FINAL DESIGN PROJECT - TWO FACED TECHNOLOGY

ARTIST STATEMENT

Every great work of art has two faces, one toward it's own time and one toward its future 

-Lester Bangs

People today are becoming more and more attached to their technology. Relationships are being built online or through phones. Keyboards and keypads are becoming the keys to our heart. Many people have argued that social networking sites unleash the two faces in humans.  People normally only portray their ideal image online, they could be perfect online but in reality they might be the total opposite. In my opinion, the two face-ness doesn't stop there. It has actually been derived from the advance technology itself. As the quote implies, the good side of technology is so prominent right now. Give it some years or even decades, that's when the downfall will kick in and hit us real bad.

As for Medicines,they could help many people to stay alive, they could also kill people if they are turned into drugs. Technology, keeps us smart and efficient, just like the brain. However, it could also corrode our hearts and disrupt our health. Technology provides transportation to allow people to travel instantly and conveniently. But the same kind of technology can be used to create atomic bombs to harm other people's life. Technology allows advanced communication to take place where the whole world is connected in a blink of an eye. On the other hand, technology also  allows phishing, hacking, virus and bugs to corrupt our devices. It's true that technology provides us advanced facilities and the beautiful city we live in. But how about the other side of technology that pollutes our environment as more and more factories are being built? Besides, technology also gives us cars in all shapes and sizes to travel around. But what happens when you end up in an accident? 

The puzzle combination shows that there's a link between the good and bad. There's always two sides to everything in this world : good or bad, you decide. 

Lots of love, A dose of Joey

THE MAKING OF FINAL PROJECT

TWO FACED TECHNOLOGY - IN THE MAKING

Plenty of hard work , blood, sweat and effort was put into creating the final project. As a psychology student, I had no experience in photo shop before this. Thus, I hope this artwork can meet the expectations and won't disappoint.  

Original Sketch

Step 1 : I did a abstract art for the background to make the artwork more original. 

Tool used - Brush > Colour > Opacity > Eraser

Step 2 : The abstract art I did was inverted to the opposite colour to create a contrast.  

Tools used : Linear light > Opacity 

Step 3 : Both layers were duplicated on top of the original sketch layer and multiply was selected. 

Tools used : Multiply > Opacity

Step 4 : Once the sketch looked visible, I used the eraser tool to clean the objects and details in the sketch. This is to make the colouring process easier later on.

Tools used: Eraser ( Brush and Block)

Step 5 :  I then proceeded to colour the sketch. Making sure the colour on the right is more vibrant and the colours are dull on the left. Again, to show a contrast between the bad and good side of technology.

Tools used : Brush ( all types)  > Bush Brushes ( downloaded online) >  Opacity 

Step 6: Later on, I felt that the icons on my sketch are not outstanding enough. I decided to create my own using photoshop.

Tools used : Rounded Rectangular tool > Elliptical Marquee tool > Polygonal Lasso tool > Lasso tool > Magic Wand tool > Pain Bucket tool 

Step 7 : Then, I duplicated all the icon layers on the main layer and adjust the size of the image. The extra white backgrounds were all removed.

Tools used : Polygonal Lasso tool > Lasso tool > Eraser

Step 8 : Spent plenty of time adjusting the opacity for every objects, making the final product more clear, recoloured some items and outlined some of the original sketches. I realized it was too dull and flat looking. Therefore, I proceeded to find textures to add into the artwork to make it look more striking and 3 dimensional. 

Tools used : Eraser > Brush > Lasso Tool > Stroke ( Edit) > Opacity 

Step 9 : Finally found suitable textures to make the artwork pop. Played around with the opacity to suit the mood of the artwork. 

Tools used : Duplicate layers > Eraser > Opacity > Effects 

TADAAAAAA! THE END PRODUCT.

* Claps*

Lots of Love, A dose of Joey

References for textures:

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_161/11833813597FbAih.jpg
http://www.123rf.com/photo_5416922_human-tissue-or-veins-on-a-bright-red-background.html
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPpH7k6FY00ysP3jOjZ58p2IqvM6xylDu_9Kvc4Gjsi_5Y5uz4

http://www.wetbehindtheearsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/cracks.jpg
http://image.naldzgraphics.net/2012/10/24-red-yellow-shiny-glitter-hi-resolution-texture.jpg
http://cdnm.tutorialchip.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Gold-Glitter-Texture-520x348.jpg
http://imgs.mi9.com/uploads/abstract/3850/sparkling-and-romantic-backgrounds-hk023-350a_1920x1200_59285.jpg

FINAL DESIGN SKETCHES

Sketches for the Final Project

Sketch 1 : Communication Barrier

People nowadays tend to communicate a lot through advance technology devices. Anyone could be a extrovert and sound extremely sociable through social networking sites and mobile applications. However, when it comes to real life face to face communication, they might not be able to even look into people's eyes to socialize or mingle around. That, might even be their biggest fear. With that mentioned, it is undeniable that the advance technology today does build up a barrier or a communication wall among  humans. 

Sketch 2 : Reliance 

People today rely too much on the advance technology. In fact, plenty of us have stated the fact that we can't live without technology. This sketch shows how humans in this era especially teenagers rely on technology ( a tad bit too much) from a daily basis or perspective. Even babies are sucking their milk from a mobile phone. Sleeping with a thousand devices next to us is also one of the normal phenomenon seen today.

 Sketch 3 : World Evolution 

This sketch is trying to portray that technology grows along as the earth ages. It has the good old days devices slowly turning into the modern day era's technology gadgets. It shows how far technology has revolutionized. The robot hand grabbing the entire earth just shows how the new tech is slowly conquering the world, slowly shaking away the old devices to the new ones. Welcome to the new era where we will soon have robots walking among us.

Sketch 4 : Technology heartbeat

Today, technology has become the root of human's survival. If there's a survival kit,  all the items below will probably be included. Mobile phones, laptops, earphones, Dj sets and Ipads have all became necessities to human beings today. It allows us to communicate through continents around the world which explains how the countries on the map are shaped into technology gadgets. Also, the Dj sets and earphones was added as it is obvious that music has became a tool to bring humans all around the world together. The heart beat represents the united spirit and soul among human beings everywhere on earth. Hence, this sketch shows the bright side of advance technology.

Final Sketch : Two faced Technology (APPROVED)

Description will be under artist statement in the final posting.

Lots of love, A dose of Joey

NATIONAL ART GALLERY

On the 8th of June, the design students of HELP University went on a fun trip to the National Art Gallery. The reason why I took so long to came up with this post is because I find it hard to decipher the artwork that really caught my eye.

The only artwork that caught my attention and really got me thinking is Someone Forgotten by Wong Woan Lee (1999) -Painted with oil on canvas.

Growing old is inevitable, and also death. In this revolutionise world, everything can be achieve except immortality. Humans tend to grow old, it involves a lot of pain, lost and reminiscence as memories tend to flash across they eyes of those involve. The main character in the work is the old Chinese man who is shown several times in the painting. The background of the painting is the interior of small cubicle-like spaces representing the different situations. Tonal light was used to show the moods of death and depression which enhance the story behind the artwork. The figure of the old man, shown several times in various positions, implies the use of multiple time frames simultaneously within the art work. The old man is shown sleeping, talking to his grand children, watching television, staring at a wall and lying sick on a mattress. 

He can be seen in a pose where he is trying to reach out to his grandchildren in the first frame. His grandchildren looks at him with a pair of avoidance eyes, as if he is someone of distance to them or a monster that they are afraid of. In the second frame, He is shown squatting and holding his head with both his hands, in a pose that can only suggest despair and a personal loneliness that is private and his alone. He is actually staring at his past where he knew one day he would look back at all these memories. He knew upon his dead body, his souls would wonder and travel to the past with regrets and sadness all around. His children standing outside the windows of the room looking at the poor ill old man. This just shows how his children had neglected him all this time. Even when he is about to face death, they stood outside helplessly and shock, not intending to visit him at all. In the third frame, he is in the position where he looks like he is feeling outcast by the other family members. 

The discomforting theme reflected in this work is a new realistic approach that address the human condition. It reflects the human nature of ditching the old and embracing the new. Today, it is very common to find old people lying on the streets abandoned by the young ones. It is of the new era where the selfishness of the younger generation prevails, forgetting about their roots and the ones that loved them and gave them their souls. 

After looking at the picture, I just realized how much our every kind words and actions mean to the older ones especially my grandparents. I'm one who believes what comes around goes around. We should all really reflect on how we used treat them and perhaps turn over a new leaf. Care for the old, they gave us souls. Love the elderly, make them live happily. Besides, they might not be able to live with us any longer? Tomorrow is a mystery, let's all make sure today won't be a regretted history.

This is me leaving a mark in the National Art Gallery :)

Lots of love, A dose of Joey

References

http://travelthrutime.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/national-art-gallery.jpg

PHOTO MONTAGE

There and back again with LOVE

How far would you go for your loved ones?

These are the few photo montages I poured my heart and soul into creating. I actually got the idea from a valentine's day calender. Thought it would be cute if I crop myself into various places and seasons to show the 'power' of my love. It's like I could travel around the world just to deliver my love and care for my loved ones. Hence, the title: There and back again with love. With that mentioned, I actually took a few photos to make sure my figures are suitable for all of the themes. It actually took me quite some time and effort to produce the above. I finally understand how hard it is to come up with a quality photo montage.

Lots of Love, A dose of Joey

POP ART

DOUBLE STANDARD

The world is cruel. And the only morality in a cruel world is chance. Unbiased. Unprejudiced. Fair. - Two face

As evil as it sounds, we are all forced to wear a mask to survive in this realistic world. It seems like we are all taught to be nice to those that we know might harm us. Why? To avoid dramas and troubles. We are all told to befriend with our enemies. Why? To know your own strength and their weaknesses in order to succeed. We are told to distance ourselves from those that are close to us. Why? Because nobody can be trusted in this world. 

TYPEFACE

Remember the name ; Kee Joey 

She'll make it big one day!

Lots of love, A dose of Joey