Assignment 4: Awakening (Final)

The concept behind this image is an individual’s social awakening. I believe we, as humans, are all bounded by the blue fabric of reality. This fabric restricts our movements and thoughts, but it keeps us safe within the boundaries of reality. However, there will always be a few who would gain a new insight. This social awakening encountered by the guy in the middle, is represented through the releasing of the blue fabric. The wing like structure formed by the ribbons showed his liberation and ‘enlightenment’.

However, reality beyond the blue fabric, beautiful as it is, is not what it seems. The true reality is in fact more precarious and overwhelming. So here comes the choice for the individual. If the awakened individual is overwhelmed by the true reality, he would plunge to his death. However, if he wants to, he could always get back into the fabric of reality with his new insight and keep silent about it forever. Or he could awaken the rest with this new found knowledge.

This is the purpose of this picture. With education, we know there is something wrong with this world, the government and social structure. However, a lot of us choose to conform to them despite having the knowledge. Some of us are activists who silently protest the government and seek to enlighten the rest. There are also those who failed terribly and lose their mind and soul to this new knowledge. What are we going to do when we gain this knowledge? What can we do to enact change? Are we being manipulated without us knowing about it? These are all questions worth pondering about as we inspect this image.

Regarding the technique, I used simple Photoshop tools to put the various images together, First I have to take the different people individually and crop the blue cloth onto them. I then used erase tool to create the cloudy effect on the guy in the middle. This gives the impression that he is rising above the clouds.

This current picture and concept is an evolution of the three pictures I did previously on Consumerism.

Assignment 4: Surrealism (Take 3)

Version 1

Version 2

This is my third attempt at Assignment 4.

Basically this time round I want to portray that the fabric of reality is weak. But we as humans do not wish to break out of the save state we are in and wish to be deceived by it. However there are the few that do break away from the fabric of reality but they realise that reality is indeed scary and hence they are now at a loss what to do with the new found enlightenment.

The blue fabric represent reality and I use fabrics instead of chains, is because I wish to portray that the way to get out of the pseudo reality is actually quite easy. The person in the middle has struggled out of the binds and is now struggling to take in everything the new world presents to him. Whatever he do now is up to him, he can either go back to the pseudo reality and do nothing or he can change the way other people perceive the world or he might be too overwhelmed by the new world that he falls to his death.

This is basically what I wish to say with my picture. Hope it works feedback please thanks!

Assignment 4: Urban Fantasy (Take 2)

Hi, as some of you might know my theme is consumerism. Hence I would like to stick to it and make it more surreal... Basically what I am trying to say is the brands and labels glorify your image (the angel wings) however they tie you down as well (explaining the ribbons) and also the brands are acting as a second skin on you...

Anyways I wasnt sure what kinda of background I should use... the initial plan was to make everything black and white.... but when I added the 'Blue Label' ribbon at the bottom, the effect would be totally lost in black and white... hence I decided to stick with color... however a plain white background might look bad... hence i decided to use some other pics or paint my own background... so suggestions pls...

Feedback: Anyways here are some of the feedback I got. Basically it does not seem surreal enough. Some commented maybe it might look more surreal if the picture was turned upside down. Another comment was this was more suitable for the Final Assignment. Hence it might be better if I start afresh or work and improve on my previous concept on Princesses.

Assignment 4: Urban Fantasy/Surrealism (Take 1)

This week's assignment was on Surrealism and the theme was Urban Fantasy/Urban Phenomena.

My interpretation of Urban Fantasy was magic in an urban real world. Hence the first thing that came to mind was Disney's Princesses. I wanted to use them to portray consumerism in society. Snow White came to mind first. I used the Apple iPod to replace the poisoned apple that killed Snow White. The song playing on the iPod is 'Toxic' by Britney Spears but it seemed to small to be noticed but I generally wanted to use current brands to portray consumerism and using the princesses's signature scenes to beautify it.

However I am disappointed with my picture. It seemed to lack the wow factor. And I think it looked alittle boring and abstract for some people.

Final Picture!

Snow White

Picture Breakdown:

Here is the second picture for this assignment. I call it Cinderella because she inspired this picture. I originally wanted to put both Snow White and Cinderella together in one picture but I worry and think that it might be too messy. Hence I decided to seperate them. I think what I am missing is a clock or something that is more significant for Cinderella.

Cinderella

Picture Breakdown: