Inspiration: William Morris
Theme: Society and Culture
What comes to mind when I think of culture and society?
I first attempted to define society and culture. Society is defined as a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, and have formed companionship and association-ship. Culture on the other hand talks about forms or stages of civilization.
Drawing out tips from a conversation I had with a friend from the Mass Comm department, I decided to use a mindmap to creatively churn out ideas. I ended up with 6 main categories that would be able to depict culture:
1. The Malaysian Culture
2. Art
3. Music
4. HELP Culture
5. Collectivistic vs. Individualistic Societies
6. Traditional vs. Modern culture
Above: Mind Map
Problem Statement: Our Country, Malaysia is rich with culture. Why then, are some dying? How are some cultures evolving?
Research Question: Are we apathetic toward our country's culture?
Purpose: To pique the interest of Malaysian locals and to raise awareness of present as well as past cultures as well as to increase appreciation for the cultures and evolving society of our nation.
Points to keep in mind:
- Art and craft movement championed authenticity, local traditions and diversity (ie: varying kinds of materials to create not only paintings, but also tiles, wallpapers etc.)
- Depending on project, elements that can be incorporated: flattened graphic appearances, symmetry, using colour to highlight certain elements of the piece
- Attention to detail is important
- Goal of art and craft movement: To create designs for the people, by the people. that can be a source of pleasure to the viewer and maker.
Above, top from left: Jasmine wallpaper, floral spray tile, Membland- Tile Wallpaper
Abobe, bottom from left: Coffee with William Morris, William Morris Floral Sampler
Sketches
Sketch 1
Bunga Raya - A symbol of Malaysian culture
Bunga Raya - A symbol of Malaysian culture
I started off by thinking of Malaysian culture. The first thing that came to mind was the hibiscus, the national flower. So I tried to draw a hibiscus motive, adapting the elements of the art and craft movement by giving the flowers a flattened graphic appearance, while keeping in mind the detail of the flower.
Sketch 2
Ketupat
Malaysians love their food! I wonder how many people still have the knowledge of hand-weaving this traditional delicacy. I decided to create a "wallpaper" theme to remind us of this.
Sketch 3
Nelayan?
With older cultures and traditions in mind, I decided to sketch something for those in communities that make a living with the ocean as their source of living. The circular lines represent the waves that surround the boat when they are being used out in the ocean, the danger that the people had to go through in their struggle to live everyday.
Sketch 4
Wau
Sketch 5
Wow!
What are some arts that are seen less nowadays? The Wau which used to be a form of games and entertainment is now viewed as more obsolete and an "art". Much attention to detail was necessary in Sketch 4. I suddenly had a thought and decided to improve on that sketch, and I came up with Sketch 5.
Sketch 6
Endure
The next few designs delve into more Chinese motives. This one, Endure, shows a pot of bamboo. It symbolizes how our culture and traditions are "trapped" within a "restricted area" with all the modernization and commercializing of occasions etc. The bamboo was used to represent strength and perseverance, and it is also reflected on the word in the pot.
Endure
The next few designs delve into more Chinese motives. This one, Endure, shows a pot of bamboo. It symbolizes how our culture and traditions are "trapped" within a "restricted area" with all the modernization and commercializing of occasions etc. The bamboo was used to represent strength and perseverance, and it is also reflected on the word in the pot.
Sketch 7
Where Cultures Meet-
Where Cultures Meet-
Artist-sticks
My brain storms extended to a new concept - where cultures meet. I then decided to do something that was done during the art and craft movement period, which was to use a variety of materials. I used two different means, Chinese brush and pen, to illustrate the difference in Chinese culture. Once upon a time, the Chinese wrote and drew with the Chinese brush and ink, but not so today.
My brain storms extended to a new concept - where cultures meet. I then decided to do something that was done during the art and craft movement period, which was to use a variety of materials. I used two different means, Chinese brush and pen, to illustrate the difference in Chinese culture. Once upon a time, the Chinese wrote and drew with the Chinese brush and ink, but not so today.
Sketch 8
Where Cultures Meet -
Pasttime
Building on the idea of difference in culture, I decided to play on the idea of modernization reaching the rural areas. This sketch shows a kampung house, with a piece of ground that is for playing traditional games like marbles and tops. However, the people are inside the house, watching television. I realize that this picture did not carry out the full style of the art and craft movement, but it helped jog ideas throughout the process.
Sketch 9
Where Cultures Meet -
Apple?
Still playing on the ideas of two cultures meeting, I drew a tree. An apple tree to be precise. The inspiration came from when I bought an Apple product, and a friend asked, "So.. did you buy an apple?", and instinctively thinking she meant the fruit, I said "Nope", when in fact I had. It reflects on the perceptions of cultures. Say "apple" to someone of older generations, they would only think of the fruit. Say "apple" to a person of this generation, and you may get a totally different reaction.
Still playing on the ideas of two cultures meeting, I drew a tree. An apple tree to be precise. The inspiration came from when I bought an Apple product, and a friend asked, "So.. did you buy an apple?", and instinctively thinking she meant the fruit, I said "Nope", when in fact I had. It reflects on the perceptions of cultures. Say "apple" to someone of older generations, they would only think of the fruit. Say "apple" to a person of this generation, and you may get a totally different reaction.
Sketch 10
When Cultures Meet -
When Cultures Meet -
Batik
I thought of my favourite textile - batik designs. With textiles in mind from the art and craft movement, I decided to play on the idea of old culture being engulfed by new culture, similar to what the art and craft movement was working very strongly against (ie: they were trying to preserve the local traditions and were against mass production of materials with no authenticity)
Sketch 11
Where cultures meet
The Door(s)
I am from a mixed heritage, with Eurasian blood running through my mother's side of the family. The Door on the right reminds us of the Baba Nyonya culture, whereby their doors were decorated with intricate designs. The idea of this sketch is to communicate how many things have become rigid with the absence of fine designs. Attention should be drawn to the door on the right. The doors are also closed symbolizing closed minds and how current generations have forgotten cultures as such.
Sketch 12
Where Cultures Meet-
Her Shoe
None of us really know how hard it was as a Chinese female in the olden days and how they had to suffer wearing the Chinese Shoes. This sketch not only reminds about the tradition, it also reflects how culture has changed and reminds modern day females about how they are not required to bind their feet anymore (you can see part of a foot in the modern shoe.
Sketch 13
Where Cultures Meet -
Flora
Back to the ideas of a mixture of cultures in Malaysia, I started doodling different floral designs that had different cultural backgrounds to them, namely the three main cultures in Malaysia (ie: Malay, Chinese and Indian). I incorporated the repetitive style that William Morris used in his tile art.
Sketch 14
Where Cultures Meet-
Tiles
Again drawing a tile design, I played on the Baba Nyonya culture again. The 4 middle tiles are the decorated tiles that have come to be considered as an antique art. People nowadays pay a considerable amount of money to own a set of 4 tiles as such. The border shows a more mundane tile design, probably something that is more commonly seen.
Sketch 15
Where Cultures Meet-
Where Cultures Meet-
Music
This idea of different cultures of music turned out to be very symbolic. The blue coloured area draws your attention to the middle of the sketch. The blue with a straight lined stave represents serenity and a pure melody. The red which the stave eventually becomes, symbolizes distortion and anger, which much of the music today has become, full of violence and dysfunction. If you look clearly, you can also see that the notes on the red line area are irregular and big and scary looking, and they are pushing the smaller notes on the blue lined area. It represents music now infiltrating the music that used to be, to the extend of pushing out the older music that did have better values, more melody, and more structure.
This idea of different cultures of music turned out to be very symbolic. The blue coloured area draws your attention to the middle of the sketch. The blue with a straight lined stave represents serenity and a pure melody. The red which the stave eventually becomes, symbolizes distortion and anger, which much of the music today has become, full of violence and dysfunction. If you look clearly, you can also see that the notes on the red line area are irregular and big and scary looking, and they are pushing the smaller notes on the blue lined area. It represents music now infiltrating the music that used to be, to the extend of pushing out the older music that did have better values, more melody, and more structure.
Sketch 16
Pop Culture - Games
Again, this sketch depicts a difference in cultures. Technology has become such an integral part of our lives. Even young children are seen playing games on sophisticated technological devices. The occurrence of traditional games such as congkak has somewhat ceased. However, you may be surprised to know that it is available as a phone application.
Pop Culture - Games
Again, this sketch depicts a difference in cultures. Technology has become such an integral part of our lives. Even young children are seen playing games on sophisticated technological devices. The occurrence of traditional games such as congkak has somewhat ceased. However, you may be surprised to know that it is available as a phone application.
Sketch 17
Pop Culture - Coffee
This sketch represents the "lepak" or "hanging-out" culture, and shows how much the coffee culture has changed. The bigger cup represents the current more "expensive coffee" culture. The six cups of coffee on the inside of the cup are the number of cups of coffee you could get in a traditional coffee shop. Today, youngsters like to meet in "commercialized coffee shops" where there is air-conditioning and bright lights - alas they also pay much more for what they get.
Sketch 18
Understanding Minds
This sketch is representative of the culture of psychology. Those in the psychology field strive to understand minds and study the behaviour of those around.
Chosen Sketches:
Sketch 9
Where Cultures Meet -
Apple?
Elements of design analysis-
Line: Mostly organic lines, straight lines for border
Shape: Organic lines, to create a flow for main subject
Value: Dark subject on light background
Colours: Natural colours, harmonious
Texture: Flattened appearance
Alignment and proportion: Background more or less evenly spaced, subject somewhat symmetrical
Eye movement: Movement mostly in repetition and visual rhythm
Principles of design-
Hierarchy : Hierarchy starts with the subject (tree and apples) subsequently the leaves and background
Balance: A sense of symmetry with the entire piece covered in a repetitive background
Emphasis and variety: Emphasis on subject (apples) which have a distinct colour. Variety of colours used, mostly harmonious.
Harmony and unity: Harmony and unity is present as images come together to create a meaningful whole.
Sketch 12
Where Cultures Meet-
Her Shoe
Elements of design analysis-
Line: Subject mostly organic, straight lines used for border
Shape: Organic lines mostly used
Value: Dark subject on light background
Colours: Mostly dark, lighter colours for motive/designs on subject.
Texture: Flat, with attention to detail
Alignment and proportion: No symmetry in particular, background motive more or less evenly spaced
Eye movement: First eye movement will be to the subject, subsequently background movement in repetition and visual rhythm
Principles of design-
Hierarchy : Hierarchy falls on shoe first, background then border.
Balance: Assymetrical, but works together to produce harmony overall
Emphasis and variety: Emphasis on the subject. A variety of colours are used.
Harmony and unity: Harmony and unity is present as images come together to create a meaningful whole.
Sketch 14
Where Cultures Meet-
Tiles
Line: Straight lines used for the border but organic lines for to create emphasis to the centre motive
Shape: A mixture of straight and organic lines
Value: Dark design on light background
Colours: Natural colours, harmonious
Texture: Flat, with close attention to detail
Alignment and proportion: Objects more or less evenly spaced, symmetrical design
Eye movement: Movement in repetition and visual rhythm (predictable design)
Principles of design-
Hierarchy : Attention is drawn to the centre 4 tiles
Balance: Symmetrical
Emphasis and variety: Emphasis on the Baba Nyonya tile, attention is drawn to its complexity
Harmony and unity: Harmony and unity is present as images come together to create a meaningful whole.
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