Kaleidoscope
Objective:
To engage with the intangible principles that underpin the workings of a kaleidoscope — reflection, duplication, distortion, and repetition — and translate them into conceptual art pieces across any medium. The project shouldn't result in a visual reproduction of a kaleidoscope but rather should draw from the broader ideas it inspires.
Background:
A kaleidoscope, beyond its physical manifestation, brings up themes of ever-changing perspectives, reflections upon reflections, and the interplay between order and chaos. By distorting reality through repeated reflections, a kaleidoscope questions what is real and what is mirrored, challenging our perceptions of reality.
Guidelines
Medium Choice: You can choose any medium for this assignment. This can include, but is not limited to, painting, drawing, sculpture, digital media, photography, mixed media, and performance.
Engage with the Concepts:
Reflection: Go beyond the physical and think of self-reflection, societal reflection, or the echo of events in history.
Duplication: This could be about the redundancy in our daily routines, in nature, or even in thoughts and behaviors.
Distortion: Explore how reality is altered in different contexts, how truths can be skewed, or how perceptions change based on viewpoint.
Repetition: Dive deep into the cyclical nature of life, repeated narratives in society, or even the monotony of daily life.
Push Boundaries: Let your conceptual exploration be both personal and universal. Whether you're addressing personal histories, societal issues, or universal human experiences, use the kaleidoscope's principles to offer a fresh perspective.
Interactivity (Optional): Think about the viewer's engagement. Can they interact with your art to experience these kaleidoscopic concepts firsthand?
Presentation and Reflection:
Upon completion, be prepared to discuss your artwork's conceptual basis, the underlying kaleidoscopic principle(s), and any challenges or revelations you encountered during the process.
Inspiration: Ponder over these themes, letting your mind wander:
The repetitive nature of history.
The distortions of self-perception.
Reflections of societal norms and their alterations over time.
The balance between originality and duplication in today's digital age.
Grading Criteria
Depth of conceptual engagement: 40%
Originality and creativity: 30%
Execution of chosen medium: 20%
Presentation and reflection: 10%
This assignment aims to unchain you from the tangible and dive deep into the conceptual. Let the ideas of the kaleidoscope guide your thoughts and creation, but always remember — it's the underlying principle, not the object, that's in focus.
ARTISTS
Gerhard Richter
Damien Hirst
Yayoi Kusama
Rene Magritte
Kaleidoscope Illustration Project
For this project you will create large radial compositions
Come up with a plan!
Come up with around 5 sketches/thumbnails or more
Content ideas: Under the Sea, Industrial, Intricate Patterns, Animals in their natural habitat, Imaginative creatures
Linocut version:
Once you have your ideas and sketches, take two of the printing blocks, cut one in half and one in thirds (however you want). Then, transfer your sketches and carve out where you want there to be white space. These blocks will work like stamps when you are ready to print. When you are finished with carving your blocks, take a piece of large drawing paper and begin to arrange your radial composition. Start with finding the midpoint of your paper, and lightly drawing 8 lines radiating from the midpoint. This will help keep your design accurately round. Next, take your printing blocks and print multiple images on your paper. Try to stay as accurate as possible when balancing your pieces. Take a look at the following examples to get an idea of how to arrange your images:
Unlabeled Images Source: Unsplash.com