mythology – Rebecca Elysium

Reworking the Narrative: 5

Pan

False Prophet

Digital painting

Cover stencil guide

Digital concept sketch of potential stencil design.

Pan : stencil series (printed stencils on the left, actual stencils on the right)

Series of stencils experimenting with designs and imagery from my third final story focusing on the self-destructive, hyperbolic image of masculinity that men are forced to adhere to through transforming elements and symbols from the Greek mythology of Pan.

I wanted to create an emblematic and somewhat Gothic, sinister image to emblazon the front of my book/zine with in a style similar to old tomes of stories whilst trying to encompass some of the imagery I had in mind for the Pan narrative, but needed focusing and expanding on in writing.

First draft of my expanded writing and narrative developed from my Sorrow of Songbirds painting and concepts. I found it most difficult to construct this story as it had been loosest in its original visual narrative even though it incorporated very distinct and powerful symbolic imagery, such as the collective mass of the siren songbirds and the overbearing weight of Pan’s ever-growing antler’s in an attempt prove and emblazon his masculinity and of course the metaphorical allusions to the figure of the god Pan himself, with its sexual prowess and predatory historical narratives being turned on their head, and so I found myself helped greatly again by the language and fairy tale narratives of Angela Carter from her short story The Erl King. This then also allowed me to intensify the focus and language of the imagery in the illustrations that were to go alongside it, predominantly in the digital painting that I experimented with, and found the hunting imagery from Pan’s predatory sexual conquests and also linking with the deer iconography of the antlers and other mythological stories such as those of Diana and Artemis the huntress, both empowered and potentially destructive female figures through their own or others agency.

I felt it was important to examine both make and female representations, as all gender is constructed and manipulated and I wanted to try and explore how these forced hegemonic ideals form a dialogue which perpetuates and entraps people within these ideologies, becoming mere performance of their set labels. To what extent are men complicit in the damaging views and social restrictions and expectations of women and vice versa? And how can a healing and reconciling dialogue be opened up between them without the interference of constant social and cultural narratives which seek to encompass everything and draw them into the whirling oblivion of the impossible and unreal ideals of a society saturated with indoctrinating images and stories.

March 21, 2016 by InfinitelyElise Categories: My Artwork, Novel, Third Year, Uncategorized, UniversityTags: digital painting, draft, gender, mythology, pan, process, writing 2 Comments

Aesthetic Ideologies

Created a couple of more experimental pieces in order to explore some of my tangential ideas for possible later follow up.

Mainly focusing on our loss of interest in traditional or ‘dead’ arts and culture as we accelerate unsustainably away from it and our bizarre superficial aesthicisation of these mythologies and arts almost as some kind of memorial mourning its loss. Also the absurdity of trying to have to justify the utility of arts to ensure it has some kind of worth.

Sculpey clay and metal necklace chain.

Dragon head sculpture plan.

Tonal pencils and acrylic paints.

29.7 x 21cm

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 by InfinitelyElise Categories: My Artwork, Uncategorized, University, Work in ProgressTags: accelerationism, aestheticisation, culture, dragon, experiment, mixed mdeia, mythology, necklace, sculpture, superficial, utility, Venus de Milo Leave a comment

Tutorial 1

(click on notes pages to enlarge)

Feedback and concept progression notes and thoughts. Started to try and focus down my concept into something less overly complex and unfocused, as I had many concepts that I wanted to try out and didn’t know which was the strongest to follow. I still was still very interested in exploring anthropomorphic imagery in relation to its reflection of the human condition and how certain specific animal connotations and symbolism could be employed in an insightful and critical way when looking at conceptions of enforced and hegemonic views of gender roles through our culture and media.

But there were also other ideas; such as the loss of our creative imagination and mythology weaving in a system which is obsessing over enlightened progression and accelerationism, that I wanted to briefly explore and experiment with to see what would come out of it.

At this point I also became very interested in Lacan’s mirror stage theory. It seemed very insightful in exploring how the perfect image of ourselves which is constructed from the mass of idealised imagery surrounding us cannot match up with what we are faced with in the mirror. It is a very jarring revelation, and the denial that we face when our image ideal is an absolute impossibility due to the amalgamation of imagery and ideals imposed on us to be ‘perfect’. I thought it would be particularly interesting in looking at gender and gender assumptions and how we are somehow repelled or alienated from what we think ourselves should be when they don’t or can’t match up. Also, how we are cast out if we do try to confront these gendered constructions outside of the mirror. I thought that using animal symbolism would make that jarring unnaturalness of their own image would exemplify this as well.

January 20, 2016 by InfinitelyElise Categories: Tutorial, Uncategorized, UniversityTags: accelerationism, anthropomorphic, gender, gender roles, humanity, ideals, Lacan, Lacan's mirror theory, Mirror theory, mythology, natural, notes, obsession, Tutorial, unnatural Leave a comment

Serena Korda

1.Aping the Beast, On location Blackpool Tower Circus 2013.390

serena_korda_aping_the_beast_at_camden_arts_centre_installation_shot__photo_by_andy_keate_(4)

Serena Koroda

I found that Koroda’s basis in B-movie tropes and visuals and her interest in forgotten histories in particular to be very relevant to my work. Whilst I may not entirely like the way she conveys these concepts, I find the way in which she seeks to re-appropriate and reclaim abandoned histories fascinating. Whilst her work is often location based, the idea of creating new religions from an amalgamation of our historical mythologies and our new ideals and what we ‘worship’ in the present inspired me greatly, especially with her use of the visual language of Aping the Beast, in which she created a huge godzilla like monster to confront the digital worship of the present.

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 by InfinitelyElise Categories: Artist, UncategorizedTags: B-movies, film, history, ideology, mythology, re-appropriation, religion, Serena Korda, worship Leave a comment

Rembrandt

Rembrandt

Rembrandt’s ability to immortalise figures within his works almost seems contradictory to my portrayal of the futility of hyperbolically evolved ideologies of aesthetic perfection and morals. But what I was particularly interested in was his style of painting, as an anchor to the past mythologies and ideologies. But his paintings almost transcend the fantastical painted realm he creates into reality, the depth created from his use of tones, shadows and lighting is incredible. Of particular interest to me however was his treatment of religious iconography and the female body/form. I noted the placid passivity of the female body and its objectification, displayed almost as some alabaster statue in its environment in accordance to classical and patriarchal stereotypes of women as subdued and virtuous, yet were also expected to be objects of voyeurism. The treatment of westernised Christian religious imagery was also interesting, with very symbolic and well known scenes being portrayed and retold countlessly. But there always seems to be some great sense of awe about the figure, usually exemplified by the use of lighting and the fantastical.

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 by InfinitelyElise Categories: Artist, UncategorizedTags: classical, female body, figure, ideology, morals, mythology, patriarchy, religion, Rembrandt, stereotypes Leave a comment

Graphic Novel Revolution

Graphic novels, comics, (forms of art in their own right) and the superhero genre have become one of the only things we can reinvent endlessly. Not only this, it becomes a mode of reinvention of our mythologies. The stories of justice, evil and fantastical events and people are all easily read and recognized. These characters and their stories are immortal, the comic medium existing in uncertain and malleable times and realities; which can span all codes and conventions, symbols, images, social, cultural and power issues. This medium has become so effective that its permeated all other aspects of the media and culture, rising above its once underground and dejected status. The new forum that these pieces of art create is a domain where these issues can be discussed and developed democratically. The pretentiousness of ‘high art’ and galleries in failing to recognize or involve themselves this discussion in art and potent visual language is a huge loss.