Claire McCreath
The girl was in a very pleasant sleep huddled within all her pillows in her nice comfy bed. She was dreaming of driving a Cadillac through floaty clouds to the moon watching and following 6 birds in the distance. Wondering what it would be like to actually be in space, its what she has always dreamed of.
James Bennet
The girl is flying above the clouds, dreaming of a holiday in Havana, with sun, clear skies, and old Cadillacs.
Jenica Trivedi
She let her mind drift off, through the clouds in the vast sky. Surrounded by ample amounts of cushions, she placed herself in the driver's seat of the candy pink Cadillac and cruised her way to the far away lands that stretched through to the extents of her imagination.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Friday, 5 February 2010
Childhood Photographs
Just before Christmas our lecturer asked us have a look for some of our childhood photographs and select a few we would be happy to use for Design Studies in the second semester.
Most of my friends were really exited about this intriguing task and wondered what kind of purpose it might have. As to my own opinion on this, well... I felt a little awkward, a little unsure and for definite I felt that this task could possibly push me to get out of the security or rather privacy zone I have created and guarded over the years.
During our first lecture in this new semester, the news of what the task is going to be was finally delivered. And it seemed much more interesting then I imaged. We were to pick someone amongst us whom we don't know and swap pictures with them. After a careful consideration of the photos we had to discuss our findings with that person and then deliver the truth about our own childhood/personality if any different form what they thought.
The person that I swapped my photographs with is a girl called Amy Joe from Interior and Environmental Design. I must admit I have not spoken to her before and I had no idea what kind of person she could possibly be. That made this task even more exiting and this is what I think Amy is like, purely on the basis of her photos:
1. Amy has a sister or brother who is about the same age as she is.
2. Amy had a happy childhood and seemed to be a smiling and very active child.
3. Amy has a really playful personality and probably likes joking about with her friends and family.
4. Amy was really into fashion/grown up things when she was younger, she liked dressing up and trying on her mums cloths. Based on that I think she might have a strong relationship with her mum/family.
5. Amy has a big group of friends and is really popular. People like spending time with her and she is hardly ever alone.
6. Amy was/is close to her siblings/cousins.
7. Amy likes outdoor activities, being out and about and having a good time enjoying winter sports (especially snowboarding).
8. Amy likes changes. She likes experimenting and is not scared to try out new things.
9. Amy likes music and going to gigs and concerts. I think she must have went to T in the Park in the past and probably loved it. I think she might enjoy camping too.
10. Amy is really into fashion and she's got a good dressing sense. She seems to like newest trends and has a sporty but still very modern sense of style.
11. Amy loves to go out and I'm sure she's out quite a bit. She enjoys drinking with friends and late night take aways after a night out.
12. Amy likes going to themed parties because that gives her a chance to dress up. I am not sure but I think she might have joined the scuba diving club.
13. Amy looks after herself very well, likes putting on make up and possibly goes to the gym and practises a sport or two regularly.
14. Amy loves going on holidays and probably has already planned one for this spring break and summer.
15. Amy is a confident person.
Most of my friends were really exited about this intriguing task and wondered what kind of purpose it might have. As to my own opinion on this, well... I felt a little awkward, a little unsure and for definite I felt that this task could possibly push me to get out of the security or rather privacy zone I have created and guarded over the years.
During our first lecture in this new semester, the news of what the task is going to be was finally delivered. And it seemed much more interesting then I imaged. We were to pick someone amongst us whom we don't know and swap pictures with them. After a careful consideration of the photos we had to discuss our findings with that person and then deliver the truth about our own childhood/personality if any different form what they thought.
The person that I swapped my photographs with is a girl called Amy Joe from Interior and Environmental Design. I must admit I have not spoken to her before and I had no idea what kind of person she could possibly be. That made this task even more exiting and this is what I think Amy is like, purely on the basis of her photos:
1. Amy has a sister or brother who is about the same age as she is.
2. Amy had a happy childhood and seemed to be a smiling and very active child.
3. Amy has a really playful personality and probably likes joking about with her friends and family.
4. Amy was really into fashion/grown up things when she was younger, she liked dressing up and trying on her mums cloths. Based on that I think she might have a strong relationship with her mum/family.
5. Amy has a big group of friends and is really popular. People like spending time with her and she is hardly ever alone.
6. Amy was/is close to her siblings/cousins.
7. Amy likes outdoor activities, being out and about and having a good time enjoying winter sports (especially snowboarding).
8. Amy likes changes. She likes experimenting and is not scared to try out new things.
9. Amy likes music and going to gigs and concerts. I think she must have went to T in the Park in the past and probably loved it. I think she might enjoy camping too.
10. Amy is really into fashion and she's got a good dressing sense. She seems to like newest trends and has a sporty but still very modern sense of style.
11. Amy loves to go out and I'm sure she's out quite a bit. She enjoys drinking with friends and late night take aways after a night out.
12. Amy likes going to themed parties because that gives her a chance to dress up. I am not sure but I think she might have joined the scuba diving club.
13. Amy looks after herself very well, likes putting on make up and possibly goes to the gym and practises a sport or two regularly.
14. Amy loves going on holidays and probably has already planned one for this spring break and summer.
15. Amy is a confident person.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Sudan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/darfur
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/820864.stm
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/12/10/sudan.darfur/index.html#cnnSTCText
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Darfur
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/sudan_darfuroverview.html
All the above links are connected to the current Sudanese politics as well as the war in Darfur.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/820864.stm
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/12/10/sudan.darfur/index.html#cnnSTCText
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Darfur
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/sudan_darfuroverview.html
All the above links are connected to the current Sudanese politics as well as the war in Darfur.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
New Year
will bring changes. Hopefully.
I just read an article about the current political situation in Sudan. I must admit I did know about this country's difficulties however I did not realise the extent of them. The president, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, seems not to accept any responsibility for the deaths of the country's civilians which is over 200,000 as the UN reports. Western media brought our attention to the issue as well, for example the BBC transmitted an interview with the president discussing the tribal conflicts and the civil war in the southern area of the country, as well as the unreasonable government's interventions in these kind of fights which only causes more deaths. After dismissing many of the journalist's questions the president concluded that the Sudanese government is for peace and it can not stand even one of it's citizens being killed unnecessarily. It is all empty words though and it did not fail to make me feel angry and powerless. Is there anything I could do to help to change the situation in Sudan for the better? I am guessing there is very little we could do apart from blogging about it and starting a worldwide discussion. There is so much to be done, even now in 2010.
I just read an article about the current political situation in Sudan. I must admit I did know about this country's difficulties however I did not realise the extent of them. The president, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, seems not to accept any responsibility for the deaths of the country's civilians which is over 200,000 as the UN reports. Western media brought our attention to the issue as well, for example the BBC transmitted an interview with the president discussing the tribal conflicts and the civil war in the southern area of the country, as well as the unreasonable government's interventions in these kind of fights which only causes more deaths. After dismissing many of the journalist's questions the president concluded that the Sudanese government is for peace and it can not stand even one of it's citizens being killed unnecessarily. It is all empty words though and it did not fail to make me feel angry and powerless. Is there anything I could do to help to change the situation in Sudan for the better? I am guessing there is very little we could do apart from blogging about it and starting a worldwide discussion. There is so much to be done, even now in 2010.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Biblography, References, Websites
Bibliography :
Banksy, (2005), Wall and Piece, London, Random House
Palmer, R., (2008), Street Art Chile, London, Eight Books Limited
References :
Banksy, (2002), Existencilism, London, Weapons of Mass Distraction
Banksy, (2001), Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall, London, Weapons of Mass Distraction
Bull, M., (2007), Banksy Locations and Tours, London, TU ink
Websites:
www.banksy.co.uk
www.picturesonwalls.com
www.space-invaders.com
www.bleklerat.fr
www.faile.net
www.dface.co.uk
www.wikipedia.com
Banksy, (2005), Wall and Piece, London, Random House
Palmer, R., (2008), Street Art Chile, London, Eight Books Limited
References :
Banksy, (2002), Existencilism, London, Weapons of Mass Distraction
Banksy, (2001), Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall, London, Weapons of Mass Distraction
Bull, M., (2007), Banksy Locations and Tours, London, TU ink
Websites:
www.banksy.co.uk
www.picturesonwalls.com
www.space-invaders.com
www.bleklerat.fr
www.faile.net
www.dface.co.uk
www.wikipedia.com
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Conclusion
In general, graffiti is considered a crime against private or public property. It is also believed that it causes the “broken window effect” which states that minor crimes like vandalism encourage more serious crimes to be taking place in the effected area. However, by studying the art work of Banksy as well as Chilean street art, I have demonstrated that graffiti has another side to it - art. The ideas presented on our city walls make us reconsider certain aspects of the modern society, they stimulate changes even if it is just by starting the thinking process.
Banksy’s approach towards the issue of graffiti being against the law could potentially shock some:
“ Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place.“
The above quotation features in “ Wall and Piece”, a book dedicated to documenting his street art before it gets taken away or simply pained over by the authorities. The artist’s style is illustrated in an excellent manner in this publication which makes it truly inspiring to anyone with slightest interest in the arts or the modern world in general. The most prominent reason for that is, the fact that Banksy’s work seem to find some sort of connection to global politics or morality and also the artist has got a point of view which I find rather interesting. Through his work he fights corruption and draws the attention of the public to issues of highest importance. What impresses me most about it, is the way he manages to find a special way to connect those serious problems to humour. The ironic approach to the police or the war never fails to surprise the audience while making sure it will stay in their memory for a long time.
On the other hand, the second book I studied develops an overall approach towards street art. It seems to present to whole picture of it and the ways it has developed in one country, in this case Chile. It has been really interesting to observe the process of graffiti being introduced and then developed into something unique, a style that is only to be found in that country. Considering Chile’s geographical location it is understandable that most of its street art influences come from the neighbouring countries or otherwise other South American countries. However recently, more and more European connections are to be found on the walls of Santiago and the big cities of Chile. Blek le Rat and Banksy had their own influence on some of Chilean graffiti artists as well. I found it incredible to discover how many connections are made between street artists globally. Everyone in the industry seems to be aware of what is happening on the graffiti scene in different countries, on the opposite ends of the planet.
I love street art, I adore most of its aspects. The unexpectedness of it’s designs, colours, shapes, patterns and characters as well as the randomness of its places of presentation. In my opinion, there is something that connects street art, especially graffiti to shamanism. I do not quite understand this part yet, probably because I have not experienced the emotion of the artist behind the work. I have no idea how amazing the rush of it feels and how much satisfaction it gives to its author. I guess I will never know fully how it feels. Not unless I try it for real.
Banksy’s approach towards the issue of graffiti being against the law could potentially shock some:
“ Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place.“
The above quotation features in “ Wall and Piece”, a book dedicated to documenting his street art before it gets taken away or simply pained over by the authorities. The artist’s style is illustrated in an excellent manner in this publication which makes it truly inspiring to anyone with slightest interest in the arts or the modern world in general. The most prominent reason for that is, the fact that Banksy’s work seem to find some sort of connection to global politics or morality and also the artist has got a point of view which I find rather interesting. Through his work he fights corruption and draws the attention of the public to issues of highest importance. What impresses me most about it, is the way he manages to find a special way to connect those serious problems to humour. The ironic approach to the police or the war never fails to surprise the audience while making sure it will stay in their memory for a long time.
On the other hand, the second book I studied develops an overall approach towards street art. It seems to present to whole picture of it and the ways it has developed in one country, in this case Chile. It has been really interesting to observe the process of graffiti being introduced and then developed into something unique, a style that is only to be found in that country. Considering Chile’s geographical location it is understandable that most of its street art influences come from the neighbouring countries or otherwise other South American countries. However recently, more and more European connections are to be found on the walls of Santiago and the big cities of Chile. Blek le Rat and Banksy had their own influence on some of Chilean graffiti artists as well. I found it incredible to discover how many connections are made between street artists globally. Everyone in the industry seems to be aware of what is happening on the graffiti scene in different countries, on the opposite ends of the planet.
I love street art, I adore most of its aspects. The unexpectedness of it’s designs, colours, shapes, patterns and characters as well as the randomness of its places of presentation. In my opinion, there is something that connects street art, especially graffiti to shamanism. I do not quite understand this part yet, probably because I have not experienced the emotion of the artist behind the work. I have no idea how amazing the rush of it feels and how much satisfaction it gives to its author. I guess I will never know fully how it feels. Not unless I try it for real.
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