Project Prompt:
To create a wearable piece of art that embodies in some way the personification of an object, animal, demon, spiritual being, etc. from your rewritten seminar myth, legend or folk tale that symbolize an important or central theme of your story.Forms it could take: Headdress, cape, dress, jacket, vest, protective covering like armor, helmet, breastplate, footwear, a geometric or organic structure or form.
Project Description:
Our project need to create a wearable art embodies in some way the personification of an object, animal, demon, god or goddess, spiritual being, or other entity from your rewritten seminar myth, legend or folk tale that represents an important or central theme of your story.
Deconstructing Myths and Legends Research:
I choose the myth is about Cupid, here is the research about him. Cupid, ancient Roman god of love in all its varieties, the counterpart of the Greek god Eros and the equivalent of Amor in Latin poetry. According to myth, Cupid was the son of Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and Venus, the goddess of love. He often appeared as a winged infant carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows whose wounds inspired love or passion in his every victim. He was sometimes portrayed romance or to symbolize the invincibility of love.
HUTTO, SARAH. “Valentine’s Day Myths, Debunked.” New York Times, February 11, 2018. https://search-ebscohost-com.libproxy.newschool.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=127939239&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
This article discusses some of the Valentine’s Day myths including the naming of the event after St. Valentine, the Roman saint of courtly love, the portrayal of Cupid as the infant son of the love goddess Venus and Mars, the god of war, and the association of the day with the beginning of spring.
Hall, Kirsten. “‘It Is All One’: Hetty Sorrel and the Myth of Cupid and Psyche.” Renascence 67, no. 4 (Fall 2015): 278–94. https://search-ebscohost-com.libproxy.newschool.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=110815681&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
The article shows how the Cupid and Psyche myth brings the reader to a richer understanding of Hetty Sorrel’s development across the novel “Adam Bede.” Topics discussed include Hetty’s deception and how Hetty attempts to inhabit a mythical world, Hetty’s struggle with her vanity and egoism as her soul expands through a journey of suffering and George Eliot’s mythic realism where the myth acts as an abiding narrative of human condition.
Greek Gods & Goddesses, March 14, 2017 <a href=”https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/cupid/”>Cupid: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net</a>
This ariticle decisbes that many experts in the world of folktales and movies believe that the currently popular “Beauty and The Beast” is a modern day version of the story of Cupid and Psyche. While Cupid is always shown with wings, Psyche whose name means ‘soul’ is depicted as a beautiful butterfly. Cupid and Psyche are said to have had a daughter who was given the name Voluptas meaning ‘pleasure.’
In my opinion, although Cupid is portrayed with a bow and arrow, most people don’t know that he actually had two arrows or perhaps one arrow with two very different tips. If he fired the gold one which had a very sharp tip, the female heart where it landed was immediately filled with love and the desire to be with a certain male forever. Shakespeare’s words about Cupid changing his mind apply to the blindfolded Cupid and his use of the blunt-tipped lead arrow. Whether male or female, when the lead tip struck a heart the message was that one person in the relationship wanted to end it and be free from that person forever so another relationship could be started.
Streicher, Magda. “Sky Delights: Cupid’s Arrow.” MNASSA Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa 75, no. 7/8 (August 2016): 186–90. https://search-ebscohost-com.libproxy.newschool.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=118131110&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
From the article, cupid is usually shown amusing himself with adult play, sometimes driving a hoop, throwing darts, catching a butterfly, or flirting with a nymph. He is often depicted with his mother, playing a horn. In other images, his mother is depicted scolding or even spanking him due to his mischievous nature. He is also shown wearing a helmet and carrying a buckler, perhaps in reference to Virgil’s Omnia vincit amor or as political satire on wars for love or love as war.
I also learned from the article, cupid figures prominently in ariel poetry, lyrics and, of course, elegiac love and metamorphic poetry. In epic poetry, he is less often invoked, but he does appear in Virgil’s Aeneid changed into the shape of Ascanius inspiring Dido’s love. In later literature, Cupid is frequently invoked as fickle, playful, and perverse. He is often depicted as carrying two sets of arrows: one set gold, which inspire true love; and the other lead-headed, which inspire erotic love.
RACHEL E. GREENSPAN. Time: Cherubic Cupid Is Everywhere on Valentine’s Day. Here’s Why That Famous Embodiment of Desire Is a Child. FEBRUARY 13, 2019. http://time.com/5516579/history-cupid-valentines-day/
In the article, it shows that the original Cupid was more of a heartthrob than a cherub. Traced back to 700 BC, this character of legend was called Eros, Martin explains: the Greek word for desire. In the Archaic period, Eros — the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love — would play with the hearts of mortals and gods to cause mayhem. Depicted as a young man in his late teens, he was considered both handsome and threatening, as he would use his power to make people fall in love.
Kayla Mahoney. Museum Hack: The Real Hackstory Of Cupid: God Of Love, Attraction, And Man In A Diaper. February 12, 2018. https://museumhack.com/real-hackstory-cupid/
During research this essay, in every classic artistic interpretation of Cupid, he’s naked. Naked because love has nothing to hide. Naked because he’s a child and innocent and pure. Naked because he couldn’t find an outfit that matched his wings. For any and all of these reasons, Cupid is nakkie. We can be accomplished in myths without some ridiculous tests, Venus decides to put Psyche to the test before she’ll help the girl find her love. He also want a true love.
The British Library. Online Gallery Mythical Quest. https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/mythical/psyche.html
In my opinion, many writers have interpreted it as an allegory, with Cupid representing Love and Psyche the Soul. It was particularly popular with Renaissance audiences, when poetical, dramatic and musical versions proliferated alongside the many visual representations of the tale. Today, Cupid and Psyche still symbolise everlasting love – as can be seen by the numerous images of them that appear on Valentine’s cards.
Who is Cloud Angel?
Cloud Angel, I create this character to show the different story with Cupid. She is emotional and changeable personality. She never fall in love with someone.
Cupid and Cloud Angel
Cupid, ancient Roman god of love in all its varieties, the counterpart of the Greek god Eros and the equivalent of Amor in Latin poetry. According to myth, Cupid was the son of Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and Venus, the goddess of love. He often appeared as a winged infant carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows whose wounds inspired love or passion in his every victim. He was sometimes portrayed romance or to symbolize the invincibility of love.
Cloud Angel, I create this character to show the different story with Cupid. She is emotional and changeable personality. She never fall in love with someone.
The high sunlit clouds drifted across a clear blue sky and the sun rose in a pool of crimson and gold, spilling light all over the land and the white clouds. Cupid like usual flying and looking around. When He was flying cross the tree tops, he found a beautiful girl lied under the tree. The girl is Cloud Angel, she was relaxed on the grassland. She looks different form other Angel, cloud was around her and she had blonde straight hair, beautiful white dress with stars. The sense of her is distinctive than others. Cupid really interested in this angel, he used bow and arrows shoot her arm, and then he flew away and hided himself behind the tree. However, nothing happened, cloud angel still lied on the grassland. If she were other angel, she would woke up and tried to find cupid. Two hours later, Cupid waited for her and loose his patience. “Maybe after she woke up, she find me and fall in love with me!” Cupid’s soliloquy. He expected the romantic moment will be happened. After cupid flew away, cloud angel opened her eyes slowly. “ The weather is so comfortable, the fresh air and the soft grass land.” cloud angel said. Suddenly, she turned to other face and emotion. “ I hate the weather, it’s too hot, I would never come here,” she felt angry and aversion. Because she is Cloud Angel, her personality is more emotional like the weather. Because she is Cloud Angel, her personality is more emotional like the weather. Sometimes rainy, sometimes cloudy and sometimes sunny day. At this time, she wanted to go to god’s garden and got something to eat. Coincidentally, cupid also at the garden, he was picking orange and peach. He hardly believe the cloud angel came to there. When he saw the cloud in the garden, he realized she was here. But he thought the cloud angel fell in love with him, so he flew towards to cloud angel. “Do you need my help, darling?” he was very excited. Cloud Angel was looking around and tastes different fruit. Cupid appeared in front of her and had a polite greeting but cloud angel just smile and walked away to other fruit trees. Cupid followed her steps, “ Stop follow me! What do you want ?” A voice from cupid’s back. The cloud angel angered and shouted at him. When cupid scared and turned around, the cloud angel smiled to him, it looked nothing happened. Cupid noticed cloud angel didn’t love him, cupid can’t believe his bow and arrows doesn’t work for her. He walked quietly and used his bow again. “What happened? It is impossible!” It still nothing happened. He stood there and confused about his bow and arrows. He was shooting other two persons, they fell in love with each other. It was the first time, the god had immunity to his arrows. Cupid did a quiet research, because Cloud Angel had cloud around her, nothing can hurt her body, unless she let cloud disappear a while. At that time, even cupid didn’t use bow, he really liked cloud angel. So cupid knew she is a good girl, he gave up to use the bow and arrows attract her, he wanted to use his honest to get her attention and love. He remembered her schedules and her hobbies, he made any chances close to her. He brought fresh fruit and left a sweet notes to her or invited her to see the starry night because her dress also had stars. In the evening, the star will be light and everyone can see her. Sometimes, she refused him, but cupid never gave up. They chatted with each other everyday and flew to different fun place. The cloud angel really liked cupid’s honest, she changed a little bit her personality, she always be sunny day which means she was being a kind and approachable person. They also shared different stories to each other, their relationship came closer and closer. One day, cupid as usual flew to her house, cloud angel opened the door. “You are a good and romantic god, I like you!”Cloud angel felt shy and the cloud disappeared. “ I really like you, my darling!”Cupid said to his girl. Finally, Cloud Angel liked Cupid and changed her personality. The reason was she liked Cupid’s love and honest. Cupid feels happiness and exciting than anytime before. He got a treasure.
Mood board:
Sketch:
Materials:
Working Process:
Final Project:
Reflation:
When given this project, It was pretty easy for me to decide what I wanted to create. To do this, I bought a couple of large chipboards and cut the silhouette of the wings. After that, I took tracing paper and cut feathers. The tracing paper provided a beautiful touch due to its light, airy appearance and when detailed and layered a great texture. I combined the two different materials through the method of weaving. My last touch was adding straps to the wings so it could be wearable and fulfill its purpose as a wearable art. This is also close to my character Cloud Angel.
