FINISHED ZINE (Ask Me Anything!)
I was going to wait to upload these until I got all my posts up in chronological order, but I figure I may as well get this up and start fresh afterwards. I know, what a mess. Can you feel my struggle through the screen? Thank you next Miss ‘Rona, I will not miss you next semester.
Now to discuss the actual Zine…
In choosing a significant and influential figure in design, I chose none other than THE David Hockney. His contributions to art and design have always been a huge source of inspiration from me, especially his never ending curiosity into the next best thing (eg. the obsession with digital art and the use of technology in advancing art). However, I didn’t want to just interview Hockney as himself because he is still a living artist, and he can therefore speak for himself. I chose to look through some of his older work, as I was also interested in art pop. I remembered his “Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)” from 1972 and looked into the ideas behind the portrait. Turns out, the painting is packed full with insight to a time nearing the end of Pop Art, and a commentary on the difference between his upbringing in England and the decadence of California’s lifestyle. I thought this was really poignant, and despite its fun and playful personality, left a lot unsaid within the painting itself.
I then decided I would interview the figure from the painting to add another layer to the understanding of the piece. I wanted to give the figure some of their humanity back, and explore the way Pop Art was experienced for a young person at the time. I aimed to centre the figure on a life that honours Hockney’s (such as his sexuality, his affinity for America and the mediums he used to express these things), and discuss the attraction of the figure to Pop Art through their experiences in California. The metaphor of the swimming pool being a world of luxury and experience that the figure had yet to ever ‘dive’ into was the idea behind the whole project, which I think is communicated in the interview.
Aside from taking a million days to research what the actual hell a zine *is*, I can honestly say that this might be one! I guess we’ll find out when the grades come in. This assignment was sooo fun that I think I made like three copies just to muck around before settling on this one. I’m actually really proud of this work (hell, I’m proud I even have something to hand in), I think for someone who was so confused and doubtful about this assignment its a wild success. Maybe I should refrain from using the word “success” until someone else tells me it’s successful. Oh well.
Reposting for the sake of keeping a chronological order SORRY GUYS
I love this so much idk it feels like I’m personally having this conversation with the figure haha. And I love how you blocked out the figures and manipulated them to serve another purpose for the zine. Everything just ties in together so well!!
















