Proposal

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Plant paintings and human emotional expression    

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I started to create a series of plants in 2013, and I hope I can continue to study this series in depth during my postgraduate period. I will explore the most appropriate form of art which can combine the image of plants and human elements, such as personal spiritual state and inner world. This proposal studies the subtle relationship between plants and human beings.

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Aims and Objectives

The main research goal is to explore how the plant image can properly carry the emotion and inner world of the characters. 

        

• Learn the history of botanical theme painting, and understand the historical status and changes of botanical theme.

• Combine the image of plants and people, deepen the research of my botanical theme creation, and constantly explore new possibilities.

• Capture and understand the different performance characteristics of people, such as loneliness, confusion, sadness, joy and other emotions by photographing the body or expression of a character. 

• Find the connection between specific plant images and certain human emotions through repeated practice and creation.      

• Try a variety of materials and media, such as collage, screen printing, etc. Through continuous experiments and attempts, I can finally find the most suitable way to express myself.

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The projected content

I want to continue to extend my plant series to make them more contemporary. I will start from three aspects at the same time. These are trying different materials, collecting relevant knowledge and continuous painting practice. On the one hand, I plan to try different materials, such as clay, collage, screen printing and so on. While creating plant works, I have decided to collect photos about human emotions, and print the figures on paper through screen printing technology, and then paint after this. On the other hand, I need to extend my knowledge and thoughts and think about my core theme. How does human and the plant relationship shift in history? From the perspective of the development of art history, initially, the botanical theme was only an accessory in painting, which played a decorative role. Plants almost coexist with people's images. In addition, then the botanical theme gradually began to break away from the supporting role and become an independent painting theme. Some contemporary artists also began to take the botanical image as their creation theme.

 

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Research and material requirements

I need to go to the library or search the Internet to understand the creative forms and ideas of contemporary artists. I am going to expand my vision and further study other artists who create with plants, for example: Georgia O'Keeffe, Dale Chihuly, Judy Chicago, Jacques Nimki, Michael Landy, Fred Tomaselli, etc. From their works, I should learn their creative ideas and see how others evaluate their works. Also, I should think about why they did it. At the same time, I should constantly reflect on and improve my works. I also need to attend more lectures and exhibitions to expand my vision and find more inspiration. I’m planing to look at the history of humans and nature and expand my thinking and knowledge, especially focusing on Maria Sibylla Meridian's works. She not only draws plants for collecting plant species, but also collects information to create an idea: the relationship between human and plant at that time.

 

In order to collect plant information, I need to go to botanical garden to sketch or take some pictures for materials. For example, Kew Gardens. At the same time, I will study the works about plants in the museum, and the William Morris Gallery, which is where I need to go in my plan.

 

In terms of technical facilities, the school provides good resources. I am going to make full use of the school's screen-printing studio, and technical support teachers to communicate more, learn relevant screen-printing knowledge and technology, make use of the learned knowledge to create better.

 

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Bibliography:

 

Bois, Y.A., Buchloh, B.H.D., Foster, H., Krauss, R., and Joselit, D., (2016) Art Since 1900: Modernism, Antimodernism, Postmodernism (Third Edition. London: Thames and Hudson

 

Collage, Montage, Assemblage: History and Contemporary Techniques. (1970). Van Nostrand Reinhold.

 

Loengard, J., O'Keeffe, G. and Schirmer, L. (n.d.). Georgia O'Keeffe/John Loengard.

 

Townsend, C (2007) New Art from London London: Thames and Hudson A provocative survey of what's happening at the heart of recent contemporary visual culture in Britain.

 

Williams, G., (2014) How To Write About Contemporary Art. London: Thames and Hudson