Reflection:
For Studio’s 3rd project we had to design in any method we choose an emotion, mine was Empowerment.
At first I planned on making a collage, bringing together many cultural symbols and icons that represent women empowerment. I’ve collected various materials and researched the art of collage, since for a long time I wanted to explore this art form.
I’ve worked on my collage for a couple of days; arranged images, printed, cut, glued, painted and taped. But I simply couldn’t create anything that I intended to. It was frustrating to work so hard and long (cutting and glueing are not my thing!) but not come with satisfying results.
After a while, I’ve experienced a minor breakdown, resulting in me practically tearing apart my already graceless collage. But after evaluating my situation, I’ve decided not to let my disappointment to overtake me. I picked myself up and started working on a new piece.
Perhaps empowerment doesn’t necessarily need to be a bombastic, ambitious and extraordinary? Empowerment can be found in the little moment of daily life, that we usually don’t pay attention to. My choice of not to be defeated by my failure was an act of empowerment.
And so, I’ve logged minor events in my daily routine, that for me were an expression of my own self empowerment. Going to do yoga by myself! Reading that book I always thought would be too hard to understand. Allowing myself to have time for completely doing nothing! (AKA playing games on my phone or scanning through my whole camera roll). Drawing, writing, putting my thoughts and feelings on paper. Going grocery shopping, caring an extremely heavy amazon package without any help, dancing with myself! Spending time with my friends.
My aim was to make a piece that expresses these personal achievements, to print as a poster and hang over my desk. A reminder for myself of my own strength , encouraging me to keep working hard, not giving up to fear, be grateful for my growth and be kind to myself!
I decided to work digitally, a relatively new interest of mind that originated here in Parsons.
I challenged myself to work with colors and generate a legit color scheme. Especially bold colors, are something I constantly avoid in my work. I usually stick to B&W or very faded, neutral tones.
I’m proud of my process as well as the result, an actual vibrant empowering poster. Still, I haven’t given up on exploring the art of collage. Step by step, failure by failure, I will get there.
Short gif:
Sketches and drafts:
In peer review I had recieved comments about my use of color and composition, both really encouraged me to keep on trying and widening my techniques.
I was also encouraged by my peers and professor to not give up on experimenting with collage, even if it doesn’t come naturally for me, or if I won’t end up using it permanently.
I was happy to see that my concept was clear and made others react to it.
