Chosen word:- Solitude
A2 Collage
Model
The word I selected was ‘Solitude’ which means being alone in a state of isolation. My A2 collage combined my exploration of solitude and the ‘Body, Space, City’ exercise. These drawings show different aspects of solitude. The top drawing shows a person standing in isolation only accompanied by his shadow. This form of solitude causes him to feel lonely. The bottom drawing was inspired by artist Kenneth B Miller’s painting ‘Solitude’. This drawing centres on the idea of how one can sometimes feel lonely and isolated in a city. In the drawing you can see a depressed man surrounded by an urban city environment.
However solitude doesn’t always associate with sadness and loneliness. This is shown by the middle drawing. Solitude can also be a way of seeking privacy. It can provide a valuable opportunity for working, resting or thinking without distractions.
The middle drawing shows a monk using solitude to pursue spiritual enlightenment. This form of solitude involves being alone without being lonely.
Lastly I have used charcoal as my drawing tool because drawings created by it have a dark effect which is related to solitude.
*Week 3: Body, Space, City
A2 Collage
Model
Text
As I entered Hyde Park, I was greeted by the sounds of birds chirping. Although I was in the heart of the city, it felt as though I had entered another world. It was amazing how the metamorphosis had occurred from the busy city to a quiet park similarly to how the street migrates into the living room in Walter Benjamin’s Naples.
The calm nature of the open surroundings, the beauty of the trees and the smell of fresh air was quite unlike the cityscape surrounding it which was full of road noise, people talking, barking dogs...
I had no itinerary and no idea where to go next. Inspired by the natural landscape, I continued walking into Hyde Park letting the soft sounds guide my way. The variation of the colour tone of the green amongst the trees offered an illusion of great depth, as if the trees continued to go on forever. The cold surface of the concrete stairs sent a shiver down my spine as I sat down to rest and take in my surroundings. Looking around the park, something caught my eye. It was 3-4 storeys tall and seemed completely out of place. I stood up and walked closer to it and realised it was the famous Anzac War Memorial. The sight of this cenotaph filled my heart with courage and inspiration. The sun continued to climb higher in the sky, the air started to feel warm and sticky and taste funny. The increasing ambient temperature kicked off my thermoregulatory mechanisms making me sweat and dilating my veins to shed excess heat. Hence I sought refuge under nearby trees. The crackling of sticks, leaves and all under my feet offered music to my ears. The crunching sound of the surrounding foliage was strangely addictive. Running my hands across the tree trunk I could feel the rough texture of the bark; completely in contrast to the flat footpath surface beside me. I lay down under the trees, resting my head against the trunk. Contrary to the observer, I felt quite comfortable; comfortable enough to close my eyes and rest. When I woke up, the ambience had grown rather quiet with the occasional clicking of the steps of a passer-by here and rustling of the leaves there.
*Week 2: Text & Form Entwined
Chosen Text: 'Naples' by Walter Benjamin
Chosen Architect: Diller & Scofidio 'Blur'
*Week 1: Automatic Exploration
Terror
Anxiety
Confinement
Dream
Memory
Desire
