Collage Inspired Drawing
Exhibition Text
History is often viewed through the biased lenses of essentialists in a particular field of study. Each field makes claims as to why their way of accounting history is most accurate. The most common assumption is that photography is the only way to depict history accurately. This piece challenges that misconception.
History is often viewed through the biased lenses of essentialists in a particular field of study. Each field makes claims as to why their way of accounting history is most accurate. The most common assumption is that photography is the only way to depict history accurately. This piece challenges that misconception.
Planning
Inspiration
This collage and drawing were inspired by the common misconceptions of history and Felipe Jesus Consalvos', Notas de Sociedad. The political statement made in the piece lead me to create something that sparked debate and demonstrated a problem in society. While paging through national geographic magazines and scouring art databases, I realized, me being part of American culture, that we don't commonly acknowledge things outside of photography and artifact as solid proof of history. Things such as art are able to demonstrate the culture of people from a period of time and in a certain place. |
Leonard, Amber. “Art Project.” Pinterest, 6 May 2014, www.pinterest.com/pin/419679258998419879/. Accessed 27 Mar. 2017.
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Critical Investigation
Felipe Jesus Consalvos' collages on paper frequently deal with political and social issues such as social classism, as seen in Notas de Sociedad, or chaotic government as seen in The American System. Consalvos often used cigar paper, photographs, and monetary figures (presidents on American bills) in his collages to develop a message. The use of monetary figures on his pieces are a motif throughout many of his works. This could possibly be a way of communicating his ordeal with social classism. This goes to show the importance of the material he chooses to make his collage. Consalvos did not make drawings based on his collages. The idea behind collage inspired drawings are to let the collage influence the drawing, not direct it. This sort of thing can be seen in the story of Arp's piece, Chance, wherein scattered fragments of paper led him to paint a similar, just as aesthetically pleasing painting. |
“Collage.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/amelialeavett/collage/. Accessed 27 Mar. 2017.
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Planning Arrangements
Click on the images to read more specific information.
Click on the images to read more specific information.
An important part of all my arrangements is the use of historically significant images. This will help raise the question of "How do we perceive history?" The juxtaposition of paintings, sculpture, relics, and money hint to the viewer the many lenses through which history is analysed. Another important part is the juxtaposed camera in the center of the piece. Photographs are specifically not included in the collage because many cultures can and will take a photograph for face value and accept it as historical proof. My planning is intended to make people question what they accept as truth in history. Does history need to be documented in order for it to be true?
Process
Steps:
- Assemble a collage using magazine clippings and/or other materials (string, tape, fabric, drawings, etc.)
- Sketch an enlarged outline of the collage on larger drawing paper
- Pencil would be best
- Use the least "messy" medium first
- I used ink first because it was least likely to smear as I work
- My mediums in order of use:
- Ultra Fine Tip Sharpie
- Black Colored Pencil
- Pencil (HB, B2, and B6)
- Charcoal (pencils)
- Spray final piece with a fixative to preserve it
Evaluation
Evaluation of Own Work:
When I evaluate my collage inspired drawing against the criteria, how successful the message was conveyed, and how reminiscent it is of the inspiring artist, I would say it is fairly successful. In my opinion, the message was strong and the technique throughout the process was good, however, neither the collage, nor the drawing are reminiscent of Consalvos' work. His work is often very full, using the entire surface, and has a border more or less. My final piece does not have a border, is not very full, and is lacking a story-like scenery that Consalvos' work has. |
Reflection
Overall, I would say my collage and the collage inspired drawing turned out very well. At first I really struggled with identifying a problem that is important to me. I tried to analyze the situation as an open-minded IB learner to identify issues within the context of history. After I came up with this idea, the work of Consalvos made sense. His approach to many social and political issues seemed most appropriate.
A major concern I still have about my piece is the switch between multiple medium. Which parts were in which medium was for the most part random and only used to separate certain aspects of the drawing from one another. I think I could have used the different mediums more effectively, perhaps to emphasize certain parts of drawing. I tried using charcoal only on the camera at the center of the piece so the difference in values emphasized it, but then the skull seemed to lose all purpose. If I would have planned the mediums more, the viewer would know that they are suppose to look toward the camera and then examine what is around it. Even though the emphasis is not concentric, I still feel I got the point across and the camera is where the viewer looks first.
A major concern I still have about my piece is the switch between multiple medium. Which parts were in which medium was for the most part random and only used to separate certain aspects of the drawing from one another. I think I could have used the different mediums more effectively, perhaps to emphasize certain parts of drawing. I tried using charcoal only on the camera at the center of the piece so the difference in values emphasized it, but then the skull seemed to lose all purpose. If I would have planned the mediums more, the viewer would know that they are suppose to look toward the camera and then examine what is around it. Even though the emphasis is not concentric, I still feel I got the point across and the camera is where the viewer looks first.
ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
I am well aware that Consalvos' work influenced me to create a statement piece intended to make the viewer question the views they have on history.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors of my research sources were very formal and did not spend much time analyzing Consalvos' work. Rather they identified key aspects and techniques.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I feel as if I have discovered an entirely new level of ignorance. I noticed that not many people pay attention to problems in their society unless someone, like Consalvos, points them out.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme around my research was to identify the formal qualities and techniques of Felipe Jesus Consalvos. In addition to that it was to understand the motivation behind dadaism.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading, I inferred that Consalvos' collages were random and had no purpose other than aesthetics, I later found out that each of the many collages were all confronting a problem with society.
I am well aware that Consalvos' work influenced me to create a statement piece intended to make the viewer question the views they have on history.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors of my research sources were very formal and did not spend much time analyzing Consalvos' work. Rather they identified key aspects and techniques.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I feel as if I have discovered an entirely new level of ignorance. I noticed that not many people pay attention to problems in their society unless someone, like Consalvos, points them out.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme around my research was to identify the formal qualities and techniques of Felipe Jesus Consalvos. In addition to that it was to understand the motivation behind dadaism.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading, I inferred that Consalvos' collages were random and had no purpose other than aesthetics, I later found out that each of the many collages were all confronting a problem with society.
Bibliography
“Collage.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/amelialeavett/collage/. Accessed 27 Mar. 2017.
Leonard, Amber. “Art Project.” Pinterest, 6 May 2014, www.pinterest.com/pin/419679258998419879/. Accessed 27 Mar. 2017.
Leonard, Amber. “Art Project.” Pinterest, 6 May 2014, www.pinterest.com/pin/419679258998419879/. Accessed 27 Mar. 2017.