My two words from the random word generator were hungry and desert. With the nature of this assignment, I wanted to sketch out any ideas I’d get from the random words. My first thought ( a boring one) was to just draw a dude eating ice cream. But I thought it’d be a little more interesting the other way around. So here’s my depiction of an alternate universe where humans are desert to ice cream.
I enjoyed today’s reading because it felt personal to me. Flow. A trance that many of us occasionally feel but don’t think about all that often, or at least this was the case with me. Seeing the author write about this on paper felt like I was reintroduced to this state. Its funny but I think I was in flow while reading the chapter.
The part of the chapter that referenced flow in the context of religion especially piqued my interest. Religion, at its foundation, strives to connect individuals to the divine and the transcendent, and I thought it was interesting that the reading referenced this. Individuals often attain a state of intense focus during prayer, meditation, or community worship, abandoning their sense of self and opening themselves to the divine. These activities have the potential to generate a state of flow in which individuals become entirely immersed in the present moment, experiencing an intimate relationship and an elevated sense of identity. Lastly, religious experiences frequently include a strong sense of direct and instantaneous input. This feedback may manifest as emotional or spiritual reactions, a feeling of unity with God, or a sense of one’s own metamorphosis. The immediateness and importance of this input add to the experience’s depth and intensity.
I strongly agree with the author when he wrote that artists fear finding their work dismissed as less or nothing at all. I believe artists pour their heart, emotion, and time into their work, making them susceptible to criticism and rejection. The anxiety that their work may not be recognized arises from a strong desire for validation and acknowledgment. Art, by definition, is subjective. This subjectivity frequently blurs the line between what is deemed art and what is not, leaving artists in confusion. Deep-rooted uncertainty like this is hard to overcome but it can be done. Engaging with a supportive artistic community, receiving constructive feedback, and studying diverse points of view can all help. Artists can find purpose in their artistic activities by embracing their own originality, fostering self-confidence, and focusing on the joy of creation rather than external affirmation. Artists may also worry about losing control over their creations when they are published. By its very nature, art invites interpretation and may elicit different feelings and reactions in different people. The loss of creative integrity is a concern for artists who fear that their original message or vision may be twisted or misunderstood.
A chilling stance. Dark shades revealing the bleakness of the subject. Francisco Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son is grotesque like no other.
According to Roman legend, a son of Saturn will conquer the titan, much as Saturn had once overthrown his own father. Saturn devoured his children to prevent the prophecy from coming true. His youngest son Jupiter, with the help of his mother, manages to avoid terrible tragedy and goes on to fulfill the prophecy.
An unsettling tale indeed, where a father not only commits infanticide but also consumes his own offspring. This myth has become inspiration for numerous artists through the ages, but what makes Goya’s depiction especially haunting?
Unlike the muscular, perfectly proportioned depictions of men from Roman myths we are used to seeing, here we are met with a somewhat twisted, unhinged figure with limbs that don’t quite fit and a demeanor that exudes an animalistic character rather than a human one. His hair appears disheveled and untamed; his body completely unclothed; his hands, resembling claws, tightly clutching the child’s body, mimicking a predator devouring its helpless prey. The most prominent feature, though, may be seen in his gaze. A glaring, deranged expression that appears utterly uncontrollable, accompanied by a wide, gaping mouth resembling a cavernous void. When peering into his eyes, one cannot help but suspect the absence of a soul.
Goya’s Saturn embodies lack of control. Perhaps his work is meant to elicit some of our deepest and most perturbing fears. The picture depicts dehumanization, vulnerability, cannibalism, and murder. It depicts a psychotic man engulfed by fury, entirely oblivious to his own body, resembling a deranged being suffering from a hysterical episode. These elements converge in a somber depiction that is bound to evoke nightmares for many who view it.
Goya’s life was not an easy one. After losing his hearing in 1792 and surviving life-threatening diseases, he had genuine worries about his mental stability. During this time he moved into a house in Madrid referred to as Villa of the Deaf man (although not named after him). During his stay, Goya painted a group of 14 pieces on the walls that are now known as the Black Paintings, including the notorious Saturn. These were only for him; he never meant for people to see them. During the making of these, he also grew increasingly resentful of the political situation of Spain.
Historians have many theories about his intentions for creating this painting. Some view it as a metaphor for Spain’s political environment, while others say it illustrates Goya’s connection to his own children and the guilt he feels over them dying young while he grows old. Whatever Goya’s intentions may have been though, he has managed to create a work that the world identifies with the fear of loss of humanity.
On the other hand, even after saying all this I sometimes see Saturn in a different light. I see sorrow in his eyes. Saturn almost looks like he is startled by a stranger having ambushed him while carrying out his heinous act. Almost like he himself knows and fears the ghastly beast he has become in devouring his child in his effort to stop the prophecy. But hey that’s just me.
start of with scientific phenomena – later turns into artful story
works are combination of visuals and audio
a lot of their work is sensing the invisible
taking real life reading and converting to art
Art designed in order to work off of the hardware present. Can be laser projector specific or regular projector specific
Researchers are usually happy to share their findings, so it’s also good to ask
For this assignment I set out to create generative art of my own. Seeing the amazing projects showcased in the recent class visits definitely swayed me to trying design for myself. Below is a short clip of the art I created on touchdesigner. The touchdesigner map is also pasted in the end.
This project involved a lot of playing around on the software. I sort of envisioned watercolors spreading out, and wanted to recreate that effect for this assignment. As for the colors I chose, I looked back at my first assignment; plants, and used colors associated with it.
I am looking forward to maybe developing this work further in future assignments and to hopefully incorporate it into large projects with more punchy visuals and sound.
I really enjoyed meeting the Field team today. I want to eventually work in design, so seeing their projects gave me an idea of what to expect.
The Fitbit project showed me how deep they are willing to study design language and human understanding/perception to make sure their app makes the right impression. Everything is calculated. From an object’s shifting hex codes, to their unique movement, all factors are taken into account to portray the right tone and purpose. It also gave me a window into how designers and clients work together and collaborate on a common goal.
I very much agree that to “to require perfection is to invite paralysis.” Human steer their work in ways to reduce, what they think are errors. This leads to us clinging on to safer, more familiar routes, all in hopes of creating perfection. Without risks, we cannot truly explore uncharted territory. Experimentation, risk-taking, and pushing boundaries are essential components of artistic pursuits. Artists may feel inhibited when their creative inclinations are overpowered by a desire to conform to preconceived conceptions of flawlessness. Fear of making mistakes can stifle artistic development and impede the exploration of novel ideas. By giving up the freedom to experiment and innovate, art loses its originality and becomes a mere replica rather than a real expression of the artist’s vision.
