We decided on a muddled theme, one similar to that of 'confused skittles', (The flavour on the inside is dissimilar to what the consumer would expect). Each of us took turns to take a colour from a pot: We would be creating images which are associated with that colour. Next we drew out a colour again which would be the colour paper we'd have to work in. I drew out white first and red second.
Excluding keeping to the theme of confused colours, we were allowed creative freedom on themes connected to our own colours. I decided on a play on the theme of Heaven/Hell, considering my colours were binary opposites when associated with Christianity. Around this time, we had our trip to Oxford. In both the museums we visited there were plenty of images of catholic shrines.
Each of these were edited to look much more prerogative and perhaps a little controversial. I liked the idea of swapping pure and sinful representations within Catholicism beliefs. I started by copying the images and then later on the journey back vandalised my drawings with bright and unflattering colours and writing controversial slogans next to each of them such as 'This isn't my child', 'SXC' and 'You're more than just a brother to me'. The reactions I got from my peers was mainly amusement rather than shock, however none of my friends are particularly religious. it does worry me that I may offend some future clients by creating such imagery.
These drawings then acted as a reference to develop into papercut imagery....
For this imagery I resorted back to previous stencil like paper cuts with the intention to create a stained glass window effect with the overhead projector. With this in mind, I considered what should be around the figure to continue with the sinful/controversial representation of these icons. I wasn't that keen on the original 'sxc' tagline I had put next to Jesus, therefore i developed him into a raver, changing his hand to a peace sign and the halo to a disco ball behind him.
Disco Jesus original scan with tinted red plastic.
Before using the projector, I wondering if I could create a similar effect on a scanner. Unfortunately the scanner could not pick up the details so well.
The initial monks drawing developed into the Pope and a Cardinal. I needed to make them more recognisable as religious icons. This is perhaps also a little more subtle in the message I am putting across and would not offend as many viewers. This papercut also differs from the other two and it lets in much more light than the others. This will make it stand out more.
I decided to exclude the baby jesus from the final version of the Virgin Mary as I wanted to give her more of her own character. Catholics represent the Virgin Mary as a symbol of purity and meekness. here I suggested her distaste for society perhaps with her disgruntled expression and given her a cigarette to suggest a more rebellious side to the icon. Like jesus I have given her halo behind her head. I think this gives more inclination to the colour I was given to represent. I have chosen to use a cross pattern as its simple to gives something extra to the composition.
I set up a darkened space to project each of the papercuts and photograph them. Unfortunately I had forgotten that the paper would of course create a black shadow with only the red plastic to give a red tint. This was later checked with my collaborators who were fine with this element. However what was fortunate was that the projections gave the stained glass effect that I had initially anticipated. Therefore it was a success.
As we were only allocated an A4 landscape spread each I had to choose two of three. It was agreed by myself and my collaborators that Disco Jesus and Smoking Mary worked better beside one another as they had similarities in the 'halos' and ratio of black to red.
Collaborative pages
We had a couple of days of making images together. One in february and another yesterday. We decided to stick to our chosen colours (Mine being red) and make a whole load of random objects. The initial idea was to fill a paper bowl with different objects but as the day went on we saw how this would be time consuming and difficult to photograph.
That day I made a few small objects including a fish tail, a collar and tie and a crown. It wasn't perhaps my most productive day but I felt proud of these objects and willing to contribute them to the image we were to make.
The second day that we spent on the collaboration (yesterday), was much about making a few more objects but finding a solution to how we could bring all the objects together as one.
I set about making another object. Even though I had tried to avoid making 3D paper objects this term after difficulty in my PMP, I decided to challenge myself to making a Paper diamond ring. This has also been influenced by my current short course in silversmithing. I used an online tutorial as reference but considering this was my first attempt, It was very successful.
Two of my collaborators, Kristi and Abby photographed groups of our paper objects to later to be put together in a final image.
My contribution to the final outcome of our collaboration was assisting on a short stop motion animation with Emily, Phil and Abby. This was an idea to make the Fanzine more interactive and accessible on different platforms. We thought up a simple concept: a parade of the objects we had made, that should seem almost like a conveyer belt. The type that was made for the printed fanzine was also given stands as title credits.
Click here to see the ISSUU Copy of Muddled
Overall this experience has been very rewarding and has seen my work published alongside other paper makers in my class. I would definitely like to work with some of these people again on projects.
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