Category: Communication Lab

 

Anita Luo, Sample X, 2023, Print

Click here for better viewing: Sound visualization

Music

Animal by AURORA

Proposal

It is a widely accepted truth that there is a paradox of humanity — we have the capacity to be both good and evil. AURORA’s Animal explores human’s inherent animalistic nature to kill and destroy. Is this in our DNA? Through typography and Gestalt Theory, I’d like to formulate a graphic representation of both the music and the deeper questions of our intrinsic qualities as humans.

Brainstorming

Firstly, I created a mind map for the song. I wrote down whatever impressions I had in mind in hopes of finding connections and meaning.

Inspiration & Conceptual Integration

Concept Brainstorm

Right-click the image below and click on the option “Open image in new tab” for better viewing.

DNA Profile

I was inspired to use DNA profiles as a reference when creating my composition because it relates to the theme of our inherent qualities as humans. Furthermore, I believe science is a strong example of humankind’s hunger for knowledge and the dangers of it — humanity’s natural destruction. Genetic fingerprinting uses Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify a specific sequence of DNA so that it can be studied and compared with other samples. DNA profiling is the process where a specific DNA pattern, called a DNA profile, is obtained from a person or sample of bodily tissue. Most of our DNA is identical to other people’s DNA. However, specific regions vary highly between people. Below is an image of a typical DNA profile:

Music Software and Synth Pad

I also found a connection between the DNA profile and music software due to their similar visual appearance — repeated blocks in different sequences throughout the picture plane.

The same can be said for synth pads. 

Lastly, I chose to use the font “Myriad Pro” because it would be more relatable to the audience — evoking a positive audience reception — and it is modern — which relates to the idea of new scientific technology like genetic fingerprinting.

Contextual Research on Media and Composition

I found Richard Skelton’s Visual Poetry enticing because of his use of repeated letter shapes to create rhythm and organic subject matter. The work is about the resurgence of concrete poetry and the influences of digital text and the internet. Due to the irregularity of the placement of the letters, there is a unique texture displayed in this work. I would like to incorporate the same effect in my composition. Furthermore, there is a symmetrical balance within the work which gives the piece a sense of comfort to the viewers.

Process

Step 1: Basic framework

Using the image below as a reference, I first used various letters to create the basic shape of the DNA profile which I then manipulated.

Step 2: Duplicating

After removing the reference I found that the composition looked empty. Thus, I highlighted and copied certain sections of the text and pasted them in various locations to darken the overall tone of the composition. As a result, there was more nuance within the artwork. The repetition of the texts created the illusion of repeated shapes which created a sense of rhythm and familiarity within the composition. I believe that this design element, rhythm, can also be related to the musical rhythm of AURORA’s song. Furthermore, the repetition of shapes suggests the idea of cycles which is prevalent in nature and animals — once again relating back to the idea of inherent essence. Additionally, I also added more letters at the bottom, to show the presence of the deep and full synthesized bassline in the song, while maintaining lines within to show the sheer electronic ambiance present in the song. This line is achieved through the Gestalt theory of proximity and continuity. Lastly, I ensured that there was a sequence in the composition through the shapes because I wanted to depict the regular tempo of the song.

I also enlarged my compositions and cropped the right columns because I found the composition too busy. The label lines on the left and bottom were also adjusted after the size change.

Step 2: Final adjustments

There were a lot of open gaps within my composition so I added more repetition at the top. I strategically placed them in a way to create the sense of the degradation of the shapes because AURORA’s song has a feeling of bittersweetness evoked by the strings — probably because of the aspect of killing. I also aimed to incorporate movement by focusing on making a heavy base in each shape — this created the impression that they were falling which is almost like a game of Tetris or falling blocks. The electronic beeping sounds within the song also give me the impression of falling blocks.

I also utilized full stops and apostrophes to add more details to the background because I found the composition dull. This also mimics the markings that arise when printing from a real printing machine. I also decided to use more “x” and y” letters to reference the X and Y chromosomes in DNA.

While saving the work I ran into a system issue which resulted in the duplication of certain letters. However, I found this accident useful because it added dimension and depth to my artwork. The duplicated letters are smaller which creates a directional force towards the center of the composition.

Audience Reception

During our class critique, I was able to show that I drew inspiration from DNA profiles. However, I do believe that without prior knowledge certain audience members would not find this reference. On the other hand, there are many other perceptions that can be drawn from this composition — one could see music software, synth pads, hair strands, the city, etc.

My composition is not very abstract which contrasts with my peers greatly. However, I took the risk of creating a very rational piece because I find music like AURORA’s very systematic. The repetitive melody and basslines suggest order. Furthermore, science itself has a lot of structure — DNA itself has structure. Thus, I wanted to approach this project in a more logical manner to represent the song and my concept more holistically. Nevertheless, due to the amalgamation of references and concepts, my composition is still abstract in some way in my opinion.

Another critique worth mentioning is my sister’s insight as a non-artist. She finds my work very scientific and at first glance, it is hard to tell whether it is an expression or just an infographic. My composition’s weakness lies in it’s orderly arrangement which can look dull and static to my audience. However, the concept — our inherent qualities as humans — behind my work demands careful consideration. Thus, I did not want to make it look unduly abstract where meaning could be lost or taken lightly. A scientific diagram usually shows results from experiments which are very important evidence to prove a hypothesis and make conclusions.

Rationale

Although most of our DNA is identical to other people’s DNA, there are still specific regions that vary highly between people. Similarly, we as humans all have the capacity to do evil but we all vary significantly in terms of our experiences, upbringing, and background that influence our individual actions. AURORA’s song has a systematic structure. However, there still lies some variety of melodies and additional instrumental elements. Are we intrinsically the same? Maybe, but we all contribute to society differently — the way pitch, rhythm, and timbre influence the feeling of a song — and we all have something unique about us inherently. Even amidst this logical graphic presentation and structured song, there is still life to be found — possibilities.

Anita Luo, What do you see?, 2023, Digital media

For better viewing, please open the PDF below:

Anita Luo type + space + meaning class exercise

Proposal

How do we perceive the world around us? Through the Gestalt Theory, I’d like to explore how we perceive words and how that is connected with what we see visually. A person can feel emotions and memories from words but what happens when the words start to become obscured? Can we still rely on our conditioned understanding of the word? I hope to uncover what elements can influence the viewers to feel movement and meaning through typography. I also intend to explore how the eyes can open our minds to unimagined possibilities.

Brainstorming

Firstly, I created a mind-map of each assigned word. I wrote down whatever impressions I had in mind of each word in hopes of finding connections and meaning.

 

Inspiration & Conceptual Integration

I was inspired to use optical illusion in order to add movement to my work. Below are a few references that I drew inspiration from. 

Jai Deco Geometric Pattern Tile 0104

Deco’s work creates a diminishing or shrinking effect through his use of shapes that create directional lines toward the center. I believe this could be a way in which I could incorporate movement to illustrate the word “contracting” as it essentially means “to become smaller”.

Despite its effect of making our eyes see the room around us shrink, I found this optical illusion unique in that it looks like it is expanding when you look at it directly. Thus, I intended to use this as a reference for my “expansion” composition. 

For the word “effervescent”. I was inspired by Isa-L’s works. 

Isa-L’s “N° 20.83 OXYGÈNE” has a repetition of circles or “air bubbles” coming from the center coming outwards, which give the work a sense of movement and a burst of energy. This is a perfect depiction of what “effervescent” means and I hope to draw some ideas from her artwork.

Process

First plan

I initially wanted to incorporate elements of optical illusion to take my work a step further to advance the viewers’ reception to it.

Satisfied with my first plan, I attempted to create my first draft.

First draft

For better viewing, please open the PDF below:

type + space + meaning class exercise_Grid

Unfortunately, I overestimated my ability to cut the text. Due to my lack of Adobe Illustrator competence, I did not know how to cut text in the way I desired. As a result, my first draft was time-consuming. Furthermore, in many cases, I resorted to using shapes to cover certain areas of text instead of utilizing Adobe’s effective and efficient tools. Therefore. I revised and re-evaluated my first composition plan.

Second and final draft

For better viewing, please open the PDF below:

Anita Luo type + space + meaning class exercise

In order to create unity between the 6 separate compositions, I decided to use the same font “Myriad Pro”. The unity is crucial because I want to showcase the 6 words in one whole. This will, therefore, draw a positive reception from the viewers because it will be more accessible.

Contraction

    

A contraction can refer to the process of becoming smaller. However, contraction is also when the muscles of the uterus tighten up before birth. Thus through my composition, I hope to depict the idea of a tunnel, more specifically a mother’s birth canal, and illustrate the birth of life. The radial balance gives the piece a mystical appeal where one can feel a sense of hope. Like a sun, the radial composition suggests a brighter future. 

Gestalt Theory: Continuity is evident in the composition; the texts are within imaginary lines all around the central point in a radial manner. Furthermore, the individual letters also create circles due to their alignment. Because of this use of continuity, it produces imagined lines that create both unity and radial balance. 

Expansion

In order to create contrasting but also complementary pairs of compositions, “expansion” is created in the same manner as “contractions” in terms of its radial balance.  In “Contraction”, the letters are read most easily on the left where the letters gradually decrease in size. This is a way in which I aim to guide the viewers on how to read and analyze my work.  Thus, in this composition, I used the same technique where “EXPANSION” has to be read from where the letters start small. Expansion, to any artist or writer, means to explore the effects of certain areas. Therefore, this composition aims to suggest a sense of exploration, distance, and possibilities.  I intentionally placed certain letters out of the border to some degree in order to suggest an imaginary space that the viewers can envision in their minds. The playful orientations of each letter also give the work a sense of livelihood and the hunger for pursuit by humankind.   

Gestalt Theory: The elements of Gestalt Theory are not felt strongly in this composition. However, one can argue that proximity, the proximity between the letters, was used that allow the viewers to read the word “expansion” more easily.

Sever

Inspired by my classmates’ use of “V” as scissors, I created this composition with the intention of visually depicting the action of dividing an object by cutting. I leave room for the imagination of the viewers by placing the letter “V” out of the picture plane slightly. It allows the viewer to imagine the rest of a scissor or even a hand. Secondly, I used different orientations, text strokes, and color variations to simulate movement — the “Se” and “er” are moving apart from each other. This also creates rhythm due to the repetition of “se” and “er”. 

Gestalt Theory: Proximity is taken advantage of to create movement in this composition due to the gradual separation of the word “Sever”.

Unite

To counteract “Sever” and pair the two words,  I created this composition with a strong use of diagonal lines. My aim was to connect each letter of “unite” so that it would form one whole. This bonded idea contrasts with “Sever” which is highlighted by the connectivity of the letters. Something interesting about this composition is that if one looks at it long enough, everything becomes a collection of lines and shapes. This can be related to the word “unite” because unity is essentially only made up of parts. 

Gestalt Theory: Figure and ground can be seen in this composition because depending on what the viewer focuses on, one might see letters or one might see white shapes — specifically the  U’s that form long white figures. 

Effervescent

My inspiration for the word “effervescent” is an image of a sizzling pill. The bubble and excitement of such an imagery is depicted in this composition through the use of diverse lines,  from the letters, to create an element of variety and sporadic energy. Each letter, which acts as little bubbles of air, is integral in the making of this kinetic composition. A criticism of the work is the inability to find the word “effervescent”. However, when one is excited does one not forget about everything? 

Gestalt Theory: The use of proximity allows the viewers to group certain information together to create a sense of depth and shade to the piece — such as the shadow of the pill.

Stagnant

In contrast to “Effervescent”, the letters of the word “stagnant” are placed in an orderly horizontal orientation. This orientation emphasizes no movement, no change, and no flow — horizontal lines show rest. The unity of the composition, through the repetition of the letters in the same sequence, illustrates a motionless state. Thus, this composition was successful because it showcases the meaning of the word and pairs well with its partner “effervescent”. 

Gestalt Theory: Closure is a strong element in this composition because, despite the lack of borders, the word “stagnant” in the center can still be read by the viewers. 

Rationale

How do we perceive the world around us? Through the Gestalt Theory, I have come to realize that many of the things we see, do, and read have intricate connections to each other. When words or things become obscured it becomes human nature to get in tune with one’s emotions to cope with uncertainty. Things have intrinsic and inherent qualities that can never be taken away from them. Thus no matter where words are, we can always find a way to understand the deeper meaning of something mysterious, because inherently we, humans and things, are connected in some way in this wider world.