Artwork: Project 1
Title: Memories
Size: 22cm x 30 cm Medium: Linoleum/ Relief Ink Completion: August 2019 Exhibition Text Memories is a series of my childhood based in Burma and Malaysia. A significant place or object is present to recall memories. Memories are based on experiences in our lives that helped shape us in a way. I applied the cherry blossoms and Petronas Twin Towers inspired by Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossom: Hirosaki Castle by Yoshida Hiroshi and a photograph of Petronas Twin Towers Night by Simon Clancy to represent the places. A block-print method is applied to produce this piece. |
Planning
Inspiration
My first inspiration was from the Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossom: Hirosaki Castle by Yoshida Hiroshi. He was a 20th-century Japanese painter and woodblock print-maker. When I examined this print, the main objects are the castle and cherry blossoms. Hirosaki Castle could be a place that is significant to Hiroshi. It could tell a story of something or someone. This gave me an idea of using the limited object in my image to tell my story. Cherry blossoms always remind me of my childhood memories of Chin, Burma. I thought I should do printmaking of cherry blossoms because it brings back memories and symbolizes "the changes" in my life. Cherry blossoms are called Phaizawng par in my native language. I think they bloom between December and January. It represents a time of renewal and the fleeting of nature. |
Hiroshi, Yoshida. Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossom: Hirosaki Castle. woodblock print. Web. 29 Aug. 2019.
My second inspiration was Petronas Twin Towers Night by Simon Clancy. Simon Clancy is a photographer who shares photos on Flickr. Petronas Twin Towers is a symbolic landmark of Malaysia. In 2010, I lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I could see the upper parts of the towers from anywhere. This photo gave me an idea to create Petronas Twin Towers for my block print. Every time I see an image of Petronas, all my memories from Malaysia came back. This block print could be a series of my stories; cherry blossoms represent my childhood in Chin, Burma and Petronas twin towers symbolizes my childhood in Malaysia. Both of them tell my life story. |
Clancy, Simon. Petronas Twin Towers Night. Flickr. Flickr. Web. 29 Aug. 2019.
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Planning Sketches/ Experimentation/Techniques
The first sketch that I did was cherry blossom because this reminded me of my childhood in Chin, Burma. I remembered playing and hang out with my friends by cherry trees. I don't remember exactly the cherry blossom season. But, somehow, it brought me back to Christmas and New Year. I think cherry blossom is like a symbol that brings back my childhood memories.
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This second sketch was Petronas twin towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This tower is a landmark that brings back memories of my childhood in Malaysia. I thought this is a good object that could tell a little bit about my story. I looked up some images as references because I couldn't remember all the details of the towers.
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This third sketch was a combination of my first and second sketches. But, I decided to do separate piece to create a series. |
I did experimentation on the coating, the layers of the ink. I printed four for each print with different layers to see how many layers are good enough to have a presentable image. I preferred three to four layers of ink because it was visible on the paper with a balance of black and white.
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Process
First, I sketched the images. The first image that I drew was cherry blossoms because every-time I see it, it reminds me of my childhood in Burma. One of my friends has cherry trees by her house and I can still imagine the beautiful cherry blossoms. The next image is Petronas Twin towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is a famous landmark and this also reminds me of my childhood in Malaysia.
Second, I transferred the images to the linoleum by shading the back of an image using pencil and pen and traced it. This gives me an outline of where to crave. I like using a pencil for shading but I preferred a black pen to trace the outlines because the outlines are more visible on linoleum.
Third, I started to carve the image using a Speedball linoleum cutter. I used a very small-tipped knife for craving outlines and details. I carved away the parts that I did not want to print because whatever surface is untouched will be what prints onto the paper.
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Fourth, I put a small amount of ink onto an ink tray and rolled it out with a brayer. It is important to have a thin, even layer because I wanted to apply the ink evenly to the block.
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Fifth, I transferred the ink to the block and rolled it out with a brayer to evenly spread the ink across the block. I applied around three to four layers of ink. After that, I moved the block to a clean area to print a clean and nice image. I placed a paper on top of the block and pressed it down with barren. The more pressure is applied, the stronger the color.
Sixth, I removed the paper slowly from the block and place it nicely on a drying rack to let it dry. Then, I cut a foam board using the reference that was provided with an X-Acto knife and cork-back metal ruler. I made sure to lightly mark where things should be cut and place with a pencil. The seventh step is to spread glue using spray glue on the back of the images. and then placed them on the foam boards.
Reflection
Critique
I am happy with the result of my final piece because it is clean, solid, and presentable. The process went smoothly because this is my second time making a block print. However, one challenge that I countered was placing the image straight and nicely on the foam board. To overcome this challenge, I applied less liquid spray and slowly placing the image on the foam board from the top corners. Another challenge was creating details because it took a lot of time to create repetition of lines. I had to take a break to rest my hands. Overall, this project was a success.
Compare and Contrast
"Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossom: Hirosaki Castle" by Yoshida Hiroshi
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Similarities
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Differences
Hirosaki Castle
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"Petronas Twin Towers Night" by Simon Clancy
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Similarities
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Differences
Petronas Twin Towers
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ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossom: Hirosaki Castle created by Yoshida Hiroshi includes cherry blossom which played a significant role in Japanese society. I was inspired to include cherry blossom to tell my childhood story in Burma. A photograph of Petronas Twin Towers Night taken by Simon Clancy is an iconic landmark in Malaysia. I was inspired to include Petronas twin Towers in my piece to recall my memories of Malaysia.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research talks about Yoshida Hiroshi's life and how he travels frequently and made sketching and painting trips all around the world.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Yoshida Hiroshi was a print-maker and painter who was a leading figure of the Shin Hanga movement. Shin Hanga is an art movement for a new style of Japanese prints.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central themes around my inspirational research are the importance of places that brings back memories.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research, I inferred Yoshida Hiroshi must be doing a lot of experimentation of different style of printmaking since he is the leading figure of the Shin Hanga.
Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossom: Hirosaki Castle created by Yoshida Hiroshi includes cherry blossom which played a significant role in Japanese society. I was inspired to include cherry blossom to tell my childhood story in Burma. A photograph of Petronas Twin Towers Night taken by Simon Clancy is an iconic landmark in Malaysia. I was inspired to include Petronas twin Towers in my piece to recall my memories of Malaysia.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research talks about Yoshida Hiroshi's life and how he travels frequently and made sketching and painting trips all around the world.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Yoshida Hiroshi was a print-maker and painter who was a leading figure of the Shin Hanga movement. Shin Hanga is an art movement for a new style of Japanese prints.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central themes around my inspirational research are the importance of places that brings back memories.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research, I inferred Yoshida Hiroshi must be doing a lot of experimentation of different style of printmaking since he is the leading figure of the Shin Hanga.
Bibliography
Simon_sees. (2019, September 11). Buildings. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/39551170@N02/albums/72157689126204424/with/14202490049/
(n.d.). Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950). Retrieved from http://www.myjapanesehanga.com/home/artists/hiroshi-yoshida-1876-1950-
(n.d.). Japanese Art: Hiroshi Yoshida, Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms: Hirosaki Castle: Woodblock Prints. Retrieved from https://www.scholten-japanese-art.com/hiroshi_yoshida_09.php
(n.d.). Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950). Retrieved from http://www.myjapanesehanga.com/home/artists/hiroshi-yoshida-1876-1950-
(n.d.). Japanese Art: Hiroshi Yoshida, Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms: Hirosaki Castle: Woodblock Prints. Retrieved from https://www.scholten-japanese-art.com/hiroshi_yoshida_09.php