Design Principles / Task 2 / Visual Analysis

22.2.2024 - 7.3.2024 (Week 3 - Week 5)
Elysa Wee Qi En / 0355060 / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Design Principles
Task 2 / Visual Analysis

LECTURES 

All lectures are covered in Task 1.

INSTRUCTIONS

Fig. 1. Module Information Booklet

Task 2: Visual Analysis

For this task, we had to refer back to the SDG and artwork we chose in Task 1 and analyse it further. Not only did we have to identify the design principles in the work, but we also had to analyse details like the size, placement, purpose and effectiveness of the work. 

Again, The SDG I have chosen is SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, specifically the sub-goal of Disaster Risk Prevention, and here is the artwork I have chosen:

Fig. 2.
Flood (Flut), Kota Ezawa und. Galerie Anita Beckers, 2011, 100x150cm, Leuchtkasten, 
https://galerie-beckers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/flood-1024x683.jpg

In this artwork there is the Gestalt Theory of closure that is paired with the Theory of figure/ground. This is seen in the water that covers the bottom halves of the houses. Both of these elements of design help to place weight on the natural disaster, by showing how high the water reaches. The design principle of repetition also helps to showcase the scale of the disaster, by showing that many houses were affected by the flood. One distinct element of design used smartly here is the colours. The water is brown, as flood water tends to be, due to the mud and dirt contaminating the water. This detail adds realism, maybe even relatability, and helps the viewer to understand and connect with the artwork more. Also the colours are solid, with minimal shading and hard lines, a simplified picture and simple artstyle. Perhaps this helps it seem like the viewer is looking down at the neighbourhood from afar, therefore seeing less detail in the objects like houses, trees and even the water. This too would help to emphasise how big the flood is. Alternatively, the water is still (which is implied as the reflections of the trees are not wavy or distorted) and it adds an eerie feeling, since it appears so calm and maybe even beautiful even though mass destruction has occurred. To me, the neighbourhood feels abandoned, maybe the artwork is set in a post-apocalyptic time after everything has already been destroyed by the flood. It almost feels like someone could be relaxing on one of the roofs, just sitting there swinging their feet off the edge. At peace, maybe because nothing is left, or maybe because they're just visiting their old home before they return to wherever they've gone to live now. Perhaps they are the only person from this neighbourhood left alive. 

(308 words) 

FEEDBACK

Week 5
Specific Feedback:
- Too much description, focus more on interpretation.
- Can go with post-apocalyptic idea

REFLECTIONS

Experience
Initially I held back my personal feelings about the artwork in my analysis, maybe because I thought there would be a 'right answer'. I'm glad that my tutor managed to convince me otherwise. Art touches the emotions after all, so it makes sense if I have opinions or feelings about an artwork, even if other people may not feel the same. 

Observations
It's quite rare for me to see artwork with this type of colouring style. Usually, when you see art, it is full of detail. Not that this artwork is bad or incorrect in any way, but it shows that there are many ways to do art. There are many ways to portray an image, and each way may evoke different feelings in different people, or just appeal to different people. 

Findings
Such a simple artwork, depicting something like a flood that is supposed to be destructive and devastating, actually gives me emotions of peace. Maybe it's because of the art style or how the artist chose to portray the flooded neighbourhood, but it shows that art can help people see different perspectives of a situation and even be quite convincing. Perhaps you could portray a calm situation in a frantic way too.