STUDY TASK 08 - PRACTICAL EXPLORATION 2

I wanted to include Pablo Picasso in my design, or someone who was a large contributor to modernism, and mix that content with a postmodern design, perhaps with a degree of controversy. Really trying to grasp the concept of postmodern graphic design. My question was How did Postmodernism impact on Graphic Design practice? I want my design to be a representation of this very question. I covered a lot of points in my essay, and one point I wanted to express in my design. is the use of Parody and Pistache, I believe it be a strong aspect that is in postmodern graphic design practice. 

I took particular interest in Marcel Duchamp's L.H.O.O.Q, as I felt it epitomised the ethos of postmodernism. It was controversial in its simplicity. 

I wanted to experiment with different textures and mix media, like above. I think it makes a nice aesthetic.

I wanted to create a parody myself, of a famous modernist piece of art. But more than that, I wanted it to express a certain level of controversy. So theres a degree of meaning behind the piece. Of course it wil have a lot of the postmodern graphic design themes in a creative term, but I also want to express the theory in my design, both literally and metaphorically. 

PABLO PICASSO - WOMAN ASLEEP IN HER ARMCHAIR (THE DREAM 1932)

I LIKED THE 

I did not have a specific starting point, I was just experimenting with a range of ideas, not really focusing on any design principles, and just piecing together different concepts. Here I used a cut out of a Pablo Picasso piece, and I like the colours produced however it was not describing much of my essay visually. So I moved onto another artist.

I decided pretty early on that this yellow was going to be my main colour scheme in my piece. I do not know why I like it so much.

This is a colour scheme used a lot with Jean Michel Basquiat's work. I believe Basquiat to be a representation of postmodern art. The way he expresses himself, it is with passion, but it is conveyed in irregularity. This is a theme I want to express in my design.

 The New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat was a significant figure in the transition of graffiti artfrom a clandestine street activity to mainstream post modern art Despite his premature death from a heroin overdose at the age of 27, the reputation of his raw style of neo-expressionism- with its references to jazz and African art- remains high, and he is regarded by 'cool art critics as one of the important postmodern artistsof urban America. 

I looked into Van Gogh and decided to ditch Picasso. Exploring his self portraits. As he is another pioneer of modernism, I wanted to mix this image and relate it to our contemporary pop culture, to convey a hidden message. I started to look into a way to play around this. 

At first I looked at perhaps himself biting his own ear off, however it was not really a strong use of parody and pistache. It was not conveying a bold enough message to me, or really enforcing the themes related to my essay. I wanted to play around with his infamous cut off ear. 

I had the idea of incorporating Mike Tyson's infamous bite on Holyfield. On June 28, 1997, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield fought in Las Vegas in one of the most anticipated rematches in heavyweight boxing history. Holyfield was the defending world champion after he had shocked Tyson seven months earlier in an 11th-round knockout. The two had wildly divergent personalities and were categorically different fighters. Holyfield was a warrior and a strategist; Tyson was a fearsome brawler. The events that followed remain some of the most inexplicable, bizarre and disturbing moments in a sport well-accustomed to pandemonium. For several weeks after Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield's ear and was disqualified (Tyson actually bit Holyfield twice; he was only penalised after the first bite), the world focused on the controversy.

 I thought of potentially linking two controversial moments in history, with a level of satire to produce my own parody, inspired my Duchamp, accept instead of duplicating the Mona Lisa, I will be experimenting with Van Gogh.

I found a fan made image online of tyson biting an ear off. And tried merging the two images together.

This was my final design, I will go through and analyse my intent, and reasoning now. Overall I am happy with my design outcome, as I believe it expresses key themes from my essay, as a visual response in many ways. 

1. (in relation to parody in graphic design) There could only be a genuine outcome if the viewer saw that the new version departs from its prior normality. I believe my piece does this. In relation to both Van Gogh and Mike Tyson’s actions, can be deemed acts of expression, I tried to keep Van Goghs style of expression, but added postmodern graphic design techniques, inspired by the likes of David Carson. 

I wanted the brutality of their actions conveyed with a level of satire. 

How does my design relate to my essay? Well lets look at the themes described. I focused a lot on how postmodern design has impacted graphic design, in the sense that some of their traits are now employed in contemporary design.

Look at Neville Brody, his style is constantly replicated in contemporary graphic design, the application of cultural influences.  Brody’s work as he happily admits, bears witness to the many other ideas and sources of imagery that have influenced him-all feeding into this central concern; agitating, questioning, stripping-back towards what is really necessary, really ‘real’ underneath it all. This was not a theme expressed in any paradigm before postmodernism.

Another postmodern trait I have tried to input in my design, is the use of typography. And the irregularity of space and alignment. Adopting techniques from Weingart, Carson and Fella. Employing the “new-wave” style into my typography, I tried hard to fully grasp the meaning behind this style, by looking at the design process, and disconnecting myself from the design principles focused around type, and focused more on looking at typography as a form of art expression. Disallowing any recurring style, pushing for irregularity, and planning deconstruction in my design. I believe my final resolution questions the established typographic practice, through use of alternative spacing, typeface, size, layout and placement. 

I have tried to maintain and use these postmodern graphic design traits since the beginning of my design process, it is these traits that have impacted graphic design as a practice, which is why I have used these traits as the focal point of my design process. I have inputed certain nods to my outcome, such as L.H.O.O.Q (is written subtly). Overall the lack of coherency, and general combination of styles expresses my essay question, and believe I have created a design that trancends postmodern graphic design.

This is just further experimentation, with my final piece I did not use this idea I was just exploring different ideas.