restricted even of its abilities and inequalities faced.
Visual Research
When trying to find on what inequalities should I bring out for this project, I look for news and incidents happened recently. Then I saw a video from Douyin about man beating up woman outside a BBQ shop during the midnight. Tbh I scroll through the comment section too and saw some gross comments by stupid man which said woman ourself should take care ourself and not showing up midnight on somewhere in a shop with so many man. Then I'm like, so means that woman don't have the rights to do what they want?
Why would I chose Frida Kahlo for this topic - Reduce Inequalities. Frida Kahlo is a significant symbol for feminist, woman's power. As many would know, from the 40s century or maybe earlier, woman haven't been treated equally and well. Even in now, this situation might happen in some places too. I want people to reflect on the incident I mentioned above and show respect to woman and also a self note for woman to self love. Love yourself when nobody does, then only you'll be loved.
Why Frida Kahlo? It's because she's strong and never gave up. Even with the difficulties she faced, she still remain positive and resilience. I wanted to show woman's strength in Frida Kahlo.
My idea was to recreate a piece for Frida Kahlo but in my own ideas. My intention was to use Frida Kahlo's portrait and mashed up with some other texture/flowers of art so it looks like a little bit collage work and oil paint texture. With this idea, I've searched up Behance.net for some inspirations. Here are some artworks I saw:
As we all know Frida Kahlo is well known with her oil paintings, flowers, colourful paintings etc. So I decided to sum up all of these in one artworks.
Design Process & Idea Exploration
I've find some materials and elements for my design in Pinterest which I mentioned above, my intention using brushes, paints and flowers etc.
With the materials I found on Pinterest, I started my progress in Photoshop. Firstly, I mask out Frida Kahlo which her pic originally was like this.
After I done masking out, I also did some repositions on her portrait after few attempts, I think this position creates the best layout so I stick with this one.
Then I used the materials I found on Pinterest and starting mashing them out with the effects. Here are the layouts in Photoshop.
I also added a shadow on the back of Frida Kahlo's portrait to create emphasis for Frida Kahlo. Then I think to make some changes on the colours which the first colour popped up in my mind is the colour scheme in red as for me red symbolise woman. Related to our topic 'Reduce Inequalities', to show out woman's strength, I think the colour red is a good representative.
After all the layouts done arranging, I decided to add in her name in huge text "Frida", which looks like a magazine cover that covers a strong human figure. This also brings out the principles in design of Words and Imagery.
Final Outcome
fig 5 - final outcome 'Frida' in pdf
For my final outcome chosen is fig 4.8.2 but I changed the header line to 'Woman Rights'. This a portrait of Frida Kahlo, the reason I chose her for this project is to promote woman's equality. As most of us know, even in the 20century, woman's inequalities still happen in some places somewhere. They always said, 'woman should just stay at home and do all the chores instead of working outside there and take away man's opportunity.' This society consists human with mindsets like this which I think is kinda sick. Woman can live by their own without any rely on, they can live individually, strongly and happily. Frida Kahlo is a great example to represent the intentions that I want to be presenting, as she had an accident but still she didn't gave up and show her resilience spirit towards all the difficulties and inabilities she faced. Woman can be stronger than we all thought.
For my design work of Frida Kahlo's portrait, is in asymmetrical balance. Besides, I sharpen the uses of texture in this piece of work. So it comes out like my intention of it looking like an oil painting work. I also emphasise Frida Kahlo and the headline 'Woman Rights' with scaling the size of her image which stands out most of the ratio of the whole artwork, and for the headline, I applied inverted mode to create contrast for it. This is also an example of words and image.
Feedbacks
Week 12: The visual analysis is good written, just some adjustments needed to be edited.
Week 13: The design is fine, can try adding the text Kahlo below Frida on the heading as Frida Kahlo is knows as her name not just Frida. Dr.Jinchi asked me try adding it on the headings and also try with some other colours as for now the colours look like analogous probably I can try making it like colour mixing up.
Week 14: Frida Kahlo is known as her figure, face maybe I can try change the header of her name to punchline of woman equality instead. As with her name, it might looks like promoting her instead of woman's equality. With the colour adjustment, confirmed fig 4.8.2.
Reflection for the week
In this final project, I've learn on how to observe a design work attentively then list out the principles used for the work. By observing on the design work, helps me having a greater understanding for the work and carefully, you'll see the story on the behind which the artist was trying to bring out to the viewer. Besides, with the theme reduce inequalities, I get to be concern to the issues related which happened around the world. Then I chose to promote Woman's rights due to the incident happened earlier in China.
I enjoyed playing with the colours and filters for this project. With trying out different filters, I get to explore that actually this filter is kinda cool to be applied on my design work. Then with Dr.Jinchi feedbacks, I tried playing with the colours of my work, adjusting them and see whether which one will come out best. Luckily I did this step cause my outcome for 1st attempt wasn't the best which at first I thought it was. It's cool that for this project, I watched few interviews about Frida Kahlo to know her more and also get to try out different styles of designs.
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