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IMP Project Presentation
1. IMAP Project Presentation
How has the concept of the self/ identity
developed within Art and visual culture?
Sarah Killen
2. Visual Culture Theory
As Doy (2005, p.22) notes ‘The true self of the sitter is
ultimately inaccessible through the image, however much the
paint surface resembles external appearance’.
Mirzeoff (2002, P.3) describes visual culture as the ‘visual
events in which information, meaning or pleasure is sought
by the consumer in an interface with visual technology’.
‘Paintings, like digital applications, offer an experience, and
perspective painting offered the same experience as the one
now promised by virtual reality’ (Bolter, 2003, p.36).
3. Art Theory
‘Transparency in painting (…) an aim to makes us think we
are looking at the physical world; it meant what computer
graphics experts now call photorealism’ (Bolter, 2003, p.36).
‘The ways in which artwork is made are often read as
expressions and traces of the individual subjectivity of the
maker’ (Doy, 2005, p.7).
‘The portrait is an external object, a surface, an illusion – a
fabrication of the artist’s skill’ (Doy, 2005, p.23).
4. Modern Art Theory
Rush (1999, P.7) notes that this period of art developed an ‘experimental
nature’, breaking away from traditional conventions and into new ways of
perceiving the image.
Bolter (2003, p.64) identifies that a significant element within Modernism was
the desire to ‘create a complex and striking image, to awaken us as viewers
from the complacency of looking through the painting or design’.
Bolter (2003, p.64) notes how we identify with the world through the image,
‘how a painting functions to represent a world and how we as viewers become
part of the process’.
5. Representation within Todays culture:
Selfie culture
Grau (2003, p.3) notes that ‘over recent years, never before
have we been exposed to so many different image worlds’
‘The desire to be in the picture’ (Grau, 2003, p.141)
‘In today's world meanings circulate visually, in addition to
orally and textually. (Mirzeoff, 2002, P.15).
‘Robert Nanteuil, ‘the portrait should look as if it had been
executed quickly, captured in a moment and ‘judged in an
instant’ (Doy, 2005, p.25).
7. Mirror Mirror: Reflection of the self
Link between Painting, modern art and Selfie Culture
Parmigianino (1524), ‘Self-portrait in a Convex Mirror’
Lucy Schwob (1928),‘Self-Portrait with Mirror’
Reflected selfie
10. Conclusion
Constructed nature of the identity
Identifying the impact of technology
Mass experimentation
Animation Medium
Peer group reception
11. Reflection
Planning/ time scale
Extend the practice piece
Postmodern/ Video art
Deeper look into the concept of the self
Visual communication of Identity
Reception of practice piece
12. Bibliography
Barnett, E., and Bolt, B., 2010. Practice as research, approaches
to creative arts enquiry. I.B. Tauris and Co. Ltd.
Bolter, D., J., 2003. Windows and Mirrors: Interaction Design,
Digital Art, and the Myth of Transparency. MIT Press Cambridge,
MA, USA
Doy, M., G., 2005. Picturing the Self: Changing Views of the
Subject in Visual Culture, London: I.B. Tauris and Co. Ltd
Grau, O., 2003. Virtual art: from illusion to immersion.
Cambridge, Mass, MIT Press.
Mirzeoff, N., 2002. The subject of visual culture. In, Mirzeoff,
N., ed. The visual culture reader. London: Routledge
Rush, M., 1999. New Media in Later 20th Century Art. London.
Thames and Hudson
13. Images
Pablo Picasso, 1909, Femme assise (Sitzende Frau) Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso#mediaviewer/File:Pablo_Picasso,_1909,_Femme_assise_(Sitzen
de_Frau),_oil_on_canvas,_100_x_80_cm,_Staatliche_Museen_zu_Berlin,_Neue_Nationalgalerie.jpg (Accessed
11/11/14)
Pablo Picasso, 1913, Femme assise dans un fauteuil (Eva) Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso#mediaviewer/File:Femme_en_chemise_assise_dans_un_fauteuil.
jpg (Accessed 11/11/14)
Pablo Picasso, 1937, The Weeping Woman, Available at: http://www.pablopicasso.org/the-weeping-woman.
jsp (Accessed 11/11/14)
Leonardo Da Vinci, 1504, The Mona Lisa, Available at: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?
imgurl=&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leonardodavinci.net%2Fthe-mona-lisa.
jsp&h=0&w=0&tbnid=MD0n5h8Cdkt_kM&zoom=1&tbnh=276&tbnw=182&docid=ljFRl6vQ27y2yM&tb
m=isch&ei=vg1iVIqaHK-P7Aa23YD4CQ&ved=0CAQQsCUoAA (Accessed 11/11/14)
Leonardo Da Vinci, 1486, Virgin of the Rocks, Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_of_the_Rocks (Accessed 11/11/14)
Leonardo Da Vinci, St. John the Baptist, 1516, Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John_the_Baptist_(Leonardo) (Accessed 11/11/14)
Lucy Schwob (1928)‘Self-Portrait with Mirror’ Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Cahun
(Accessed 11/11/14)
Parmigianino 1524, Self-portrait in a Convex Mirror. Available at:
http://www.artble.com/artists/parmigianino/paintings/self-portrait_in_a_convex_mirror (Accessed
11/11/14)
Slide 1. Intro - Question
This research project aims to interrogate the concept of identity, how it has been expressed and developed through the progress of art and visual culture.
The self is an individual notion but also relates to how we are influenced by culture as a whole, relating to a wide range of elements e.g. age, gender...
The concept of the self within this project will be refined to how we construct and interpret surface identity through the image
In particular this research project will look specifically at the portrait; from fine art painting to todays digital representations e.g. selfie culture
It is a style of visual art which takes a close up on the superficial surface of the self, focusing on significant elements such as facial emotion.
Slide 2. Visual culture theory
What is visual culture- how it informs interpretation of the image- what gives meaning to any image
The projects focus is particularly in relation to Art and digital art/ photography
Theorist Doy- notes that the true identity of the artist/ piece can not be interpreted completely – individual interpretation
But the external surface can be analysed- as the self is also engaged through external appearance
Mirzeoff- relates visual culture in relation to the user/ viewer interaction – decoding meaning– cultural codes/ conventions
Bolter – notes the link between traditional forms to new digital forms – through the experience it creates
My work must engage the viewer interrogating traditional codes and – creating new meanings
Slide3. Art theory
How identity is interpreted through fine art- to compare to current forms of representation
Looked at a number of art periods from renaissance to modern art forms – analysed different pieces
Codes and conventions – colours, textures, shapes used – the subject e.g. significance of religious identity
Focus on themes outside the individual – culture created the self – depend on the importance of the person
Link between painting and photo/ digital art – bolter
Research found - the importance Realism/ transparency of the image – compared to photography
Who is being represented- Identity of the subject in the image as well as the author of the painting
Portrait style is significant – works such as Leonardo De Vinci – compare to selfie conventions
Slide.4 -Modern Art Theory
Bolter – notes the importance that the image is a representation of the world around us – how we construct our identity
Significant influence within the project is that of Pablo Picasso – Cubism – breaking down appearance to simple colours ans shapes
His use of experimentation – breaking traditional conventions to produce new meanings
Engaging the viewer new ways- making them think- new way to interpret the concept of the self
New shapes, colours, textures – new visual aesthetic- new way of thinking about art and identity
Bring across these new codes and conventions within our own new forms of representation – compare/ contrast
Slide 5. Representation within Todays culture: Selfie culture
To understand how the selfie is constructed- why/ its purpose – its own set of codes and conventions – to compare to previous forms
Theorist Grau – notes the concept of Image worlds- new modern form of art – constructing our identity- selfie culture is a new form
In line with how our forms of communication is becoming more visual – images/ photography- how we communicate our self image
Easy instant culture – what took years to create a representation of the self– now takes seconds – personal art form – more assessable
No longer restricted by ability, privilege- just the ability to take a picture – quality/ strict codes not an issue –
Open to interpretation and new forms of the medium
Slide.6 Understanding the selfie: Survey
Not a form I am very familiar with… so I created a
Survey- to understand the process of the selfie- its codes and conventions
How they are taken, where they are taken, editing, use of social media- sharing
Use of colours- filters – particular aesthetic – poses- gestures- interpreting the meaning they want to produce
To gage their reaction in relation to identity – superficial surface projection – constructed identity
Although the research found they don’t see it as a true representation of the self…
Many where conscious of how it portrayed themselves on social media- fake constructed surface identity
Also created a collage/ individual study – posted on social media– analysing the tropes of a selfie- focus on elements (eyes- open) exaggerated emotions
Personal interview – underlying feelings of the medium – qualitative approach
Slide. 7- Mirror Mirror: Reflection of the self
Connection between art/ selfie- used both in renaissance art, modern art and todays selfie culture
Parmigianino (1524), ‘Self-portrait in a Convex Mirror’
Lucy Schwob (1928)‘Self-Portrait with Mirror’
A surface reflection of the self – deconstruct using codes and conventions
These three images identify how we like to look at the self, all three are constructed in different ways, using different forms of perspective
A surface reflection of the self – codes and conventions- how they want to be seen –
looking directly – engaging with viewer
Slide 8. Bringing these concepts into practice
Looked at this concept further - Piece inspired by selfie culture and the concept of the reflection of the self
The focus on the eye- wide and open- receptive
Shapes/ lines/ distortion/ colours of cubism – in relation to use of filters/ effects of the selfie
Colours taken from the selfie, tints of oranges
Reflection of the self within the selfie- lens through another lens
Take it further – more engaging – active final piece – to represent the fast pace selfie instant culture
Slide 9. Practice piece
Created using Photoshop – to create the assets and aftereffects to animate
To show how constructed the selfie is – unnatural use of colours – e.g. through filters/ editing
Combined with the Exaggerated shapes associated with traditional art forms e.g. cubism – identifies the exaggeration of the emotions
Combination of codes and conventions – identifying their similarity's – in terms of exaggeration and construction e.g. colours/ expressions
Critiquing on finding the right combination- the right filter, the right post, the right perspective – to reflect they're perceived identity
Slide 10. Conclusion
This piece - Identifying the constructed nature of the identity in the image.
From early paintings to todays digital selfie culture- constructed through select colours, shapes, expressions determined by cultural influence
– popularity of the selfie medium- just as fine art painting was significant within the renaissance period
Identifying connections between the images of representation – both use exaggerated colours/ expressions/ perspectives
Artistic shapes/ frame work outlines its constructed nature further – taking the selfie outside its comfort zone – more obvious
Impacted by technology- before limited to those with artistic ability – photography/ instant- mass means of constructing our own identity –
Even if it is false/ constructed – allowing the individual to experiment – creating greater variety and forms of identity
Use of the animation medium – relate to Fast pace – instant culture – reconstructing ourselves to fit within the concept of popular image
More engaging than the still image – in line with todays culture – movement / sound / action
Yet to fully test reception – to create another survey – to gage reaction and interpretation
Slide.11 -Reflection
Time scale – better planned - greater length of practice piece
Extend the practice piece- to look at issues of backgrounds, lighting, other artistic styles
Look deeper into art forms e.g. postmodern art – more experimental forms – possibly continuing into video art
Looking deeper into the subject of the self - into issues of physiological effect – implications of a culture so obsessed with the superficial self
Comparison to other modes of expressing identity in todays technological society – how communication of identity is much more visual
I hope to identify further reaction of the user within practice piece – further surveys