Review of Tate Modern

Fig 1. Vietnam II 1973- by Leon Golub (author's own)

  

The Tate Modern exhibition, ‘Transformed Visions’ curated by Jessica Morgan brings together work that does just what the exhibition title says. In the room ‘Facing History’ which portrays the violence and atrocities of war, your eye is caught by one image. An image that dominates a whole entire wall. Vietnam II 1973- by Leon Golub (1922-2004) belongs to a series of three large paintings. The image seems to have a division between the American soldiers and the Vietnamese men, women and children, the soldiers appear on the left side of the image, pointing their guns towards the civilians on the far right. You immediately notice the aggression in the faces of the soldiers, they have been blinded by power, power that doesn't even belong to them, can be taken away from them as easily as it was given. The Vietnamese figures are hopelessly crying out for help, their faces are filled with horror and shock. One particular child in the foreground of the image acts as the focus point; your eyes are immediately drawn to him. Golub represents pain not only through the expressions in the civilians’ faces, but through the use of dark colours and the torn up fabric that looks as if it has survived the war itself. The left side of the image is painted heavily with red, this to me represents the immoral actions of the soldiers, and blood splattered faces, still continuing to follow orders. The right side of the image however, is brown based, representing earth, innocence and purity.

I noticed the distance between the soldiers and the civilians, the centre of the linen is practically empty, maybe this is a way of showing how the soldiers’ awareness, they knew what they were doing was wrong, so keeping distant from what they cause could be their way of coping with the situation.

This piece not only represents war, but all that comes with it, and for me what stands out most is the idea of freedom and restriction. War brings with it barriers, and most of my work over the years have been based around this topic, therefore I could relate to it deeply. Also I love the style of painting Golub has gone for, loose strokes yet detailed at the same time, along with splatters of paint. I may consider using this approach in my own work.    



The Poster

 

After playing around with Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, I came up with this poster. The task was to create a poster based on a memory. I based my poster more on a feeling, a feeling that visits me once in a while. Using my own words I created a title and added some text. The title reads, 'YOU SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO LOSE WHAT YOU HAVE IF YOU WANNA START OVER...' The title acts as a statement, the aim is to get the reader to think, maybe even consider his/her options in life. I wanted it to be relatable, most people experience similar feelings and knowing that someone out there understands those feelings could be somewhat relieving.

The figure on the bottom right is me, I used Photoshop to cut around the image and eliminate the background, I replaced it with an amazing photograph of an alleyway I found on Google but I couldn't quite find the reference of the image yet, (it is not my own). I think I could have done better with cutting around the image, I tried to make it as accurate as possible but you can still see a little bit of the white outline left from the previous background. However, the white outline could also be seen as a light shining through the figure within the darkness of the alleyway, although she seems alone and in deep thought, the light could symbolise a sense of enlightenment, finding oneself. So she is shining from inside out. Maybe she is one of the few that actually goes through with the idea of starting over... 

The light disappears as your eye follows the path down the alleyway, portraying a sense of loss. Just like by starting anew you could potentially lose everything, in the image, we lose light. I used white text in order to make it easier to read as a darker colour would have blended into the background. 

Modelling the garment

Fig 1. prayer (author's own)

Although this garment was intended for females, my lovely model happily accepted to help me out with some photography. Thank you Brandon :) 

Fig 2. the calling (author's own)

So how could we model this garment on a guy without making it look funny?

Fig 3. confidence (author's own)

Rather than making him pose in a sexy way like a typical photo-model, I told him to go about his business like he would on an ordinary day. 

Fig 4. round about (author's own)

 

So act as if the garment is invisible...

Fig 5. up and away (author's own)

And so he did.

Fig 6. the step (author's own)

He carried it with both confidence and elegance :))

Fig 7. scratch (author's own)

Looking around...

Fig 8. thinking (author's own)

Reminiscing...

Fig 9. the search (author's own)

Searching...

Fig 10. computer (author's own)

Being nothing but himself.

Fig 11. caught (author's own)

I hope you liked the garment :))

My newspaper garment

Fig 1. making of garment (author's own)

 

In the process of making...

Fig 2. finale (author's own)

 

The final outcome.

Ideas...

Fig 1. idea generation (author's own)

 

Generating ideas for my final garment. I was thinking to do something that sits around the waist area, a little bit like a skirt but more like an accessory worn on top of tightly fitted trousers or leggings. A bit like a tutu. I chose to go for the rough design on the far right corner, this way I would be continuing with the same paper design I have been focusing on. (Small examples of them are stuck on the right page).

Section

Fig 1. legs I (author's own)

 

Focusing on a section of the figure...

 

Fig 2. legs II (author's own)

 

Creating skirts and showing off the legs!

 

Fig 3. legs III (author's own)

 

I went from a frilly red skirt, to a cone filled mini white skirt, to this... a see-through, sexy yet elegant design.

Playing around with ideas

Fig 1. masking-skirt (author's own)

 

A skirt with folds created using masking tape, has a pair of heels to go with it...

Fig 2. fold dress (author's own)

 

Two strips of brown paper folded together to create each of these twisty, folded shapes...  

Fig 3. lush (author's own)

 

A flowery garment made out of newspaper starting from the collar of the jacket going down to just under the chest area, along with cone style folded newspaper sitting on the shoulder of the jacket...   

Fig 4. creams (author's own)

 

Cream cut-outs, they also look like round buttons, I like the energetic feel they give through the overlapping of their shapes and the colours they carry...

 Fig 5. fold skirt (author's own)

 

Continuing the same twist folding, I used tissue and brown paper to create this maxi skirt. I also focused on the model this time, instead of using the same old "perfect" model figure, I decided to use what you may consider to be an "ordinary" lady who is also as beautiful.

Go wild

Fig 1. super-metrosexual hero (author's own) 

 

Back to our original mannequin and shapes, we were free to go wild so we created a flowery superhero looking figure.

Romantic

Fig 1. flowering (author's own)

Fig 2. flower rotation (author's own)

 

Romantic? I'm not sure if we managed to give off that vibe, but one of the things flowers do represent is romance. I particularly like the way we made the spiral shapes sit on the actual shape of the mannequin. It complemented the curves on the figure and there wasn't too much going on. A subtle, yet eye catching design. 

Gothic

Fig 1. attachment (author's own)

 

I'll be honest, we had great shapes to use on this mannequin, but the word given and the shapes themselves did not collaborate well together. The word we were meant to represent here was 'gothic'. You probably can't even tell what this mannequin is wearing, it is supposed to be 'man cut-outs', so when you open it out, it is a repetition of the same 'man' and it looks as if they're holding hands. Of course, when wrapped around the mannequin, it becomes difficult to tell what the shapes are individually.

So I accept that this garment may be unsuccessful visually, but the idea behind it isn't all bad. Since the theme is 'gothic', we thought these shapes could represent the outline of dead bodies at a crime scene, or just dead bodies themselves. This was the closest we got to 'skulls and bones'.  

Sexy

Fig 1. sexy front (author's own)

Fig 2. sexy back (author's own)

 

The word we tried to represent through this garment was 'sexy'. I have to say, I do think it looks quite realistic, a bit like something you would wear to a club. Both the skirt and the strapless top have a nice continuous hole design, the top has a great opening round the back, and the skirt is short at the front and slightly longer at the back. Maybe with some change of material, this garment would sell?

Shoulder garment

Fig 1. shoulder work (author's own)

 

We then moved from one mannequin to the other and used the paper creations made by other members of the class. This was a shoulder garment we created using just one of the pieces.

Fashion through shapes

Fig 1. collaboration (author's own)

Fig 2. fanning (author's own)

 

We were put into groups of three and had to create costumes using the shapes we individually made. Here are photos of our first mannequin. Using card shaped as a fan we created an outrageous back accessory, while the flowers were used as shoulder accessories.

Fashion week... structures: scrunch

Fig 1. scrunch I (author's own)

Fig 2. scrunch II (author's own)

 

A simple yet effective creation, all you need to do is scrunch the piece of paper in the palm of your hand!

Fashion week... structures: fold

Fig 1. big brother (author's own)

Fig 2. collaborate the folds (author's own)

Fig 3. folds (author's own)

 

The structure I chose to recreate in different sizes.  

Fashion week... structures: criss cross

Fig 1. criss cross I (author's own)

Fig 2. criss cross II (author's own)

 

More flat compared to the other structures. A common pattern seen in everyday life.

Fashion week... structures: flower

Fig 1. centre flower (author's own)

Fig 2. opening flower (author's own)

 

I was taught how to create a flower using a napkin by a waiter when I was about 6/7 years old, today I still remember how to make it, except I attempted to make it using paper this time. 

Fashion week... structures: newspaper

Fig 1. layers (author's own)

Fig 2. layered up (author's own)

Fig 3. flowery layers (author's own)

Fig 4. flowery crush (author's own)

 

This is a simple structure created by folding the pages of a newspaper. It is my favourite out of the five samples I have produced, simply because of its vibrant shape.

Story board in photographs

Fig 1. symbol of daily life (author's own) 

Fig 2. play attempt (author's own)

Fig 3. first struggle- fly (author's own)

Fig 4. second struggle- drown (author's own)

Fig 5. third struggle- stranger (author's own)

Fig 6. found comfort (author's own)