OVERGROWN- A large illustration/collage piece in response to the idea of UTOPIA. I wanted to create a composition “full of life”, colour and motifs relating to the “perfect society”, or the “perfect environment”, with plant and natural imagery being the most prominent. The symbols include: a human face; plant leaves of different types, shape and colour; mushrooms;flowers;koi fish; snakes; and butterflies. The most dominant colour is green, emphasising nature, plant life, energy, and youth. The greens create a sense of innocence, and positivity. Green is also a colour of balanced, harmony and renewal. Furthermore, this piece emphasises growth and development, positive forces of change in a time of uncertainty.
The composition of this piece is largely left to the viewer- who has the ability to move the individual motifs around the canvas- constantly changing the structure of the illustration. Nature is constantly shifting and changing, with the circle of life, the uncertainty of nature is the most certain thing about it.
The following video shows the gradual build up of the piece- almost like a free jigsaw puzzle- with the human figure gradually being covered in nature.
Photo still of the gradual build up and layering of the illustration. Could be viewed in either direction- with greenery and wildlife being added or taken away. Viewed from left to right- the human life is gradually submerged by nature- either being hidden, or protected by the natural world. Viewed from right to left, nature is gradually taken away, only leaving a human with empathy hands.
Layering has been a major theme within this project- a gradual build up of symbols and imagery that eventually dominate and consume the whole image. With this piece, the leaves and plants layer on top of one another, almost fighting for space- causing other symbols to jump out at the viewer, and hide others below the surface.
Thinking about human relationship with nature, our actions have devastating effects on the natural equilibrium- causing consequences of death and destruction. Interfering with nature for selfish profit will eventually leave us with nothing- but respecting our relationship with nature will have more nourishing an flourishing impacts.
Continuing on my practice of glitching illustrations, manipulating the digital image to reveal layers of colour and technical qualities… I find this process interesting to look at what colours are revealed, and what alternative effects are created. These designs remind me of psychedelic art, which often contains swirling patterns and hidden messages that often reference the changing states of consciousness while under the influence of the drug LSD. The colours created in the following digital edits are bright, psychedelic, and intense. The intensity of the bright colours creates an otherworldly effect of the illustration- almost hinting at the idea of a hidden spirit.
Some compositions are now less obvious, more manipulated, and more uncomfortable to look at as a viewer. The balance of colour has gone, there is no harmony, only intense colour and shape we try to make out- like a disfigured light leaked photograph.
thinking about previous illustrations I’ve made in response to this brief- one that immediately came to mind was my task mask illustration, and that juxtaposition of pollution and nature, life and death. I decided to overlay these two illustrations- both to comment on that dysfunctional relationship between man and nature, pollution and health, life and death- but also to create a more visually confusing image.
I really like the intensity of the colour created through this image manipulation- i think its visually dominating and almost hypnotising- encouraging the viewer to question deeper about what they’re looking at.
Caitlin Noble 