Cheng Mun's 2208 Journal

Original Images:

Final Image:

Process:

First of all, I knew I wanted to select elements to create a background for the final image. I looked at the images on hand, and decided that the whipped cream (8) represents mountains perfectly. I also decided that the "star-scape" (1) should stay. I wanted to use most, if not all, of my images. From then on, I selected other elements that would fit.

Initially, I made a rough plan on photoshop. As the different elements came together, it began to look more and more like a psychedelic, whimsical and dystopian-looking world. Hence, I went with it and selected more elements that would contribute to the theme.

One challenge I faced when printing was getting the scaling of sizes right such that it would all fit perfectly. Shown above is the separate pieces deconstructed from their original images.

After piecing the images together, I realised the black and white image really dampened the psychedelic aspect I was going for. My initial plan was to make the rectangular frame beside Totoro into a portal of some sort. However, it did not stand out at all.

Therefore, I employed the skills I have acquired from tutorial workshops. First, I attempted to outline the frame with thick white lines, just like how I planned in photoshop (shown below). I thought it would work as I believed the thick white outline would stand out from the darker background. However, that did not happen.

I then switched to using bold and thick black lines to highlight the frame as well as the elements within. It worked, slightly. The image, as a whole, still lacked the whimsicality I was aiming towards, and looked rather boring.

In a bid to make the frame and the contents within stand out even more, I outlined the details using a thin black pen. Following that, I layered on the dotted outlines of hot air balloons (4). At first, I had wanted to layer tracing paper with those dotted outlines on top of the main image (just like what we did in tutorial workshop 1), but it made the image hard to see. Thus, I copied the dots directly onto the image. This gave the image the whimsical nature I was looking for.

Still, I was unhappy that Totoro and the frame did not stand out, and thought the gigantic donuts were bring the focus away from them. Hence, I employed positive and negative space and coloured the frame black. I also outlined Totoro with a thick black marker.

Finally, I darkened Totoro's eyes to give it a more ominous and brooding look.

Skills Applied:

- Lines: dash, crisscross and thick outlines of contours were employed to bring emphasis to the frame and Totoro. Similarly, thin outlines of details were used to further differentiate the space within the frame from the outside. Finally, the dotted outlines were layered on to add whimsicality to the final image.

- Scale: Totoro (5) was enlarged to make it seem more monstrous in a dystopian world; heads (7) were shrunk to look like coconuts, while the palm trees (2) were also slightly enlarged. The frame (7) was also enlarged such that its original intention was completely removed, as it acts as a "portal"/door now.

- Repetition: hot air balloons (4) were duplicated to form part of the landscape; heads (7) were also duplicated to mimic coconuts.

- Deconstruction: the original images were deconstructed to form the final one.

- Negative and Positive Space: frame (7), and in my experimentation with the image in photoshop (shown further down).

Constructive Critique:

Response:

The final image has transformed into a psychedelically dystopian landscape. Upon first look, it may be difficult to decipher its meaning and intention due to the "explosion" of elements. What may seem like a normal landscape at first glance, will reveal itself to be more ominous after one takes note of the details.

Description:

The final image is a complete violation of conventional understandings of the original elements - whipped cream as mountains (8), planet (1) and hot air balloons (4) being held down by gravity instead of being up in the sky, human heads (7) as coconuts.

The final image does not really follow the conventional rule of thirds. Moreover, there is a lack of space.

Analysis and Interpretation:

In this psychedelic dystopia, the roles of various elements have been switched. Desserts have become part of the landscape, while humans are now "food", insignificantly hanging from the trees. Their unimportance is exemplified as they blend into the background.

When people first look at the final image, their eyes should be brought to Totoro and the frame as they were made to stand out with thick bold outlines/colouring, and they contain/are the darkest points of the entire image. Leading lines from the landscape (6) and planet (1) also bring one's focus towards those elements.

By blending into landscape, humans are now reduced to mere objects and rendered insignificant; they are just a small part of the bigger picture.

Here, on top of symbolising ominous characters, light and dark shades also point towards the power structure within the landscape. Totoro is, evidently, more dominant here.

Veering away from compositional norms parallels the non-conventional power structure present in the final image (i.e. humans typically hold most power compared to other species). The lack of space may dilute one's attention and facilitate confusion as it may be hard to take in all the elements at one go.

Evaluation and Judgment:

The final image has shifted from the intention of the original images, where landscapes were shown to be truly magical - a place where one could only dream of exploring. For example, who would not want to explore a place filled with giant treats and desserts? (3; 8)

By bringing different elements together, the final image has become a darker and more ominous one. Although the wild combination of elements may be hard to take in at first, it parallels the confusion and shock one might face when one realises the switched roles.

As opposed to the coloured image, the black and white one makes the landscape seem more normal than it actually is. This is because the psychedelic colours have been completely removed. This may facilitate a higher degree of "shock" given that expectations are relatively lowered.

Perhaps, with the drastic switching of roles, our position and responsibilities as humans are called into question. Do we need to reevaluate the power and control we seem to believe we hold over other elements of our planet? Although the current arrangement may seem ideal, it may not be when we take a closer look. The lack of space highlights how humans, as the more "powerful" species today, is squeezing/pushing other elements into the corner, leaving them no space.

Digital Experimentation:

With the coloured image, the psychedelic of the image returns. Given that psychedelia is associated with drugs and hallucinations, the seemingly "ideal" landscape that first meets our eyes may be just a facade to the actual dystopia. As opposed to the black and white image that normalises the landscape, these colours distract.

Normal black and white.

Blacks are brought out. With the blacks brought out, the image seems more menacing. This is because black is commonly associated with death, mourning and evil.

Whites are brought out. With the whites brought out, the image seems less menacing, and looks more like a winter wonderland. This is because white is commonly thought to be pure, ethereal, and innocent.

There are positive and negative associations in colour psychology. As to why the whiter image seems to bring out the more positive aspects, I am not entirely sure. Perhaps, it is to due to selection of elements in the image.

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Cheng Mun's 2208 Journal

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