I am currently preparing for my 4th Year Degree show. This is the proposal I have put together so far....
Title: Movie
Monsters: Real Fear in a Fictional World
My motivation
for this direction of study comes from an inherent love of the Horror genre in
film and a peculiar fascination with fear that I have carried with me for as
long as I can remember. What fascinates me most is how horror movies,
particularly monster movies, tap into our subconscious and enable us to
confront our deepest fears in a playful fashion. Film director Joe Dante (The Howling, Gremlins), said that all monsters
are metaphors. They represent something more than just fictitious beasts.
Watching monster movies is a way of dealing with our deepest, real fears, in
the comfort of knowing that monsters don’t exist.
My concept is to explore the relationship between fictional
movie monsters and genuine fear. I will analyse the process by which horror
writers/film directors respond to social, political, environmental issues etc.
to create truly terrifying stories with horrific beasts, which are much easier
for us to deal with than the real issues themselves (such as the Vietnam war in
the late 1960’s- early 70’s, spawning the golden age of American Horror). I will study and analyse movie monsters from
throughout the 20th Century, examining their cultural significance
and links with the outside world to pinpoint why they frighten us so much, and
why we like it.
Another prime source of motivation
comes from movie posters themselves. For this project, I feel it is imperative
that I study and analyse the development of horror movie posters from the
1930’s to the 1980’s. I have always been a great admirer of the colourful,
dynamic, overdesigned horror posters from the 1930’s - 1950’s. They emulate a sense
of energy and excitement, in contrast with the more graphic and violent posters
of the 1980’s.
Aside from graphic horror movie
posters, I have been influenced hugely by graphic illustrators such as BasilGogos.
Basil Gogos is an American illustrator best known for his striking portraits of movie monsters which appeared on the covers of ‘Famous Monsters of Filmland’ magazine in the 1960s and 70s. He meticulously paints classic cult horror figures such as Bela Lugosi’s Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr.’s Wolf-Man, using a technique where he imagines the character immersed in colours from multiple light sources. His eerie, strange use of vivid colours and heavy, impressionistic brush strokes pushes the barrier between horror and excitement. As a painter myself, I am very keen on exploring the use of paint to create a sense of movement and experimenting with colour and mood.
Basil Gogos is an American illustrator best known for his striking portraits of movie monsters which appeared on the covers of ‘Famous Monsters of Filmland’ magazine in the 1960s and 70s. He meticulously paints classic cult horror figures such as Bela Lugosi’s Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr.’s Wolf-Man, using a technique where he imagines the character immersed in colours from multiple light sources. His eerie, strange use of vivid colours and heavy, impressionistic brush strokes pushes the barrier between horror and excitement. As a painter myself, I am very keen on exploring the use of paint to create a sense of movement and experimenting with colour and mood.
Another artist who has inspired me
is contemporary illustrator James White. James White is a poster designer and
illustrator with a keen interest in film and film posters, particularly from
the 1980’s. He has been heavily influenced by horror and science-fiction movie
artwork from this era and has made many of his own interpretations of classic
movie posters. In contrast with Basil Gogos, his style is quite clean-cut. He
uses digital media and vector-based programs to render his imagery. This is a
technique I am very keen on exploring also. I would like to find some way to
combine digital media with hand-rendered painting to create a sense of spontaneity
and movement…..
Thirdly, I have been greatly
influenced by surrealist artist H.R. Giger. His work has been the inspiration
for films such as Ridley Scott’s Alien. He is known for his grim, morbid,
‘biomechanical’ scenes taken from his own nightmares. Giger uses shocking
imagery and a decaying colour pallet to express his inner most fears. Major
themes within his work include disease, famine, and death, all derived from his
deepest fear: Overpopulation.
Project Procedures:
Concept: To explore the
relationship between fictional movie monsters and genuine, rational fear in the
real world
Research and Analysis: Using library resources, sourcing imagery and watching horror movies. Ideas/concepts/developments to be recorded in visual notebooks. I will also look at the concept of fear in the art world and how artists respond to their fears and concerns to communicate a message.
Development: My concept will develop in conjunction with my continuous research, resource gathering and new stimuli. I aim to explore use of various media which will surely influence the development of my studio work.
Research and Analysis: Using library resources, sourcing imagery and watching horror movies. Ideas/concepts/developments to be recorded in visual notebooks. I will also look at the concept of fear in the art world and how artists respond to their fears and concerns to communicate a message.
Development: My concept will develop in conjunction with my continuous research, resource gathering and new stimuli. I aim to explore use of various media which will surely influence the development of my studio work.
Realisation: I aim to create a series of contemporary
illustrated posters of fictional horror movies, identifying my deepest rational
fears and manifesting them in the form of monsters. I aim to combine the use of
paint and digital work to create a sense of energy and movement. I intend to
play with colour, imagery, movement, composition and typography.
Presentation: I will present a body of work for assessment
in the form of a group exhibition, based on the concept outlined above.
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