Update CPS wk1-Observation

Theme: Observation

Context: René Magritte - Les mots et Les images

According to Magritte's remarks, everything seems to convince us that the connection between an object and its representation is little and that each object never fulfils the same function. Under the influence of the Surrealist movement emerging from Paris, by using the caption that does not describe exactly what the object is defined in the common knowledge, Magritte believes that understanding language is far beyond just knowing words and using words to give meaning to things. Representation of things can be arbitrary as words may never be one with objects’ physical form in reality, regardless of how they are labeled. (see La clef des songes, 1930)

Method: As an update for the previous CPS week 1’s work, I finally find out what was the plant I mistook for the Winter Gem plant. It’s just a normal Australian Eucalyptus plant. By chance, I see René Magritte’s famous Pipe on Google and an idea pops in my head. Why going with an idea that is too challenging for just a shot of work in a short amount of time when I can take advantage of the silly confusion in botanical knowledge? As a result, I make a product illustration of Eucalyptus plant, following the same theory of Magritte.

Programs used: Photoshop and Illustrator

Response: In order to depict something into art, almost everyone will choose “Mimesis” of things. Our understanding of language limits ourselves in the pool of words that categorize and dictate the definition on everything we see. If we choose to apply mimesis on bird for example, we will immediately think of anything that flies, has wings and is up in the air. We won’t even consider of the potentials of one word outside of the thick box of what we know. We neglect the connection between words and pictures but perceive it blindly as illustration of a definition. This matter is a factor that possibly push us in an Artblock or Ideablock. As artists, there is nothing more painful than the infamous gigantic artblock challenging our patience and capability to work our brains.

In the end, the final artwork may not represent directly the visualization of the subject. It’s the idea and experience behind the work that reflect what matter