Falling off the line, and splitting the Atoms.

After so many briefs, with a sickle in my hand from Marxist - I mean Critical Studies and too much in-depth thought into the concept of a line I can bear to begin to even count.I fell out with my fellow comrades discussing 'end-of-world theories', and even groping around in the dark for far fectched nature worship ideals.

For example, something I can normally relate to or, since we are in the "linear" investigation, is the ever changing idealologies along within computer/console games.
( I separate the 2 as they are very different in context, you will often find a pc gamer is more thourough when it comes to addressing more technical portions of their hardware, console gamers generally rely on internet based provides to update games.)
This deadly over reaction to reading into messages throws me to assume, or rather visualise how, or what is changing the way we see the world, but by means of an almost subliminal brainwashing with the repetition of gameplay in some contexts., not a very good one, but nonetheless a scary "What If...?" situation. This alongside "Bioshock"
For the official website with some nostalgic visuals visit:

www.fallout.bethsoft.com/

www.2kgames.com/bioshock/

By looking at the surroundings and decor of Bioshock, I think it is more visually engaging, and the reference to post and pre-30s culture is greatly exploited to an extent where the game reaches a warped perspective on not only the art and design style of the period, and some ideologies explored by the intense experience of the game itself.


Fallout 3 on the other hand, takes its influence for its appearance only ten years after Bioshock, and elaborates on the stress and tension encountered during the cold war, showing a suppressed main character being enclosed and isolated by capitalist and pseudo-dictatorate regime. The freedom that is gained from a self-proclaimed company vault is greeted by a desolate desperate dog eat dog world.

http://www.lulu.com/content/4567422

Animals and photoshopped solutions

After floundering about on my subject, I found a fellow blogger who has done 100 animals in photoshop then illustrator. Stuart Wade takes peoples suggestions for an animal they would like to see done in his style, he then makes them available for prints, and makes videos of the process of developing the animals. His work is really something, and i thought it also helps to give my research some backing.

Statement of intent Pt.2

Cheekily I have just edited what was here, but to be honest it was shamefully stated in any case.

Title/Focus: "Flaganimals/Country Fauna"

At this moment in time, considering the ever mounting pile of excessive research I have gathered, and still with no inspiration found from artists, or even designers, it seems to me that i will have to plough on and wait until payday, when i can buy some books for reference, instead of loosely based facts from the internet. I have also been looking into how flags and animals bear a great identity to some countries, eg Australia - Kangaroo, New Zealand - kiwi, Russia - Bear, North America - Bald eagle, etc. So naturally i will be looking into data collection on the statitistics of the various Fauna of the world, based on their size, country of origin, and diet. Depending on my time management, i would consider incorporating some form of a map in order to show the locations of the animals. However, looking at the books i have, it seems that the only way to make animals and flags "interesting" is.......well no one really has, the facts are presented ina very textbook fashion, so some form of new spin on the conceot of a book will have to be considered. Likewise with flags and their symbolism considering colours, the stripes, or even arms, and seals on the flags. At this point, I am still relatively stumped with a near-end outcome.

Research Information

Well since I have an ongoing body of research, I currently have 100 hellos, 100 languages, 100 braille greetings, over 100 flags and countries. So narrowing it down and refining my ever changing ideas is going to be hard. Primary research seems to be a real no-go at the moment, since alot of my research is already compiled and logged. So working with what I have will obviously create some rifts.

Methods & Processes

I have created some mock ups of books and different methods based on binding options, but want to stray from the concept of a book all together, however at this moment in time I think some sort of common traditional book binding, or japanese bind seems most appropriate.
This section seems to be a hard topic to touch on, like i mentioned earlier about problems concerning visually creating something, from essentially nothing.
However, I think vectors, photographs, and working with illustrator and obviously InDesign could really help with the layout of my book, or whatever outcome will appear from this.
Matching data with other data (Flags + Animals, Animals+countries) will be my main focus, as to essentially nail the content before i even start to begin visualising the end resolve.

Evaluation

There will be an ongoing anaylsis in my sketchbook, as you can probably tell, im nowhere near posting as much as I can, as most my time thus far has been researching, and travelling home, and I dont get on to post what im doing much. This besides the point, my evaluation will be continous, in crits and by asking my fellow peers, and holding mini crits with fellow students.

Statement of intent/ "100" Proposal

After my research I gathered over the winter months on "holiday" I chose to look at the topic of "Greetings" not only how people greet each other, but how different methods of communication can be visually interpreted and documented.
My research at first lagged to say the least, as the categories for my subject was limited.(Verbal and Non-verbal) I looked into braille, and how it worked on not just a physical level, but on a visual one as well. Another non verbal ways to communicate included sign language - and thanks to a handy book my father bout me for christmas - tattoos, (the book entitled "Russian Criminal Tattoos - Vol.3) which were a great insight into how prisoners in the far east of the worlds largest land mass not only talked to each other, but how they were pre-judged in a visual way, then re-assessed mentally. Woah. Mental.
From this bulk of research I managed to narrow it down, or rather expand, my focus onto "100 hellos from 100 countries in 100 languages" Although it seems to be a near impossible thing to cram into a 4 week period, I am trying to do just that. I am going to collect all the relevant map information regarding language location, and I am aiming to produce an atlas/map style poster showing all the countries locations, flags, etc. To be honest the layout is debateable at this stage as the constant re-analysis of my statistics and research, alongside re-categorisation as a constant threat, i would say my intent at this moment in time is translucent to say the least, despite my design process.

What is a book?

Found this mental book design that uses inverse braile and interpretive illustrations, just after doing a google search for braile alphabets, this came up, but it totally strips the conventional use of a book and uses 3 techniques and colours to give the book an emphatic finish, not sure who did it, but I still think its worth a big mention.

My research consisted of alot of non-visual means, as the only real categories I could establish were verbal and non verbal. Despite these seemingly limited options, I managed to make braille a visual means to communicate, by this I mean - using the references to the braille dictionary I had - a video, that was current with my theme "100 Hellos" in 100 languages. However, the research I have thus far gathered is soley internet based, as my time cannot be bent to my will doing what I would of loved to have done when I get a chance. . . nose around in the local library!

But heres the video anyway....

As you can see it is a work in progress. But due to the fact only people who have full vision and have a clear knowledge would be able to view it, which seems a bit pointless, but i still think it has a visual impact on the viewer, all images were gridded up accordance to the braille system *see research file. Then edited on photoshop.
It also seems that artist reference to my subject matter is harder to attain than a pound of platinum. Maybe a new approach is needed....

I have been an ongoing David Firth fan since the dawn of his website. Sadistic, un-pc, violent, yet embedded with clever messaging and riddled with northern accents and dialects. His use of flash, and grim illustrations make his work something really special, not only that but not only does he do animation, he is also the genius behind the chav, devvo. This is a clip from a series of TV shorts he made for Charlie Brooker. Hilarious, off-the-wall and totally worthwhile. Check out Firth's website : http://www.fat-pie.com/

Shalom, Shalay, Shawaaaaa?

The shakiest attempt at teaching kids how to greet the global rainbow. That was un-PC of me but still this video is hilarious and relates to my research over the holidays... sort of.

What, Dear?

Just a little dibble I did on my XXXmas walks.

luke drozd, in short

Luke Drozd focused in fine art, he studied a BA at leeds metropolitan university and recently his career has blossomed. This includes studying towards a masters in London in fine art at chelsea college of art and design.

I admire his work and his ideas behind the subject, his style and the way it simplifies everything. Easy to read, really morbid. its not really challenging in terms of controvercy, howeveer his work leaves a good impression on me. I personally think this has an influence onmy illustrations. (afterwards insert picture pending)

his work has been exhibited - here is an example of his work -

" Through my work i hope to create a rich and varied body of work which manages to feel cohesive, honest and visceral. . . . . .They can be seen as individual investigations linked by a common thread, a series of slight gestures altering the way the works are read both alone and on mass. . . "