Task 2: Visual Analysis

CHONG CHENG TAO (0371072)

Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

Week 3-Week 5

Deisign Principle 

1. This is the Module Information Booklet for this module:

2. Brief understanding of visual analysis

Visual analysis is a method of understanding design that focuses on the visual elements and principles. It is used to descript and explain the visual structure in an artwork. Visual analysis can include three phases:

1. Observation

• Identifying the visual elements and describe these elements. 
• Do not read beforehand about the design in this phase.

2. Analysis

• Think about the observations.
• Identify and analyse the visual elemnets that create the design principles that complete the artwork

3.Interpretation

• Think about the meaning / aim / purpose of this artwork by referring to facts, artists, inspirations and historical contexts.

3. Artwork regarding to the goal "Life Below Water"

OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION POSTER (2019)

Artist: Gabriela Becerra

Published: December 19th 2019

Medium: Digital

Tools: Photoshop

4.Visual Analysis

Phase 1: Observation

There is two objects in this artwork which are the fish and the bait. This artwork is a central focus artwork. My first glace fell on the cental object, the fish head. The artwork is divided vertically about a third to two sections: sky section and sea section. Sky section shows pale white and the sea section shows deep blue. Plastic product is collaged to form the body of the fish. Different parts of the fish largely follows the same hue of the sections they are placed on. For the words and image, there are a simple text and a logo of World Wildlife Fund organisation with its link.

Phase 2: Analysis

The visual leading lines used in this artwork are simple, obvious but very useful. My vision is mainly leaded by two things: the verticle fishing string which directly leads to the head, and the cross created by the horizontal sea surface with the verticle placed fish and string. For the latter point, the fish head which is the intersect point of the cross gives a sense of emphasis (red circle). 

Then, my vision is leaded vertically downward to the fish body in the sea sections. It is because of the vertical placed fish and the colour gradient of the sea. For the latter point, as the  value and the saturation of the colour is increased along the path, it tends to lead the vision down. Likewise, it leads the vision up to the fish head if the viewer focuses on the sea section initially.

Principle of similarity is used for the viewer to view the fish body in both sections as a whole. Plastic product in the sea section is organised to fit the shape of the fish body.

A slight design of sea waves create movement in this artwork to avoid stiffness in the horizontal part of the artwork.

Two sections show a contrast in colour, the pale sky contrasts with the deep blue sea water. Asymmetrical balance shown in this artwork too. The sea water section accounts more “weight” than the sky section. However, the sea water section possesses more information about the plastic product than the sky section, which give balance in visual. 

Phase 3: Interpretation

The sea section shows the fish bodies that were formed by plastic product. It delivers the main message: the plastic products are harming sea creatures. The Spanish words used on the left, "UNA NUEVA ESPECIE INVADE EL OCÉANO" means “A new species invades the ocean”. Simple but powerful words, in which the artist's irony is brought out by comparing a plastic product to a new species. All of these contribute to the “weight” in the sea section.

The design in sky section is able to balance the artwork by using storytelling technic. It brings out the other object, the bait. It delivers a message that the fish is fished and would become the food. The plastic product and the bait both relate to human which human produces plastic product but uses bait for fishing too. Overall, a sense of “cycle” is established in this artwork, which human will suffer the self-made consequences. This artwork will lack of completeness without the message in sky section. 

In addition, I do feel the division of this artwork into two sections is an interesting idea. The objective fact that humans could not have the view under the sea is used. It delivers a metaphorical meaning that humans don’t concern the devastating impact that has been making on the sea as humans are “blind” to plastic pollution in the sea.

As this artwork created by Peruvian artist, Gabriela Becerra, she could be inspired by Peru's water and sansation crisis in the recent year. According to nonprofit organization, Water.org, out of its population of 34 million people, 16 million people (48% of the population) lack access to safe waterbn and 14 million people (42%) lack access to a safe toilet.

Besides that, I find the idea of fusing the fish with plastic product to raise public awareness could be inspired by the artwork collection "Plasticquarium" created by David Edgar in 2010. These are sculptures that made by using recyclable HDPE plastic container.

Plasticquarium (2010)

David Edgar

Citation:

• https://water.org/our-impact/where-we-work/peru/#:~:text=Peru's%20water%20and%20sanitation%20crisis,access%20to%20a%20safe%20toilet.

Reflection: 

Dr. Charles gave me the idea that do not praise the artwork without having the reaction from the public. For example, the word “brilliant” that I had used in the text previously should be changed to “interesting”. I think the balance of subjective and objective on analyzing an artwork would be my next exploration.