The theme of Contrast is all about exploring opposites—whether in colours, ideas, forms, emotions, or even cultural influences. The aim of this project is to help you explore how contrasting elements can create a powerful visual statement.

Your Task:

1. Explore the Theme: You can choose any aspect of contrast that interests you—colour, form, concept, mood, etc. Some examples include:

   • Colour: Bright vs. dark, muted vs. bold.

   • Form: Geometric vs. organic, rough vs. smooth.

   • Concept: Nature vs. urban, freedom vs. confinement, peace vs. conflict.

   • Emotion: Calm vs. chaos, joy vs. sorrow.

2. Create Your Visual Work: Whether it’s drawing, photography, digital art, collage, or any medium of your choice, create a piece that explores the contrast you’ve chosen.

3. Document Your Process: Along with your final piece, upload a few images or short videos showing your process. How did you experiment with your ideas? What choices did you make in your work?

4. Share on Padlet: Upload your work to the Padlet board. Along with your image, write a brief description (around 2-3 sentences) explaining your contrast and why you chose it.

5. Engage with Your Peers: Comment on at least three other students’ works. What contrasts do you see in their work? How did they approach the theme differently from you?

   
   

Why This Project?

This project is designed to:

• Push you to think creatively about contrast and how it can affect your work.

• Provide an opportunity for you to engage with your peers before September.

• Allow you to experiment with different artistic mediums and techniques.

  
  

Remember, this is about exploration—have fun with it, and don’t be afraid to take risks with your work!

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

1. Posting an Image:

   • Once you're on the Padlet page, click the "+" button to create a new post.

   • A pop-up window will appear. Select "Image" and upload your image from your device.

   • Once uploaded, click "Publish" to post.

2. Posting Text-Only:

   • Click the "+" button to add a new post.

   • In the pop-up window, you can directly type your text (e.g., description of your work or your thoughts on the contrast you explored).

   • Click "Publish" to share your post.

3. Adding a Comment:

   • After posting, click on your post (image or text).

   • In the comment section, type your thoughts or further explanation.

   • Press Enter to save your comment.

4. Interacting with Others:

   • To comment on someone else's post, click on their post, add your feedback in the comment box, and hit Enter.

In this piece I wanted the primary focus to be on the warped silhouette of the model, as we had been taught that in some cultures a silhouette was seen as the most accurate representation of someone’s character. With this in mind I wanted to draw into this strange silhouette, physical features that correspond with its body in an attempt to give identifiable physical form to this pure ‘character’.

In this piece I focused on the contrast between the simplicity of the distorted shadow and the subtle detail of its imagined physical features.

In my desire to experiment more with the prompt, I sought to create a piece with as many kinds of contrast as possible.

The first element I explored was the dichotomy of a glowing tv screen vs matte canvas. Digital vibrance is notably difficult to replicate off screen. Through experimenting with types of paint, and techniques pushing the contrast between shades, hues, and saturation, I was able to recreate a relatively satisfying TV glow.

Other elements of contrast I included were texture, dimension, style, shape.

To create the leaves, I used Andy Warhol’s blotted line technique with ink and watercolor to create an organic, somewhat unreal look. In my first attempt, I tried drawing my grandmother’s face on top of the leaves. Even though that created a contrast of black and white vs. color, I felt the leaves overpowered the face. For this version, I tried reversing things. I drew the face on tracing paper and placed it on top of the leaf print. While this makes the leaves less vibrant, I kind of like how the tracing paper layer further distorts the leaves, and gives the image a somewhat hazy/layered and dreamlike quality.

After I distressed the fabric it started to look like a landscape of hills and valleys. Also the shapes made by the fabric when distressed reminded me of contour lines. Although this wasnt my initial intention I believe it also represents a contrast between the natural and man-made world. Hinting at ideas of fast fashion, sustainability and our natural environment. This form reminded my of Maya Lin's "Three Ways of Looking at the Earth"

At first I experimented with black berries on paper and letting them decompose but I was not satisfied with how it came out. Then I used a white cotton shirt and a mixture of mulberries and blackberries.     

I used contrast to evoke the loose grip on control the performer has: everything that leaves her mouth is open to misperception.

As soon as anything is open it is up for being stained with misinterpretation. I wanted to distort the berries that would otherwise be sweet and desirable.

The photograph is one I took of a happy memory on holiday. For me it embodies contrast in various ways. The tactile element of the new established photo reminds me of my senses when I took the photo. Although the photograph underneath is of a moving scene it still feels very still, the added stitching gives it movement because the direction and movement of making it is clear. An additional outcome is the reminder of the material its self being 2 dimensional instead of 3D, which we initially see in a photograph. The stitching on top interrupts the viewers perception and creates a more complex outcome.

To be honest most of these things mentioned I only realised after I took a step back from it. This project was like an impulse it felt nice to have the freedom to experiment.

Unfortunately Padlet doesn't seem to let you upload more than one image, and so I can't attach photos of the exhibition or the making process, but I will come armed with them on Monday!

Inspired by Kusama's installation, I up-cycled this vintage tie. I wanted to layer polka dots on top of polka dots, as she did. Unlike Kusama, I added a few extra colours in an attempt to create some more movement within the design, and I wanted to use some vintage fabric I had lying around, so I incorporated some stripes too! I like how the stripes contrast with the polka dots. :)

I wanted to incorporate Kusama's use of the 3D, and so I played around with buttons (layered with fabric to erase their holes and so-called 'buttonness'); varied stitching methods; zig zag machine stitching; borders made out of embroidery thread; and I even stuffed two of the polka dots. Next time I'd love to create a tie with just a ton of those stuffed dots!

With this collage, I aimed to explore contrasts between clarity and abstraction, process and finished artwork, and separation and unity. It allowed me to consider the possible ambiguities and connections within such contrasting categories, as collaged parts form a new whole through contrast.

I can't quite decide whether I think the piece feels a bit too full, or a bit too sparse. I wrote about collage aesthetics last year, so I really enjoyed the opportunity to put some of my thinking into practice and experiment with more abstract collaging for the first time!

My process was heavily informed by the unintentional sculptures around London where stacked objects become works of art. Henny Burnetts ‘365 days of plastic’ inspired the idea of each vessel being individual as i have the ability to reconfigure the tower or lay them out. I created a utilitarian feel by placing the stack on a wooden platform mounted with wheels.

The first thoughts that flew through my mind when I thought of contrast this summer, were that of London and its architecture with its vast history.The city is filled with contrasting structures, intertwining with the natural world and working in harmony.

Why photography? I wanted to try something that would get me to travel the city, and allow me to capture the moments immediately.

Why a point and shoot camera? In a world where it’s far too easy to adjust, “fix” and filter all images, I wanted to use a tool that would that would allow me to see this wonderful city without a filter.

Vaida

I used cardboard for the base and traced my own arm so it would be to scale. I used newspaper and paper straws to build up the arms and emphasise the veins. The veins are meant to be the focus of the sculpture since I am exploring the contrast between dynamic forms in nature and technology. I layered watered down acrylic paints and coloured pencil to detail the skin. The latex soaked bandages add a skin-like texture. The wires protrude from the veins making there own branch like system. The electrical wire contrasts the soft paper straws and flesh like latex.

Normally I’d do this by hand but I’m still away with no printer so I had to make it digitally.

The backdrop, a child-like drawing I made of a photo I took while on the farm in the summer, contrasts with a photo of me in a suit belonging to my father, dressed in a way I imagine a child thinks a 'grown-up' would dress.