For this assignment, I wanted to create a sense of surrealism with my photos. I combined a photo I took with AI images to create the piece. It's inspired by many of the dreams I had when I was younger, and the sense of wonder that comes with it.
Transformative Composite Portrait + Motion Layer - Written Critique The Untitled transformative portrait by Jackson Wells shows a video with the viewers looking in the perspective of as if they were floating in the air among the clouds. There are two clouds in the foreground that slowly drift back and forth. From here, a figure holding onto a balloon is ascending into the air and out of the frame. The environment shows a beautiful sunset and a hot air balloon in the background. Though the work feels very simple at first glance, it creates a surreal atmosphere and makes the viewer feel quite relaxed. As I first looked at this piece, I interpreted it as if I were looking into someone else’s dream. Though one cannot hold onto one single balloon and float incredibly high like this, it still felt like it completely made sense. It leads me to wonder where the individual is going and what led him to this specific journey or dream. I think this image shows that the individual in the portrait has a broad imagination. The individual is also formatted in a way where he is much smaller than the environment and other objects, hinting at the massive world that we live in. The portrait is very aspirational because I feel like it may be a metaphor for reaching new heights and conquering dreams that feel impossible at times. After evaluating this work, there are clues, such as the singular balloon, allowing the subject to float up into the sky, that present the dreamlike and surrealist concept here. I do feel like adding more objects, even strange or ones that feel very random could help push the surrealist vibe a bit more. The image does work well as a portrait because my eye leads straight to the individual floating into the sky, making him the main point or subject. I feel that the subject is being transformed as he is being taken into the sky, making the viewer wonder what exactly happens next. I feel like the transformation could be exaggerated a bit more, possibly making up disappear into a group of clouds. Overall, the piece still works very well, and the motion of each layer matches and does not feel cluttered or uneven. This work exists within our larger culture because in lots of art and media, innocence as well as escapism are commonly depicted. The sky across many cultures commonly symbolizes freedom, peace, and dreams. The balloon, being something so fragile, could hint at feelings of vulnerability and weakness that many people in society commonly feel they have. The balloon is defying gravity and crossing the boundaries that are impossible, this could highlight the idea of rebellion in today’s culture. Overall, this work is a self-portrait depicting a man floating into the sky holding onto a single balloon, defying the rules of gravity. This piece reflects the desire to escape from reality, to be engulfed in a dreamlike and whimsical state. The piece provides a very calm and relaxing viewing experience while also leading the viewer to wonder more about the subject, to ultimately want more answers. Compared to other works, many people used a black and white option or darkened their videos. For this piece specifically, keeping the images realistic and bright works to create the tone of the image. Overall, I really enjoyed viewing this piece and diving into the deeper message it presents! Nice Job!
Transformative Composite Portrait + Motion Layer - Written Critique
ReplyDeleteThe Untitled transformative portrait by Jackson Wells shows a video with the viewers looking in the perspective of as if they were floating in the air among the clouds. There are two clouds in the foreground that slowly drift back and forth. From here, a figure holding onto a balloon is ascending into the air and out of the frame. The environment shows a beautiful sunset and a hot air balloon in the background. Though the work feels very simple at first glance, it creates a surreal atmosphere and makes the viewer feel quite relaxed.
As I first looked at this piece, I interpreted it as if I were looking into someone else’s dream. Though one cannot hold onto one single balloon and float incredibly high like this, it still felt like it completely made sense. It leads me to wonder where the individual is going and what led him to this specific journey or dream. I think this image shows that the individual in the portrait has a broad imagination. The individual is also formatted in a way where he is much smaller than the environment and other objects, hinting at the massive world that we live in. The portrait is very aspirational because I feel like it may be a metaphor for reaching new heights and conquering dreams that feel impossible at times.
After evaluating this work, there are clues, such as the singular balloon, allowing the subject to float up into the sky, that present the dreamlike and surrealist concept here. I do feel like adding more objects, even strange or ones that feel very random could help push the surrealist vibe a bit more. The image does work well as a portrait because my eye leads straight to the individual floating into the sky, making him the main point or subject. I feel that the subject is being transformed as he is being taken into the sky, making the viewer wonder what exactly happens next. I feel like the transformation could be exaggerated a bit more, possibly making up disappear into a group of clouds. Overall, the piece still works very well, and the motion of each layer matches and does not feel cluttered or uneven.
This work exists within our larger culture because in lots of art and media, innocence as well as escapism are commonly depicted. The sky across many cultures commonly symbolizes freedom, peace, and dreams. The balloon, being something so fragile, could hint at feelings of vulnerability and weakness that many people in society commonly feel they have. The balloon is defying gravity and crossing the boundaries that are impossible, this could highlight the idea of rebellion in today’s culture.
Overall, this work is a self-portrait depicting a man floating into the sky holding onto a single balloon, defying the rules of gravity. This piece reflects the desire to escape from reality, to be engulfed in a dreamlike and whimsical state. The piece provides a very calm and relaxing viewing experience while also leading the viewer to wonder more about the subject, to ultimately want more answers. Compared to other works, many people used a black and white option or darkened their videos. For this piece specifically, keeping the images realistic and bright works to create the tone of the image. Overall, I really enjoyed viewing this piece and diving into the deeper message it presents! Nice Job!