Title: Purity, Silent Prayer, Evil Within
Size: 2.54 x 33.02 x 17.78 cm
Medium: Photography
April 2016
Exhibition Text: My piece represents the different perspectives seen or heard on the religion of Christianity. My piece is inspired by the work of Dan Flavin, who uses fluorescent lights (readymade object) to create installations.
Research:
Artist Inspiration:
One of my biggest challenges in this project was trying to find an artist that might've used similar light techniques that I did. After long research, I found Dan Flavin, who uses light and space to showcase his work.
Dan Flavin is considered a Minimalist, for he uses simple shapes/lines and light, with lots of open space. He uses fluorescent light fixtures (readymade object) to create installations and sculptural objects. While artists tend to convey some sort of meaning behind their artwork, Flavin says that his works are simply just fluorescent lights in different architectural settings, for he states, "It is what it is and it ain't nothing else".
Dan Flavin is considered a Minimalist, for he uses simple shapes/lines and light, with lots of open space. He uses fluorescent light fixtures (readymade object) to create installations and sculptural objects. While artists tend to convey some sort of meaning behind their artwork, Flavin says that his works are simply just fluorescent lights in different architectural settings, for he states, "It is what it is and it ain't nothing else".
Dan Flavin, Untitled (for you Leo, in long respect and affection) 4, 1978. Pink, green, blue and yellow fluorescent light. 121.92 x 121.92 x 5.08 cm
Collection of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Museum Purchase. Image copyright: © 2012 Stephen Flavin / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.<http://themodern.org/exhibition/past/tenth-anniversary-acquisitions/1107>. |
Dan Flavin, Untitled, 1964. Yellow and daylight fluorescent light.
Dan Flavin, Untitled (to the “innovator” of Wheeling Peachblow), 1966-68. Daylight, yellow, and pink fluorescent light. "Dan Flavin: Constructed Light | The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts." Dan Flavin: Constructed Light | The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. <http://flavin.pulitzerarts.org/#/installations/1/> |
Cultural Inspiration:
For cultural inspiration, I chose to do the religion of Christianity. I wanted to do Christianity for I know many people have their different takes or perspectives on the religion.
Process/Change:
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1.) First, I gathered all the materials I needed to create my mixed media piece: tape, glow sticks, flashlight, colored fabric, arms of a doll, and a small statue.
2.) Before I taped the glow sticks together, I cracked them so it would be easier, and I didn't want to risk ruining my cross. 3.) Once the glow sticks were cracked, I quickly taped them together so I had more time with the light. Then I grabbed my materials and went to the darkest room in the house. 4.) After all my materials were set, I began to take photos. 5.) I placed the cross in the corner of the room to keep it upright, and grabbed my flashlight and the yellow bottle, and covered most of the light with my fingers so it wouldn't be too bright. 6.) After taking multiple shots for my first concept (Purity), I began taking shots for my second concept (Slient Prayer). 7.) I used the flashlight to cast the shadow of the small praying statue, blocking the light from the flashlight just a bit so it wouldn't be too bright. 8.) Once I took enough shots, I began on my last concept (Evil Within). For this, I was going to use a piece of fabric, but the fabric was too dark, so I ended up using a red Solo cup. 9.) I placed the flashlight inside the cup and held it at an angle that allowed me to cast a red light to the entire cross. 10.) I had taken photos with small doll arms that would've been used for my last concept, where they casted a shadow near the cross that looked like it was reaching out to it, but none of the photos were clear enough. |
Sketches:
Meaning Behind Piece:
The meaning behind my piece, is that I wanted to protray Christianity in different perspectives from what other people hear or feel about the religion. My first photograph is trying to protray Christianity as what it's meant to be or what many assume it is, which is pure or purity, and so I added yellow light to enhance the glow of the cross. My second photo shows as what's seen as a shadow of a woman praying to the cross. Then represents the believers of Christianity, and how many are devoted to the religion and show their faith to God. My last photo is made to represent people who use Christianity as an excuse for their evil actions. For example in the 19th century, many Christians discriminated the Gypsy people even though they wanted to convert to Christianity, and some even considered giving alms (money/food) to Gypsies a greater sin than theft. They also bought Gypsies as slaves and others sent to death.
Reflection:
Some successes I had:
- Getting the right shade of red/yellow.
- Taking many photos that allowed me to look at what I can do differently.
- In the beginning, I couldn't find an artistic inspiration for what I wanted to create.
- Having to use other materials to get the colored lighting that I wanted.
- Images looked soft and fuzzy or too blurry.
- Trouble getting the lighting I wanted.
Additional Source: "Gypsies: A Persecuted Race." : Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies : University of Minnesota. Web. 08 Apr. 2016. <http://chgs.umn.edu/histories/victims/romaSinti/gypsies2.html>.