I Am Then
Exhibition Text
I Am Then is a combination of a self portrait and an "equirectangular projection of the night sky in galactic coordinates, showing the entire sky as visible from Earth with our Milky Way galaxy running through the middle" (Issac Shivers, 2013). The plotted circles are Supernovae Explosions and Gamma-Ray Bursts recorded the week of my birth.
I Am Then is a combination of a self portrait and an "equirectangular projection of the night sky in galactic coordinates, showing the entire sky as visible from Earth with our Milky Way galaxy running through the middle" (Issac Shivers, 2013). The plotted circles are Supernovae Explosions and Gamma-Ray Bursts recorded the week of my birth.
Planning
Inspiration
The inspiration for this piece came from Carl Sagan's A Pale Blue Dot. As Voyager 1 left the solar system on February 14, 1990, Sagan thought it would be a good idea to turn the spacecraft around for one last look at home. His moving rhetoric about our tiny significance, but great importance inspired me to think of things that were bigger than me, something that affected the Universe. This led me to think about Earth's position relative to 14 pulsars (Image on the right). The next thought I had was that I should find events in the universe at the time that I was born to represent me. Since the pulsars represent my location, Gamma-Rays and Supernovae Explosions could represent me in time. An addition inspiration for the style in which I want to present this in the form of Andy Warhol's portrait line drawings (pictured right). |
Critical Investigation
The image pictured right is one of the many untitled and undated works by Andy Warhol. Not being able to research this work specifically limited the knowledge I have on its meaning, however I did research the meaning behind having multiple heads. Symbolically, having more that one head, or showing multiple sides of a faces means that someone has differing personalities and they could even be considered "two-faced." The meaning I drew from this piece was that the different perspective on the face meant that he, Warhol, exhibits different personalities in his day to day life. The face on the left looks humble and strong; the one on the left ferocity and bravery; and the one on the right, subtlety and sadness. |
Planning Sketches
Click on pictures and read the captions for more detail.
Click on pictures and read the captions for more detail.
Process
Steps:
- Get a large segment of paper
- Use math to figure out how to expand the equirectangular projection to fit the paper.
- Draw a grid across the large paper
- Graph all the points of desired space events
- Use the grid to expand self portrait
- Create the Milky Way Galaxy across the center
- Draw self portrait in charcoal using a not dull edge
Evaluation
In comparison to my inspiration. I was rather successful. My connection to the Voyager Plaque is much stronger, but Warhol's drawing was influential on how I want to portray myself. Since my portrait has three heads, a person would be inclined to think each represents a part of me. That was the intention. I wanted the faces to be "curious," "serious," and "worried." These are the most essential parts to my personality that all started at birth. The portrait also obviously connects to Warhol's drawing (pictured right). I do however believe he used pencil which changes the thickness of line when worn down resulting in lighter and darker tones. I used charcoal because I wanted it to stand out starkly through the galaxy and against the white paper.
|
Reflection
Overall, this project was a success. In regards to meaning and technique, there are not really any major flaws. I believe I represented myself fairly accurately and the provided context adds to the piece conceptually. The idea that my life is one in trillions that had come and gone is insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe where much larger, however still insignificant events are happening.
One critique I do have for my own work is that the drawing of the galaxy is not as good as it could be. the burnt red color faded into the prussian blue and black, making the galaxy lack depth. Another thing is the fact that it is on white paper. I was limited t my resources at the time and I thought white paper would encourage the viewer to only focus on what is in color. Black was my original choice for paper color because it was most accurate to what space looks like. The black would have added to the piece conceptually because it would then, without a doubt, be a galaxy to everybody that sees it.
One critique I do have for my own work is that the drawing of the galaxy is not as good as it could be. the burnt red color faded into the prussian blue and black, making the galaxy lack depth. Another thing is the fact that it is on white paper. I was limited t my resources at the time and I thought white paper would encourage the viewer to only focus on what is in color. Black was my original choice for paper color because it was most accurate to what space looks like. The black would have added to the piece conceptually because it would then, without a doubt, be a galaxy to everybody that sees it.
ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
My inspiration inspired me to find something that is much greater than me . It made me look at a much bigger picture.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors of my research were very formal, given that they were writing studies and creating models for the scientific community.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
From excerpts of Sagan's book, I came to the conclusion that many people are comfortable in their ignorance f the magnitude of the universe.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my research was finding what best represented me astronomically. It took a lot of searching to find the data to understand the SNe and GRB.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I made the inference that Warhol's work continues to not be cataloged, so I had to find something else to research about the piece that inspired me.
My inspiration inspired me to find something that is much greater than me . It made me look at a much bigger picture.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors of my research were very formal, given that they were writing studies and creating models for the scientific community.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
From excerpts of Sagan's book, I came to the conclusion that many people are comfortable in their ignorance f the magnitude of the universe.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my research was finding what best represented me astronomically. It took a lot of searching to find the data to understand the SNe and GRB.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I made the inference that Warhol's work continues to not be cataloged, so I had to find something else to research about the piece that inspired me.
Bibliography
“Carl Sagan and the Pioneer Plaques.” The Thought Stash, 18 Apr. 2016, thethoughtstash.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/carl-sagan-and-the-pioneer-plaques/.
DiValentin, Lia. “AVT 101 FINAL PROJECT.” Andy Warhol Collection of Work, 1 Jan. 1970, avt101davidcarson.blogspot.com/2012/05/about-museum-andy-warhol-museum-front.html.
Shivvers, Isaac. “A History of Gamma-Ray Burst Discovery.” A Visual History of Gamma-Ray Burst Discovery, ishivvers.github.io/maps/grbs.html.
Shivvers, Isaac. “A History of Supernova Discovery.” A Visual History of Supernova Discovery, ishivvers.github.io/maps/sne.html.
Shivvers, Isaac. “A Map of Known Pulsars.” A Map of Known Pulsars, ishivvers.github.io/maps/pulsars.html.
DiValentin, Lia. “AVT 101 FINAL PROJECT.” Andy Warhol Collection of Work, 1 Jan. 1970, avt101davidcarson.blogspot.com/2012/05/about-museum-andy-warhol-museum-front.html.
Shivvers, Isaac. “A History of Gamma-Ray Burst Discovery.” A Visual History of Gamma-Ray Burst Discovery, ishivvers.github.io/maps/grbs.html.
Shivvers, Isaac. “A History of Supernova Discovery.” A Visual History of Supernova Discovery, ishivvers.github.io/maps/sne.html.
Shivvers, Isaac. “A Map of Known Pulsars.” A Map of Known Pulsars, ishivvers.github.io/maps/pulsars.html.