The project mixes two mediums of representation: map and window. Both mediums are two dimensional images of three dimensional spaces, however, the map is a diagram and the window is an illusion. In addition, both objects reconstruct a reality, manipulating human perspective of space, time, and dimension.
The first step of the project was to locate a character, then research his/her story. Once, I had identified the defining elements of the story I could begin choosing a map, famous works of art, and other images that portray the story. Lastly, I had to analyze the story to find an element of the plot to convey by hand and incorporate into the collage. I had to recreate a three-dimensional story through a two-dimensional lense of landscape, direction, and pattern.
I chose to portray the story of Ariadne through the creation of a maze map. I layered crete, the kingdom of King Minos, on top of eachother in order to create a background for the circular maze. The maze represents the psychological labyrinth that Ariadne is held captive to by her family.
Ariadne is at the center of the maze and she escapes by tracking her yarn trail, the same advice she offers Theseus as he enters the maze to slay the Minotaur. The yarn trail leads through the sea and creates the silhouette of Naxos, the island on which Theseus deserts Ariadne. Here she is not only abandoned, but rescued by Dionysus, the god of wine, who weds her. Each event in her life is marked by a black pin at a turning corned of the maze and labeled with a famous work of art to portray the scene. The yarn also creates the compass on the map since it provides Theseus with escape from the maze. The thread ultimately leads to her escape from the island and her past. Her story begins with Pasiphae’s affair with the bull and the creation of the minotaur, every event occurs at a turning point in the maze. First turning point is Pasiphae’s affair with the bull, second is the creation of the bull and the discovery of his ghastly violence. Third is Theseus’s heroly declare to volunteer as tribute to the sacrifice, in order to slay the Minotaur and save his people from monthly brutal slaughter of innocence. Fourth point of change is Ariadne’s offering of a sword and ball of yarn to Theseus as he enters the labyrinth. Lastly, the fifth visual that records the story is a ceramic representation of the battle between Theseus and the Minotaur, which leads to the exit of the maze and the escape of Ariadne from her royal life. The visuals at Naxos portray Ariadne somber as she is left to die on the beach by her lover, and another when she is found by Dionysus. The contrast between the two images illustrate a juxtaposition that encompass the entire piece. Ariadne is often so close to freedom that she constantly feels constrained by something, her family, the Minotaur, Theseus, the sea, etc. Her feeling of constraint is represented through her presence at the center of the maze. In this work, Ariadne becomes the Minotaur, the monster that initiates her desire for independence from her family name. This highlights the theory that she only fears fear itself, she has conjured her own demons. The collage of the painted sea, printed works, and map of the islands create a sense of confusion. The sea isolates Ariadne from the rest of the world, it creates a sense of dissociation from society and represents the unknown that exists beyond the blue. The deeper, darker water exists on the left side towards Crete, a place of ignorance, and brightens to a foamy white as Ariadne escapes the maze and enters Naxos, the light of stability, relief, and freedom.
I chose the character Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete, from the myth of the Minotaur because her story is a large part of my childhood. From kindergarten to eighth grade my parents sent me to Greek School to learn the language, culture, history, and dance of my ancestors. During one of our culture lessons, we were introduced to Greek mythology. Initiating our studies was the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, through an animated foreign film portraying the story. Having barely memorized the alphabet, i was lost. Therefore, I studied the story in english religiously, in order to comprehend the confusing Greek audio.
The story begins with Pasiphae, Ariadne’s mother, having an affair with a bull, getting pregnant, and giving birth to the Minotaur. Considered wretched and impure by his stepfather, King Minos, the Minotaur was cast to the labyrinth where he was to remain for the rest of his days just as his father saw him, a monster. Ariadne was placed in charge of the labyrinth and Minotaur and therefore was aware of the layout.
After her brother was killed in battle to the Athenians, King Minos attacked Athens. When the Athenians begged for peace, King Minos required for an annual sacrifice every 7 or 9 years of 7 women and 7 men to the Minotaur.
When Theseus, son of King Aegeus offers himself to kill the Minotaur, he is labeled a hero to his people and sent to Crete. Upon his arrival, he meets Ariadne. They fall in love instantly. The day he is to be sent to the labyrinth, Ariadne attempts to save him by offering him a ball of yarn to track his pattern through the maze, and a sword to slay the beast. After he completes his task and escapes the maze, he exits the island, taking Ariadne with him as his lover. On their travels, Theseus abandons Ariadne, while she is asleep, on the island of Naxos. She is later discovered by the god of wine, Dionysus, and taken as his wife. They later bear children that personify wine, Staphylus and Phanus. The myth is based on direction, faith, bravery, and kindness.
