Unit 3 Lens Week 1

Reaserch

Gallery

2. Reading

Graphic design emerges from social, technological, economic, and political contexts. It’s important for those who study its history to connect design and designers to these contexts first and foremost. (Aggie Toppins, published on May 29th, 2020, https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/can-we-teach-graphic-design-history-without-the-cult-of-hero-worship/)

What this history has left us is with a “Canon” which is narrow, not inclusive, not diverse, not open, not global, not fully engaging with a wholly multidimensional, diverse set of ideas. (Ramon Tejada, Published on July 26th, 2018, https://walkerart.org/magazine/soundboard-queering-design-education-ramon-tejada)

When Western conventions are centred in design, this means that anything else is seen as ‘different.’” (Simba Ncube, Anoushka Khandwala (‘What Dose It Mean to Decolonize Design?’), Published onJune 5th, 2019, https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/what-does-it-mean-to-decolonize-design/)

Analysis

Canon means historic art masterpieces that most people like. People want to see flawless works, but

Idea Generation

I got an Unit 3 brief of topic for lens project.

Whenever I watched the birds at the lake in the park near my house, I couldn’t help but feel a connection to them. Like me, most of them were migratory birds, venturing away from their birthplaces in search of abundant food during winter or summer, only to return home when the seasons changed. This parallel to my own circumstances struck a chord within me, as I too had relocated to pursue my studies, subsequently returning to my hometown.

The sight of these birds stirred feelings of homesickness within me, prompting me to find a way to express my emotions through art. Drawing inspiration from Julie Cockburn’s stitched works, I felt compelled to use a similar technique to convey my sense of loneliness. I believed that by stitching and creating intricate patterns on photographs, I could effectively capture and communicate the complex emotions I was experiencing.

I was deeply impressed by another photographer named Joana Choumali. Hailing from Ivory Coast, she has gained recognition for her remarkable work. In particular, I was drawn to her photographs capturing scenes of terrorist attacks. What struck me most was her unique use of colorful thread to infuse her works with a sense of hope and resilience.

Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, Choumali managed to imbue her photos with warmth and tranquility through her artistic approach. Her ability to convey such contrasting emotions left a lasting impression on me, showcasing the power of art to transcend the darkness of reality and inspire hope.