Despite its controversies, aesthetic violence aims to provoke reflection on the essence and cultural significance of violence, making it a cross-disciplinary dialogue in art and thought. The fascination with violence is an intrinsic part of human nature and has long been a source of entertainment. From the gladiators of ancient Rome to modern R-rated films and crime-based games such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Kill Bill, and GTA V, aesthetic violence remains a prevalent element in art and entertainment industries.

I believe that violent art does not necessarily corrupt or degrade individuals. On the contrary, it can sometimes serve as an outlet for releasing the negative emotions we accumulate throughout the day through movies, games, illustrations, and other forms of art or entertainment. This catharsis can help us return to a state of calm and peace. Violent art can be a powerful tool for alleviating mental stress and releasing emotions effectively.

Color: Black and White (Maybe color them diditally)

Size: A4 A3

Platform: Drawings on Papers

Time: 4-7 days per piece of work

Materials: Fineliners, Pens and Ink, Brushpens, iPad Procreate, Photoshop

Style: Kim Junggi, Frankline Booth, Bernie Wrightson,Lines and Dots,

Tone: Darkness, Violent, Erotic, Evil

Audience: Adults & Horror Movie, Comic, Art Enthusiasts

Books to read: Francis Bacon Human Presence Tetsuya Ishida

Movie Reference: Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004) Saw (2004) 八仙饭店之人肉叉烧包 The Untold Story （1993）The Substance (2024) Hannibal (2012)

Game Reference: Grand Theft Auto V (2013) Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

During the creative process, I began exploring steampunk as an art style, which both romanticizes the industrial age and critically reflects on the social issues brought about by technology. In the visual expression of steampunk, I saw elements of violence, oppression, and dependency on machines, which created a sense of tension. These elements made me realize that violence is not merely a display of power; it also symbolizes oppression, pain, and resistance. As a powerful emotional and narrative tool, violence can reveal deeper issues about human nature and society, and even provoke reflections on good and evil, morality, and human behavior.

These thoughts led to the idea of creating Unit 10's illustrations on the aesthetics of violence. I wanted to explore the essence of violence, particularly the emotions, trauma, and complexity of humanity behind it. Violence is not just about surface-level conflict; it often involves the extremes of emotion and psychological distortions. It is the embodiment of social contradictions and individual inner pain. From my experience in Unit 9, I learned how to explore complex social issues and emotional conflicts through visual language, which inspired my next step in creating violent aesthetic illustrations.

2 Search for picture references 30 minutes per day.

3 Read the books from my reading list 30 Minutes a day.

4 Upload my collections to Padlet twice a week.

5 Watch videos and movies about violence and trauma on Youtube and Bilibili about every 3 days.