Ephemera
Luck.
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Meaning
Everyone has heard the phrase "Good Luck", but I questions why people use it. Even I use it often but why do people want me to wish them luck? Does it really do anything? I was raised in the Hispanic culture and because of it I tend to be supersticious at times. For me, I think that I have had a case of bad luck so far in my teenage years. And because of the things I been though, it makes it difficult for me to be opptimistic over certain things.
Luck by definition means "success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions." Which makes me question whether or not someone can have good luck on their side all the time, but then again it's only 'by chance'. My mom always says that we have "Sangre de Chinche." The direct tranlation would be bedbug blood and this means that we have bad luck ingraved in us and is something we can't do anything about. In reality, is saying 'Good Luck' only a way to give encouragment and a little peace before something important happens? With all the health and family issues we had in the past makes me belive her statement to a certain extent. The reason being that I tend to be an overall opptimistic person who doesn't like causing any trouble to the people around them. Or I may be suppressing the past events since I can't remember most of the details of my past. Because of this, I never really felt 'completely' at peace. This leads me to think, can I change my luck or does it change on it's own? Then again, I feel like I'm in a way immune to things such as serious depression because people have asks me how I'm not depressed. Honestly, the only thing I can really answer is I don't know. I know my past is not the best but never to an extent for me to feel a long term feeling such as depression. I simply get up and move on.
This brings me back to the topic of luck. Am I unlucky for having so many health and family problems? Or am I lucky because I can go though these issues and move on? Sure there is the anxiety that I experienced but that's something I overcame in a couple of weeks but does that mean that someone's misfortune balance out later in life? Or is that also by chance?
Luck by definition means "success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions." Which makes me question whether or not someone can have good luck on their side all the time, but then again it's only 'by chance'. My mom always says that we have "Sangre de Chinche." The direct tranlation would be bedbug blood and this means that we have bad luck ingraved in us and is something we can't do anything about. In reality, is saying 'Good Luck' only a way to give encouragment and a little peace before something important happens? With all the health and family issues we had in the past makes me belive her statement to a certain extent. The reason being that I tend to be an overall opptimistic person who doesn't like causing any trouble to the people around them. Or I may be suppressing the past events since I can't remember most of the details of my past. Because of this, I never really felt 'completely' at peace. This leads me to think, can I change my luck or does it change on it's own? Then again, I feel like I'm in a way immune to things such as serious depression because people have asks me how I'm not depressed. Honestly, the only thing I can really answer is I don't know. I know my past is not the best but never to an extent for me to feel a long term feeling such as depression. I simply get up and move on.
This brings me back to the topic of luck. Am I unlucky for having so many health and family problems? Or am I lucky because I can go though these issues and move on? Sure there is the anxiety that I experienced but that's something I overcame in a couple of weeks but does that mean that someone's misfortune balance out later in life? Or is that also by chance?
Artist and Culture
Guo-Qiang was one of my inspirations and he is an artist who makes pieces using gunpowder. In 1986-1995 he started experimenting with gunpowder in art, later leading to his art social projects around the world. He used this method of creating art to face the 'controlled artistic tradition and social climate' in China. He explained that it is important to change "certain energies" like "Making violent explosions beautiful." I thought that this was a very optimistic way of viewing certain things. One of his art pieces that caught my attention was his Elegy: Explosion Event for the Opening of Cai Guo-Qiang. I chose this piece because it seemed very simple yet very complicated to create because of the amount of precision needed. I felt that if I wanted to create something similar to his piece, it would be impossible since I don't have the resources to do so. But I worked my way around this issue.
Another one of my inspiration was the Japanese tradition of Ikebana. Ikebana is an art of flower arrangement and depending on the arrangement it can mean different things but the main 3 parts are heaven, man and earth. These are represented by 3 branches. I found this very interesting because I always thought that these arrangements were only meant as a decoration but turns out that their overall symbolism is luck. This art then reminded me of the traditional paintings of cherry blossoms and how I would see them often in Asian restaurants which triggered my curiosity for Asian culture and art. This shifted how I would go about creating my piece. Digging more into the idea of luck and peace in Asian culture I came across more symbols such as the color red. Learning this I gained a better understanding on the arrangement, color choice and flowers that are seen in many paintings. Finding these important aspects, I tried my best to keep them in mind since I found it inappropriate to drift away from these ideas. I felt that good luck was something I wasn't as familiar with as bad luck. This made me realize that bad luck is paid attention to more then good luck and the good things in life. In other words, people are more pessimistic then optimistic, including myself. |
Guo-Qiang, Cai. Elegy: Explosion Event for the Opening of Cai Guo-Qiang. Digital image. Http://www.priscillawoolworth.com/artists-review-2015-2016/. N.p., 2014. Web. 7 Nov. 2016.
Lapilipinas64, Mallorca59, and Positivesteem58. "3 Japan Popular Arts - Ikebana, Origami, Landscaping - Steemit." Steemid. Steemid, 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. 6.
Yamada Shōkei (b. 1866, fl. 1890s). “Gion shidare-zakura,” Miyako meisho gafu, kokon shomeika zuga(“Gion Weeping Cherry,” from Album of Famous Places in the Capital from the Past and Present, a Collection of Famous Artists’ Paintings), ca. 1894. Color woodblock book. Japanese Collection, Asian Division, Library of Congress (023.01.00)
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PlanningThere was a back and forth in the ideas I wanted to follow through with. For one, I wanted to started with just adding colors to droplets of water to represent how something small can affect someone a lot. Later I changed the idea to luck after digging more into Asian culture and symbolism. I stuck with cherry blossoms but instead of pink I decided to use read and making 3 main branches to correspond with the art of Ikebana, or art arrangement. But before I would start painting, using water color, I had to pull up several references to make sure I understand the style. I then practiced creating small flowers and branches until I was comfortable enough to begin the process.
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Process1) First, I created a cherry blossom tree using the colors red, brown and a small amount of black. Keeping in mind the different aspects, such as an odd number when creating it. Also making sure that the image wouldn't dry quickly by using more water than recommended.
2)Then carefully, using a thick brush, I used water to create a circle around the painting. 3) Using a syringe, I slowly added water and covered the entire image. This created a dome. 4)If the dome isn't a perfect circle, I carfully smooth it out with my finger. 5)Then I take pictures as the image slowly fades. 6) The image would be almost completed gone after the water dries. 6) I repeated the process several times until I had my desired outcome. |
Experimentation
In the beginning, I stated making the images in a penny to take pictures of the end result at the side, but the images wouldn't focus so I had to figure out a different alternative. I shifted towards paper and experimented with shapes of the droplets, amount of paint, amount of water, size and colors used. I realized that the bigger the shape, for example a square, was the faster it dried up and the faster it was for the paint to stay on the paper. So, I decided to stick with a small circular shape because it gave more of a dome. All these little details, were very difficult to actually create. Then, to steps process shifted , when I found that if I create the image first, then add a water dome, it would fade and the image would be easier to identify. So, I decided to first use water colors to create an image, mostly flowers, and before it would dry, I would add a water dome. This also had a time limit because as soon as water was added the image would immediately start fading. Which was what I wanted.
Reflection
I am happy with the results of this piece even though it was difficult to decide what to do. It actually took me way longer to come up and decided on an idea than actually create it. I felt that if I had more colors to work with I would have probably changed the look slightly to better fit what was going on in my head, but I had to change it because of the limited resources that were available. Deciding whether or not to had a slight glare from a lamp I had was something I debated throughout this process and at first I thought I wasn't a good idea since it might not have blocked the image, but after experimenting with the positions, I decided to use the glare the lamp was created that way the water would be easier to see instead of just showing a flat surface. There was a lot of trial and error which then caused me to have a time crunch. But I overcame the lack of time and thankfully was able to finish on time. Next time, I would probably try not to overthink as much as I did and trust my ability to manage time instead of stressing over it.
Over all my main inspirations were based on Asian art which has a long history with the idea of luck. I know Asian art as very nature based and skeptical on subjects like spirits, fortune and change. I found the different art styles to be very beautiful and with precision that I admire. I decided to incorporate this precision by adding the small flowers, lines need to create branches and tiny details within the tree. Another reason why I decided to imitate the style was to grasp onto the idea of fortune and peace yet add to it. In other words, the idea that even though something is peaceful it still can change over time and even fade into something else like misfortune. Combining these ideas felt appropriate to me because it fits the idea of being blinded by the present and not focusing on the future which connects to the scheme I was trying to portray. But that's for another day.
Over all my main inspirations were based on Asian art which has a long history with the idea of luck. I know Asian art as very nature based and skeptical on subjects like spirits, fortune and change. I found the different art styles to be very beautiful and with precision that I admire. I decided to incorporate this precision by adding the small flowers, lines need to create branches and tiny details within the tree. Another reason why I decided to imitate the style was to grasp onto the idea of fortune and peace yet add to it. In other words, the idea that even though something is peaceful it still can change over time and even fade into something else like misfortune. Combining these ideas felt appropriate to me because it fits the idea of being blinded by the present and not focusing on the future which connects to the scheme I was trying to portray. But that's for another day.
ACT Questions
1) How are you able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork?
The use of flowers and the superstitions of what is lucky and what isn't, is expressed in many art forms in Asia, specifically China and Japan. I applied these beliefs and combined them with my own to express how luck changes over time.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors from my research don't really have a perspective. It's more of a way to inform me of what symbols are used and what they mean.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I came to the conclusion that luck and future are a big thing thing in Chinese and Japanese cultures. The idea of luck is very important in their culture since it can affect what they think and do.
4) What was the central idea for theme around your inspirational research?
Overall, the main themes are luck and peace. Peace from the tone the traditional art gives and luck from the symbolism of each type of art style.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I can make is that the different aspects to take account for in these styles of art are hard to break. The reason being since it is very engraved into the culture itself.
The use of flowers and the superstitions of what is lucky and what isn't, is expressed in many art forms in Asia, specifically China and Japan. I applied these beliefs and combined them with my own to express how luck changes over time.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors from my research don't really have a perspective. It's more of a way to inform me of what symbols are used and what they mean.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I came to the conclusion that luck and future are a big thing thing in Chinese and Japanese cultures. The idea of luck is very important in their culture since it can affect what they think and do.
4) What was the central idea for theme around your inspirational research?
Overall, the main themes are luck and peace. Peace from the tone the traditional art gives and luck from the symbolism of each type of art style.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I can make is that the different aspects to take account for in these styles of art are hard to break. The reason being since it is very engraved into the culture itself.
Bibliography
- Guo-Qiang, Cai. Elegy: Explosion Event for the Opening of Cai Guo-Qiang. Digital image. Http://www.priscillawoolworth.com/artists-review-2015-2016/. N.p., 2014. Web. 7 Nov. 2016.
- Lapilipinas64, Mallorca59, and Positivesteem58. "3 Japan Popular Arts - Ikebana, Origami, Landscaping - Steemit." Steemid. Steemid, 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
- "Sogetsu." Ikebana International. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016
-"Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of FriendshipSakura: Cherry Blossoms in Japanese Cultural History." Sakura: Cherry Blossoms in Japanese Cultural History - Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship | Exhibitions - Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
- "Cai Guo-Qiang | Art21." Cai Guo-Qiang | Art21. Art21, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.
- Lapilipinas64, Mallorca59, and Positivesteem58. "3 Japan Popular Arts - Ikebana, Origami, Landscaping - Steemit." Steemid. Steemid, 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
- "Sogetsu." Ikebana International. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016
-"Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of FriendshipSakura: Cherry Blossoms in Japanese Cultural History." Sakura: Cherry Blossoms in Japanese Cultural History - Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship | Exhibitions - Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
- "Cai Guo-Qiang | Art21." Cai Guo-Qiang | Art21. Art21, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.