5 diptychs

The object I choose is WALLPAPER. Wallpaper is one of the most typical object which can represent Victoria Era in British history. I made five diptychs for this project, all of them are somehow related to my original chosen photography, Victoria Era and the British history during the Great Depression

#1

Wallpaper: repetitive patters orderly printed on a piece of paper. Therefore, I chose to make a wallpaper, but instead of use simple patters, I used a quote from the British Great Depression, “I know 3 trades, I speak 3 languages, fought for 3 years, have 3 children and no work for 3 months, but I only want on job.” The reason I chose this quote is because of the unemployment caused from the Great Depression.

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#2

For the second one, I used the golden leaf to show the economic conditions before and after the British Great Depression. The first one, I overlapped the golden leaf+ glitter to make a feeling of wealthy. On the opposite, I put a layer of gesso on the top of the golden leaf to make it “old”.

closer look

#3

The third diptych, I was trying to make two different dinner plate, one from the Victoria Era, another one from the Great depression. I bought a patter paper which similar to the pattern from Victoria era and glue it on my little ceramic plate. Intending to make the plate looks “old”, I stick cigarette ash on the plate.

closer look

closer look

 

#4

The forth diptychs, I was trying to make a comparison between wealthy and poverty. I tore the golden leaf and milled a box of charcoal, put them in two separate canvas box. In the end I use two clear plastic sheet to seal them up.

close look

 

#5

For the fifth diptych, I used fabric texture to represent the Before and After. I sewed the first piece of fabric crumpled and the second one smooth, trying to show the living condition changed from wealthy to poor.

close look

 

Sketches

   

 

Questions for diptychs #3 and #

#3

  • What conversation happened between each image in this diptych？

Victoria Era is one of the most famous era in British history before the Great Depression, I got inspired from the wallpapers in Victorian era. I’m trying to use these two plates to make a connection between this two special time periods. From the boom to the depression.

  • How was the medium selected successful at supporting the content of your object, form, or image? (if it was not as successful as others, why?)

 In the first piece, I found this Victorian style paper in Blick and use this pattern paper to represent the Victorian era. On the right side diptych, I stick smoke ashes to a vintage plate, which trying to represent the poverty of typical middle class family. In my mind, the color of ash is the best representative of poverty.

  • How did the materiality (medium used) affect the content or meaning of the individual artworks?

I think the material I chose was successful because the pattern of the paper and the ash could fully represent the time period I focused on. In any time period or any culture 

  • What did you learn about your content through this medium exploration?

I did a lot of researches on Victorian wallpapers, for instance, in 19th century, printed paper was used on the ceilings and fabric on chairs, which usually matched the color on the walls. The picture I showed above, these pretty greenish wallpapers could and did kill people.

  • What websites / books / museums / galleries / other artists did you research during this process for ideas and inspiration?

I found most of my information of Victorian wallpapers on a website called Bradbury& Bradbury Art Wallpapers, the Victorian Section. http://www.bradbury.com/victorian/victorian.html

Regarding the whole process:

  • How does this experiment shift your overall thesis question?

After these experiments, I shift my focus from the development of wallpaper to class and economic issues.

 

#2

  • What conversation happened between each image in this diptych?

I use this diptych to show the economy, living conditions and class changes after the British Great Depression. The shift from the old time (1) to the present (2). The conversation between wealthy and poverty.

  • How was the medium selected successful at supporting the content of your object, form, or image? (if it was not as successful as others, why?)

I used the golden leaf as the basic material, adding glitters and gesso to change the golden leaf to different color and texture. This texture it’s not my favorite because I only used 3 types of materials in this diptych. If I have time, I will add more textures and be more creative.

    • What websites / books / museums / galleries / other artists did you research during this process for ideas and inspiration?
      • I looked up some Youtube Videos about how to use gesso to make material looks “old”.