PROJECT 3 - ASK ME ANYTHING - “Scroll Through An Artist’s Thoughts”
This is such a long post I’m so sorry you don’t have to read it (but Andy and Karen pls read it, or maybe skim through it I basically wrote and essay thank you)
The illustrator I chose being Victo Ngai has specifically spoken about her growing up in Hong Kong being a massive influence on her work. This combined with her style that integrates the appearance of printing and fine line work, and her now living in LA - I wanted to implement the theme of line work (specifically horizontal and vertical). This relating to both her unique art style and the written ways of both Chinese and English (Chinese being written in a vertical manner, and English written horizontally). What better way to portray a horizontal line, through a literal horizontal line? Hence the 3m long scroll I decided to use as my format. Ngai puts a contemporary twist on traditional style through her works, and this ‘modern’ version of a traditional scroll I though fit perfectly with the feel of her works. The questions in this interview related to her thoughts and mindset, often using metaphors to explain herself caused Ngai to ramble on a little - creating this progression-al (I don’t think that’s a real word) sort of explanation to her answers. The idea of a scroll being a continuous line gives it more of a infinite feel, as this is HER journey, with never-ending, unceasing thoughts.
I thought about how else I could integrate the idea of horizontal/vertical lines through my format. I was tempted to do pop-ups, foldouts and multiple layers of paper like lots of people did with their zines, but figured that strayed a little far from my original intentions (also the scroll might then be too thick to… scroll). Binding each individual page by hand sewing with red thread (the colour being a tribute to Ngai’s culture and the vibrant colours in her work) was definitely a challenge - but by sewing one page horizontally, one page vertically, etc. I was able to highlight my ideas. Throughout the entire scroll, on each page the alignments of photos and text create vertical and horizontal lines - defining a vital part of what makes Victo Ngai, Victo Ngai.
Literally scrolling through the illustrator’s thoughts, I wanted to showcase purely her works, and by adding too much detail to one page I think distracted the viewer from what is being shown, and what I wanted to display. By showing an entire work on one page, it sets the mood and feel of the question and answer on the following page - as well as allowing the viewer to admire the detailed and unique style of her work.
I could go into much more detail, (and maybe i’ll come back to write more), but that’s pretty much the jist of it all!
MY THOUGHTS THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT:
I initially had a tough time with this project. I was completely frustrated by the fact that n o, I shouldn’t draw or use my own creations to showcase someone else’s work - which makes complete sense. I felt in some ways, that I was the curator for an exhibition, and my interviewee was the artist.
Once that barrier was overcome and I accepted the fact that for this project, no drawing Lauren. Other students started to post their creations, and the amazing format of their zines, CD’s, pop ups, etc. My mind was blown and I was so shook by the amount of creativity in our course, and I attempted to follow a similar route with my project. Bits and bobs flying everywhere and a ‘messed up’ composition. After showing this to Andy, he pointed out how scattered everything seemed, with not much hierarchy - and basically asked me to redo my pages. He gave me a brief rundown of indesign and how I could take advantage of it for my project in specific and made me realise that I don’t have to fill everything with mass amounts of detail and cram it all into one page just to be ‘creative’.
I recollected my thoughts and went back to the original intention of creating something that reflected my own artist, something that worked well with THEIR works. My artist’s works have ‘flatness’ to them due to the print-like style and flat colours, as well as intricate detail and line work. I then decided - no pop-ups, no extra flaps or sheets of paper, rather one clean, flat design that allows the viewer to delve into small details and symbols, as well as having space to breathe, admire and enjoy (something Ngai stated she feels great pleasure in allowing her audience to do).
Here are some things I learnt throughout this project:
- I hate sewing, and cannot sew to save my life.
- Stay at the printing shop until you’re 150% certain you have everything correct, or you will be going back for three days in a row.
- CREATIVITY is not just being ‘quirky’.
- Victo Ngai is an amazing person and artist I have been and will always be greatly inspired by.
The project made me open my eyes to another side of creativity that I have yet to venture into, and I am excited to know that I have yet another skill that I have just begun to learn (began? begun?? which one is it?).
That’s all for now :)) Thanks for reading if you’ve made it to this point.
