“Elaine” 

Video Link:

https://vimeo.com/333211832

• Write about the following (about 250 – 500 words):
  • Brief summary describing the relationship between the final design, the site, and your obsession
  • Brief summary describing the connections between seminar research and your studio project

For my final design, I was able to make a large scale version of my prototypes. It took some trial and error to make the video work out, but in the end it is roughly how I imagined. The obsession I am tackling is “portraiture”. In a very loose sense I wanted to experiment with portraiture through a mixture of mediums. More importantly, I wanted to make a video instead of a photo series. The slow revealing of the “model” symbolizes the barrier between the photographer and subject. The subject is allowing the photographer access, as well as unintentionally showing parts of themselves. I read a variety of articles that I found relative to portraiture. My previous seminar paper discussed the abstraction of the subject due to an artist’s view or style. This topic challenged me to work in a style that is completely different to what I usually do. I usually create pieces that are more simple in design. I mostly shoot in black and white. By making myself work in color, I was almost “revealing” another side of my artistic ability, (to myself). 

I decided to place my project in Times Square because of my videos repetitive nature. I immediately thought of the bright colors in Times Square, and how videos are shown on repeat throughout the day. I would want people to be confused by what was happening and stop for a moment. On a large scale, it would almost look like the subject was trapped in the screen. Times Square is a place where a lot of people go. There is a lack of intimacy in a space like that. This is why I feel like placing a piece I find quite personal into a space where its whole meaning would change. The perception and feeling that everyone gets from portraits varies. That is what is so interesting.