Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Visual Art Major...

For my Year 12 Art Major I decided to continue the theme of roses (from my textiles tutu).
I was inspired by Asher Bulu's artwork "Duck Bills", where layers of plastic/glass have been used along with a mirror at the back to create effect.
By appropriating this technique I came up with the concept seen below.


Title: "The Cycle of Life"

I wanted to show the beauty of the roses though I also wanted to show how they grow and bloom.
This was achieved by designing on the 1st layer: a rose bush, with fresh leaves and small rose buds.
Then on the 2nd panel: the same rose bush was drawn, only the flowers are now larger, they have opened their petals and are showing their beauty to the world, though are slightly hidden behind the buds of their former life... just like many of us constantly desire and long for the freedom of our childhood.
The 3rd panel: has very large roses on it, all fully bloomed and are a darker colour. They are no longer fresh, they are wilting, dropping their petals and the leaves are falling...
The 4th panel: this is the mirror, used to not only reflect the rose bush, but to allow the audience to see themselves, communicating that they are a part of this world, a part of this journey through life!

The words written on the panels are in Latin and read;
Panel 1: Ortus = Birth
Panel 2: Vita = Life
Panel 3: Nex = Death
Mirror:
Calis Est Vita = Such Is Life



Underneath this artwork sat an old school case, used to show the journey through life...
The petals and leaves that have fallen off the rosebush filled the base of the case supporting a book that I have made.
The book has a rose drawn on the cover with the title on the next page in...
Then an introduction showing a child, then a lady...dreaming of being that child again...
Each page of the book supports the concept of 'The cycle of Life' - which is shown through roses; this is done by dedicating two pages to birth, then childhood, teenage-hood, adulthood, old age and then back to birth again and so on...
These pages show humans growing and blooming in the world as well as roses, slowly opening, living and dying.

My artwork was only just marked yesterday by the board of studies so fingers crossed I received a good mark!
It will soon be displayed in the Tweed River Art Gallery.

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