During my Earth Artifact research I touched
briefly on the artworks of Yuumei, however having had lectures on the ideas of
subliminal messages and deeper meaning, I wanted to research a little more into
some of the artist’s designs and explore the true context of the work.
Beginning with this
particular design, which clearly resembles an hourglass for a motif of time.
The motif focuses on our running out of time to make changes and improvements
to the world. The top half of the hourglass is created to effect the viewer
emotionally, the colours are peaceful and relaxed, accompanied by a mother bear
with her cub. This allows the viewer to feel a sense of happiness when they
first look at the image as they are initially drawn to the brighter colours of
the design and the lighting effects are the top of the hourglass. The arrow
shape of the iceberg that the bears are stood on and the gradual darkening of
colour then draws the viewer down to the bottom half where the design
represents the modern changes and impact of the decisions that we are making.
Shadowed by a completely modern and industrial cityscape, the now dark and dingy water contains various items of litter and several more materialist items that act as motifs. Some of the items on show include a girl, a couch, various food items, a television and a game controller. All of which would probably suggest the girl was playing on the console whilst lay on the couch snacking.
I feel that the intentions of this image are to address our increasing obsession with material items and the laziness of modern society and the lack of appreciation we have for the natural world around us that is effectively suffering. The girls drowning represent how it will effect us if we don’t begin to care more about the world around us. Overall the impact that this image has on the viewer is very strong, the emotional contrast that it causes by moving from the bright colours to the dark greens and blacks causes emotional and visual discomfort and then the subject of each half of the design further enhances that.
Shadowed by a completely modern and industrial cityscape, the now dark and dingy water contains various items of litter and several more materialist items that act as motifs. Some of the items on show include a girl, a couch, various food items, a television and a game controller. All of which would probably suggest the girl was playing on the console whilst lay on the couch snacking.
I feel that the intentions of this image are to address our increasing obsession with material items and the laziness of modern society and the lack of appreciation we have for the natural world around us that is effectively suffering. The girls drowning represent how it will effect us if we don’t begin to care more about the world around us. Overall the impact that this image has on the viewer is very strong, the emotional contrast that it causes by moving from the bright colours to the dark greens and blacks causes emotional and visual discomfort and then the subject of each half of the design further enhances that.
The next image that I
would like to focus on features a woman holding petrol pump to her heart,
pumping oil from what would appear to be the sea into her body. Immediately I
see the link between our obsession with material goods and our disregard for
the nature around us, this is shown through various dead fish scattered among
the dirty water she is stood in and also the bird that appears to be being worn
as a sort of fashion statement on the woman’s head.
Again in the background of this image there is an industrial landscape featuring smoke and factories. Unlike the image with the hourglass, this image contains no positive connotations or emotions and is completely negative in all that it contains. The dark colours used draw attention to the negative subject of the image and the subtle use of the colour red on the petrol pump and the woman’s heart would suggest that there is a danger in the connection between the human race and material goods and the overall design effects the result of this if it is taken too far.
Again in the background of this image there is an industrial landscape featuring smoke and factories. Unlike the image with the hourglass, this image contains no positive connotations or emotions and is completely negative in all that it contains. The dark colours used draw attention to the negative subject of the image and the subtle use of the colour red on the petrol pump and the woman’s heart would suggest that there is a danger in the connection between the human race and material goods and the overall design effects the result of this if it is taken too far.
I have also featured a few more of Yuumei’s
images that appear to have a similar message being portrayed through the
designs. Some images are more positive, showing a better alternative or a
brighter future. Others of the images simply put it straight to the viewer that
the negative impacts that we are having on the earth are very severe and if no
changes take place then the horrific images will be likely to come true.
As I said, this was only part of my
research on the Earth Artifact brief and I collected a large array of different
designs and ideas to sway my influences towards a final piece. Although I have
not annotated all of these ideas, I have compiled a board simply to visually
inspire me when I visit it. Please follow the link below if you would like to
explore this board further.