“She took a step and didn't want to take any more, but she did.” - Markus Zusak. Every individual has a perspective of their reality and surroundings. Over the semester I have been developing a range of soft skills while studying Alice in Wonderland in the Object Performance studio stream. We all interpret the world divergently some people are optimistic, realistic or pessimistic. The purpose of my project is to portray to my audience what my interpretation of ‘Wonderland’ is through a range of mediums and also relate wonderland to my reality of living in Auckland City. Throughout the semester I explored a variety of creative practices, as a result my final project for submission is: a series of digital prints, laser cut roses, wonderland box with a range of objects from the books and movies, a short story and a small Arduino circuit. These are my main research points throughout the semester: photo manipulation art, textile pattern design, and author: Lewis Carroll, NZ author: Kirsty Gunn and the Alice in Wonderland film(s). My final project reveals what it is like to be in an unfamiliar environment with a mental illness through a range of creative technology mediums.
A range of still image artists and fabrications have influenced my digital prints. I chose to do photo-manipulation to express my conceptualisation of ‘Wonderland’. My main artist models which I have referenced for my designs are: Andy Warhol, Fiona Pardington, Salvador Dali, André Kertész, Sarah Charlesworth and Lisa Reihana. I chose silk charmeuse to print my photo-manipulation images onto as it aesthetically reveals an art gallery ambience. Using a lightweight fabric signifies the delicacy of my version of ‘Wonderland’ and how each individual’s ideas can be fragile; especially when exposing them to other people, as students can feel vulnerable when presenting their work to their peers. The final six series of my work communicate how it feels to be living in ‘Wonderland’ and today’s society.
Layered laser cut art have been a significant inspiration for my Alice in Wonderland roses to be physically made. Anila Quayyum Agha is the fundamental artist model for me wanting to create a laser cut image. Witnessing numerous laser cut artworks gave me the incentive to pursue creating layered roses at the 3D Lab. I have expressed my interpretation of what the ‘red roses’ from Alice in Wonderland look like by painting some layers to represent how the Queen wants everything to be her way. In this instance I have created ‘Wonderland’ in the way I envision it. Understanding the process of laser cutting has benefited myself, because I can take away from our degree a useful design skill.
My ‘Wonderland’ environment model I have made has been influenced from a variety of stories and films. Symbolism is a major factor for the final outcome of this physical re-creation. I have made my own objects and have purchased a variety of items which represent the original and retold stories of Alice in Wonderland. I collaborate a sympoiesis viewpoint between my own interpretation of the environment and the historical translation of ‘Wonderland’. By having a collection of objects I wanted them to convey a message that everything has a purpose in life, everything is not straightforward once you have given energy and time into each item placed inside and outside of my wooden black box.
Incorporating creative writing to describe a short story of my current perception of the environment I am surrounded by I reference Lewis Carroll’s story of Alice and Wonderland. Kirsty Gunn is also a short story Aoteroa author who has been an influence on my short story. I wanted to portray what it is like moving to a new environment when you have a range of mental illnesses and how it feels like adjusting to a larger city. Reflecting on where I currently live and how it affects me on a day to day basis relates to Alice feeling lost while being trapped in Wonderland. Expressing how you feel through literature has helped me mentally, because it can be challenging and you can feel lost in a new environment, but it is crucial to be able to express how you are feeling when you are trapped in your own thoughts.
To conclude my project is relevant to creative technologies, because I have embodied a diverse range of creative technologist practices which include: digital design, photo manipulation, laser cutting, physical computing, soldering, woodwork, literature and painting. I chose to present my work in a gallery like exhibition, because I want people to visualise what I have produced as a result of my vision of ‘Wonderland’ is and could potentially be.