Markings

Armed with inspiration I have thought about the ideas and subjects around 'life not being as it seems' in the form of brain storming or mind mapping, which is more politically correct.

One particular train of thought that I found interesting was the idea that when we look closer we are able to see in more detail, see marks or textures.  Life leaves marks on everything whether material or emotional and this is something that is has been captured by Urban Exploration Photographer, also known as 'Urbex', Henk Van Rensbergen.  Born in Belgium 1968,  Rensbergen documents abandoned architecture closed off to the public.
            

Insane Asylum, Abandoned Places 1 by Henk Van Rensbergen - Winter 2001
http://bit.ly/p3pjMW

I was truly captivated by the texture in the image above and of the paper that is still falling from the wall like leaves in autumn.  It is as if the building is dismantling itself, moving back to the bare materials it was once built with, or removing the remnants of the human intervention of decoration.  The littered chaos of debris conflicts with the neatly coiled cables and lighter area of untouched wall opposite.  The chaired area is a reminder of the people that once occupied this room, a mark of their presence here and how they once used it.  Left to deteriorate the room is unloved, cold and surplus to requirement, the pealing door is now shut, the finality of it's fate to abandonment.

The Silence of the Past by Henk Van Rensbergen

These places are hunted down because of the anticipation of finding something pure, something that hasn't be spoilt by the human hand for many years.  Rensbergen (2010) comments in an interview that a dream place would be 'Any location that is untouched so it can tell a story'.  It is about capturing a narrative, an essence or mark of human life from the past and of course, producing that unseen and extraordinary image.     

References

Rensbergen, H. (2010) Talk Urbex, Exploring decay abandoned archetitecure..., Guest of the Month, Henk Van Rensbergen gives us his view on urban exploration. (Online) Available from http://www.talkurbex.com/2010/10/henk-van-rensbergen-gives-us-his-view-on-urban-exploration/

(Accessed 17th October 2011).

                   

This Is My Life

Probably the simplest of questions but one that I found incredibly hard to answer!  Becoming a responsible adult means that we become consumed by what we should be doing, so often forgetting what we like doing.

Brain storming and some quite time got me to think about what I love and I found that a strong theme tended to run throughout what I enjoy and that's anything with some form of fantasy or chance of escapism within it.  Not in sexy, rude or unhinged way, but in the sense that I love to use my imagination and get lost within worlds that don't exist.  I love to escape into books and films that skim on the edge of reality with multi-visual impact accompanied by music soul wrenching sound to make your hair stand on end.

American Beauty(1999) - Theatrical Release Poster

American Beauty (1999), a film written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes, is based on Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey, and his self reinvention through fantasy.  If you haven't seen this beautiful film before then please watch it, I guarantee that it will consume you for the full 122 minutes.    

Full of complex themes and interesting characters it drags you inside with a constant message to 'look closer' and in turn forcing you to ask questions, some that you won't be able to answer in this life time.

American Beauty - Lester Burnham at work scene.
'Look Closer', a clear message on desk.   

The story opens with Lester Burnham and his rich material suburban life, however it is his lacking emotional life that leaves him unsatisfied both at home and in work.  Trapped in a loveless marriage with Carolyn and living with his only daughter Jane, who hates him, he finds himself in a constant state of 'sedation'.  The film becomes dramatically more exciting when Lester is awoken out of his misery by his daughter's best friend Angela.  His sexual fantasies about being with Angela empowers his life and he starts to question his job, wife and relationship with his only child.





Many critics have explained and heavily debated the storyline to death.  Some believe it is about suburban imprisonment as written in a review by Berardinalli (1999), "For many, the suburban life is the American dream. For others, however, it can turn into a twisted nightmare of unfulfilled desires, repressed needs, and shattered hopes."  Revealing that painful monotomy of perfection comes at a huge depressing price.     


However, I feel that it is heavily centred around the idea of  'Looking Closer', which is the tag line for the film.  It's a statement to look beneath the smiling faces and material success and assess the people inside.  The American Rose which is used as a motif in the film is beautiful on the surface but prone to rotting roots beneath the cover of the ground.  It is a frightening understanding that perhaps people and even life is not exactly what it seems and it is this that I am compelled to investigate further.


If you do watch or have watched this film I would be very interested to know what you feel about it.
Sara.        


References

Berardinalli, J. (1999) Reelviews - American Beauty, A Movie Review by James Berardinalli (Online).  Available from http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=339 (Accessed 16/10/11).

    

Too Many Cooks

Our lecture today used to flex and work the creative muscle by hammering the brain with quick fired briefs to stimulating instant response ideas.  To say I had an initial attack of writers block is utter sarcasm!

Accustomed to the home comforts of time accompanied by coffee and a worlds worth of research, has produced a slightly lethargic approach to be my creative process. Although, I do work to the philosophy that good design takes time and sustained effort, this didn't stop me from feeling extremely frustrated with the mini concepts that lay lifeless and dormant in my drawing pad fro most of the lecture.

However, group work really encouraged my thought process to expand and with such speed!  Bouncing ideas off other creatives was super exciting and only helped to fuel my enthusiasm to satisfy at least one brief that day.  Two random briefs with two very different but curious outcomes...


'Bricking It'
The Brief - To produce a new usage for the common house brick.

Brain storming in a group around the subject of the brick created a concept idea very quickly.  Talking about the older models of the personal mobile we remembered that there shape was often referred to as a brick.  We thought it would be fun to flip this idea around and use the brick to protect the smaller refined mobiles from today.  The iBrick was born!

The brick, branded with the Apple icon (of course), would be cut in half and connected by a hinge. When opened there will be a small protective area inside especially for the mobile phone.  It will come in a range of natural terracotta and grey colours with the added option of custom engraving for that special message.

The brick can also be used as a paper weight, door stop or perhaps a defence tool if someone chooses to steal your mobile!


'The Royal Family'
The Brief - To create a gift for the anti-royalist.

The Royal Family draws on so many words and subjects areas however, it was John (the lecturer) that sparked the train of thought which lead to the final concept idea.  The 'Throne' is a word that has multiple meanings for large ornate chairs used by Kings and Queens and on the other end of the scale, slang for the toilet.  From here we thought about possible characterised toilet seats, towels and finally toilet rolls.

Sudoku Novelty Toilet Roll
Image found at : http://www.qfonic.com/gifts-gadgets-perfect-present-novelty-sudoku-toilet-roll-paper-p-2261.html

Using the Sudoku themed toilet roll we decided to produce a quality 7ply roll which would illustrate a member of the Royal family on each sheet.  Decorated with expensive lace and gold leaf this would be a product for the true anti-royalist.      

Sketch of Concept Idea - Royal Family Novelty Toilet Roll with Pen.  

Each roll would include a novelty pen so that the user can draw on the faces if they wish*.  The inner roll would used especially for the Queen's face to emphasise her unwillingness to leave the throne.     

*We would advise use of the novelty pen before use. 

Both concepts moved quickly, it was a really exciting rush of ideas form the group which I felt produced 2 successfully completed outcomes.  For this subject at least 'too many cooks' make a great broth.

At last, I breathe a sigh of relief, it's a growing light at the end of a very long dark tunnel, but nevertheless it's there.  I feel that I am more than capable of producing something creative and challenging for the end of this module.

I would probably insert a smiley face here, but I doubt whether this is very academic.
Sara

No Briefs...

The magic words that all designers and artists long to hear, 'there is no brief'.  What, seriously??

Talk about a rude awakening, I've been in my own graphic design/photography bubble for the last 3 years and until now didn't realise how much of the creative expanse I had forgotten about.  It's like being able to fly and then somehow forgetting you could ever manage it, because you walking everywhere. 'Walking' of course is very cost effective, but will only take you on short and unsatisfying journeys.  

The depressing truth is that my creative thoughts have been choked in the name of the green stuff, diluted by the white value printer paper, otherwise know as my client brief.  Life after degree has become a production of horcruxes (1), each piece of work containing a bead of my soul at the price of an unfed mind.

On the bright side...

My senses have suddenly become busy with things (too many to list) that I haven't considered in years.  It is still on the bitty side, somewhat snowy but I'm really looking and smiling the creations that I love.

A current favourite on television is the Sky Movie introduction created by MPC Advertising and Sky Creative to advertise the their film channel.  Made up of a collection of a film clips in different genres, the viewer is taken around a 360 magical world where you are flooded with sound and moving images of space, pirates, fairy tales and city life.

The promo can be viewed at http://site.skycreative.tv/ on their 'Work' page, 16th icon along the top.

Film Still by MPC Advertising.

‘It is about escapism – explain the directors.  This is our invitation to our audience to enter another world.’ - Esther Wallace and Nick Tarte - Designer/Director (2).


As both Wallace and Tarte explain the short film is about entering into other worlds and for me it is this promise change which keeps me watching whether I've seen it once or a thousand times before.  This piece of animation is so diverse, a real cocktail of colour tones, textures and musical style which enables it to call to so many different viewers within a short space of time.

It is difficult to become bored with something that is so colourful and mood altering all in just 54 seconds.  It gives me goose bumps just listening to the subtle changes of music and how they have blended them all together, I even point it out to my family and friends when they pop round.  It's a crime not to notice all of the elements that makes this piece of design truly beautiful, especially in a world where we have seen and heard everything.

There you have it, within seconds of the promo starting Sky have me hooked, the perfect advertising campaign.

The above makes me hopeful 'it's all here in your head' (3) now just to use it already!
I am a certifiable Harry Potter fan, but enough said about that.
Sara.

    
References
1. Horcruxes are dark magical objects that hold a piece of a soul (J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince).
2. Sky 360 - http://www.moving-picture.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1045&catid=38&Itemid=873
3. 'It's all here in your head'.  Quoted by the sorting hat when sorting Harry into his house (J.K.Rowling - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone).