My Experiments Developed - Further

"Before I forget" I forgot to uploaded my recent experimentation on my experiments. Using the photographs I had taken over the past week I placed them in the structure of the Arnolfini Portrait. 

Instead of using Photoshop like my first successful pieces, I ripped up each photograph and placed them into position on where they would be in the composition of the painting. I think this worked really well after I photocopied the piece as it shows my hand rendered elements and gives the piece a bit of an edge.  

I then took my hand rendered pieces to another level as I used the Chapman Brothers influences and doodled over my work to create a more fun feel to the piece. (For example) I have gave the female model in the Chinese piece a sun hat and Chanel bag and the male model in the African piece an Afro and headphones.

Design Sheet - Ideas - Yinka Shonibare

Today my tutor gave me three artists to look at: The Chapman Brothers (yes again) : Dot to Dot, Banksy (well known for defacing and graffiti) and Yinka Shonibare.

I researched on all three but Yinka Shonibare stood out the most to me as it seemed like his work linked in with my work.

Here is my design sheet I did on Yinka Shonibare, I looked and explained on the research I did also placing ideas on what I could do next, how I could develop my idea into a final piece.

Un Ballo in Maschera is Yinka's film. From this I decided to make my own storyboard on how I could do a live performance set up on the day of the final exhibition. He also did still freeze frame type photographs which I compared this to my own photographs I have being taking throughout the week. I can develop this into making the scenery myself and have the models in different positions to make a freeze frame.

These are just some of Yinka's sculptures that caught my eye the most, these ones in my opinion link into my work really well. I have gained a variety of ideas on how I can now put together my final piece. The African influences also help my ideas as I know this is plausible and help me see how I can interpret colours and patterns into my African traditions.   

My final idea? 

Using the table with the 13 headless figures (sculpture) that Yinka Shonibare did gave me the idea to have my traditions on the 'top table' as they have a weddings also photo frames or and small installation of the Arnolfini recreations I did earlier this week. - Maybe I could use the storyboard I did on the same design sheet and create a video to go in the installation or behind the table itself. 

My Experiments Developed

Using Adobe Photoshop I put all my photographs and Internet images together and created two outcomes, one for Chinese traditions and one for African traditions. My Photoshop skills are not great however you can tell the point of the image. 

One the left I have the Chinese culture, I added the two models in place of Arnolfini and his wife. I add the lantern to replace the chandelier above and a children's tea set in the bottom left of the painting to represent the Chinese tea ceremony. I Google imaged a 'Chinese Dog' and replaced it with the original dog in the painting.

One the right I have the African culture, I added the two models in place of Arnolfini and his wife however this one was more difficult as I forgot to add arms on the groom's side. I placed the broom in the bottom left of the image and I Google imaged 'African Dog' and replaced this with the original dog in the painting.

Developing My Experiements

My Representation of Wedding Traditions in China and Africa - I do not have that many objects to go from however I have made a lot of effort with all that I could find. 

Chinese Tradition

The tea set is to represent the Chinese tea ceremony when I recreate the Arnolfini Portrait the tea set will replace the oranges on the right side of the painting. 

I also brought I lantern, the only ones in store thought were pink, blue and white with multicoloured dots, so I opted for the pink one as it was the closest colour to red. I then used Adobe Photoshop, Hue/Saturation to change the colour of the lantern so it could be red I then used the Paintbrush tool to fix the edges up.

If this piece becomes successful I will add more traditions into the background of my recreation of the painting.

African Tradition 

The jumping over the broom tradition really interested me, so I brought all I could find around the market and shops in the city centre and used a broom in college (I should of really brought a proper broom that they use) and I 'tried' to decorate the broom in the best possible way that African's would. This in the Arnolfini Portrait will go on the floor on the left of the painting where the groom, shoes and oranges are.

Developing My Experiments

My Chinese Representation - I had a meter of gold organza, a meter of basic red fabric and a meter of a red detailed Chinese dragon pattern. I only brought a small quantity just to experiment with and to see how my images turn out. If my images turn out well then I will buy more fabric to make my photos more realistic. The two models below are in the positions that represent the couple in the Arnolfini Portrait.

Here I used Adobe Photoshop as his jeans and trainers were on show, I used the stamp tool on the gold organza to wash out the blue of his jeans also on the patterned fabric on the other part of his jeans to make them look like part of the outfit also I used the stamp tool to get the colour of the background onto his trainers. As you can see compare this outfit to my African attempt this one has more thought into where his arms would go and the way the fabric is placed.

These images I had my friend who is a fashion student to help me with the outfit. The fabrics really fall well on this model, however I did use Adobe Photoshop to change the colour of the model top to red so it goes with the under skirt, so now with the red top it looks like a red dress instead of a skirt.

Developing My Experiments

My African Representation - I had a meter of gold organza, half a meter of a gold thicker fabric and two patterned scarfs to work with. I only brought a small quantity just to experiment with and see how my images turn out. If they turn out well I will buy more to make my images more realistic. The two models below are in the positions that represent the couple in the Arnolfini Portrait.

Here I had to use Adobe Photoshop as I did not think the costume through. I forgot to have his arms out and plus his jeans and trainers are showing, so I used the stamp tool on photo to repeat the patter of the scarf on top on to his jeans, I also used the stamp tool to back his trainers a similar colour to the background so they do not look as obvious.

The woman version turned out better as I thought through the costume more also I had my friend who is a fashion student help me out this time. The patterns do not clash as much in these images, I really like the style the fabrics are done. If all works well with my collage piece then I will buy more fabrics to style her up again.

Developing My Experiments

Over the weekend I went to Birmingham City Rag Market a brought a range of fabrics so I could start recreating pieces in my own African and Chinese style of the Arnolfini Portrait. 

I also brought bits and pieces I could find to recreate some of the traditions that I could have in the background to add to the symbolism of the culture.

Children's tea set to symbolise the Chinese tea ceremony, A pink lantern (which I will change to red) as decoration for the Chinese wedding and housing and party decoration added onto a broom for the jumping over the broom ceremony in an African wedding.

Developing My Experiments

Back to the Arnolfini Portrait, I used this painting and my acetated experiments (below). I am now going to focus on Chinese and African culture. I am going to recreate these pieces by photographs and collage.