University Project
Brief:
Self-publishing forms a vital part of an illustrator’s practice. Taking matters into our own hands, and publishing our own work gives us the opportunity to create personal work without restraints. The only requirement is that you use the project to create something which reflects your passions, and truly represents you as an illustrator.
The final outcome must be printed with a minimum of 2 colours using risograph.
Mediums:
Risograph Print, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PremierePro
I picked out the main themes I wanted to focus on - repetition, things being tampered with and masks (or a second face).
Storyline:
A person wakes up from a nightmare but quickly shifts back into an empty expression, which we see is the usual mask they wear. We see an instance of them staring at the ceiling and then standing in a shower, as the water runs. The narrative shifts suddenly into more confusing and abstract visuals, formed by the bubbles from the shampoo. This transition from static, repetitive images to fluid shapes is akin to dissociation. The person floats into a bigger bubble and loses themselves to an explosion of colour and lines. As the human figure reforms, we see them collapsed on their knees, frustrated and desperate. They slam their fists into the ground and the impact causes dust to circle and build a new form. As the clouds dissipate, we see an inhuman, divine creature. The person and deity extend hands but as soon as they touch, the person falls to dust. Disappointed, the deity crouches and writes a “3” with the ashes left behind.
Rather than doing individual pages on A5 or A4, I decided to fit all of my pages onto an A2 sheet of paper. I had considered having my final book in a small scale because it would be easy to transport and handle, as well as convey a more personal feeling.
I settled on the colours orange, blue, pink and black after looking at my existing artwork. I think those are the most prominent colours that appear in my work.
I split the book pages into bundles that I used a Singer sewing machine to sew together. Then using PVA glue, I put together the bundles and clamp them using normal stationary clips. When the glue had dried, I used more PVA to stick on the book spine and covers.
I wanted to push the concept further and focus on the aspect of ashes. I considered putting a finished book inside a big matchsticks box and including three matches. Whoever reads the book, has the choice of burning it. This more interactive and immersive experience would leave a longer lasting impression on the reader. The concepts of fragility, time and falling apart all tie into the story, which represents dissociation.