Title: Together
Size: 9.02 x 5.9 in Medium: Black Ink on Linoleum Cut Block Completion: September 2022 Exhibition Text: The intention of this piece was to depict the dispute and conflict that is ongoing in Somalia. This is represented by the chairs, the four surrounding the centered one are supposed to be major tribes/clans that reside within Somalia. All believing that they should have a say in the way that the county is run. The chair in the middle signifies that regardless of all of the disputes between the clans, they are still one that resides within Somalia, that begin the enclosed space;and identify as such, with a small window of prosperity. The piece was inspired by the “Chair Park”exhibit in the Milwaukee Art Museum and the “High-backed chair,kiti cha enzi”. The piece was made using black ink on a Linoleum Cut block. |
Inspiration
The other inspiration for this piece was a single chair called ¨High-backed chair,kiti cha enzi¨. The artist that made this chair is unknown, however the medium used to make it was wood,burn,and fiber. The name of the chair translates to ¨Chair of Power¨. It is a part of a Swahili cultural background from the eighteenth century and usually only made in Mombasa. I was inspired by this piece because I wanted to make designs for the chairs instead of just all being the same. This chair gave me the idea to make a set of styles for the chairs in my piece.
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The other inspiration for this piece was a single chair called ¨High-backed chair,kiti cha enzi¨. The artist that made this chair is unknown, however the medium used to make it was wood,burn,and fiber. The name of the chair translates to ¨Chair of Power¨. It is a part of a Swahili cultural background from the eighteenth century and usually only made in Mombasa. I was inspired by this piece because I wanted to make designs for the chairs instead of just all being the same. This chair gave me the idea to make a set of styles for the chairs in my piece.
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Planning
For the planning phase of this project, I began with writing down all of the ideas I had and trying to visualize some of them. I started with one idea but did not go through with it and will discuss in depth in the experimentation phase. However, after changing my overall approach to the project. But still keeping the same medium. I decided to pursue the idea of trying to depict the struggle and overall reasoning as to why my ehtinc country is at war with itself. To do this I had the idea to draw 4 or 5 chairs all symbolizing the tribal competitive aspect that has led to the dispute of the nation. The entire piece's background will be a closed off room, which can be seen from the singular window in the corner. Which leads into the symbolisms that the tribes are enclosed from the outside world but still able to access it if they decide to overcome their conflicts.
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Process
To begin the process of making this piece. I first started by sketching out the final drawing on to a blank sheet of paper. I then took a 9.02 by 5.9 in linoleum block and lined it up with the drawing. On the back of the paper I used a lead pencil to transfer the drawing on the paper to the block print. I had to repeat this step a couple of times because the transfer of the image onto the lincolem block was light at first but after repeating the process of coloring in with a lead pencil it transferred.
To start the carving process of this piece, I began with picking a smaller head for the carving tool so that I could start with smaller cuts and always add more or deepen them later on. I began with the chairs first, using the carve tool to cut the lines drawn. After that I went in and did the rug and background using the same head for the tool. Once I finished carving all of the lines drawn, I changed the head of the carving tool to one that was a little wider for areas such as the rug and frame. I used the tool to deepen those areas and make the lines thicker. I went back in with the first head I used to make the border lines a bit deeper. After I was satisfied with how the block looked, I began the ink process.
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After the image was transferred onto the linoleum block, I cleaned it up a bit and then decided that I should add something to the background because it seemed simple. I decided to add a frame and the Somali flag within it, this just includes a solid white star. Once I was satisfied with how the image looked on the block, I began the carving process.
For the inking process, I first needed to get the supplies to complete it. This included black ink,a brayer,an ink tray and barren as well as blank white paper. First I started with getting a small amount of ink and applying it to the ink tray. I then used the brayer and spread the ink on the tray by rolling it back and forth. I then rolled the brayer onto the linoleum block and covered the entire space with ink. Then I placed a black piece of white paper on top of the block with the ink and flattened it with the barren so that the ink would transfer to the paper. After that I peeled off the paper and laid it flat to dry. I continued the entire ink process until I had a decent finished product.
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Experimentation
At the beginning of this project, I started with one idea of making a scene of a Somali man throwing a Spear.My inspiration for this was “Apollo killing the Python”. I changed my mind however once I began the planning process because I believed that the current project's idea was better suited for my theme.
Another way I experimented with this piece is the different ways I was going to draw the chairs. I tried out different styles and types similar to the interpolation. I also had some trouble during the inking process of the piece because some areas of the image were not transferring. To fix this I used one of my best prints and filled in some of the areas using the ink and a paintbrush.
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Critique
Similarities
A similarity between my piece and the first inspiration “Chair Park”, is that there are both a discrete number of chairs within the pieces. In the inspiration the chairs are meant to portray and or show different styles and designs for living. In my piece the chairs symbolize the conflict and disputes within my ethnic country. In the second inspiration, something that's similar regarding both inspirations is that the chairs have designs on them. Both chairs have a high bick with a tranglaur type of point, this is because I took inspiration from the piece and tried to incorporate it in mine.
Differences
A difference regarding both inspiration and mine are the mediums. Both the inspirations have similar mediums that being that they are physical pieces of work that were made and could be used. While mine was a block print, not allowing for the same uses but for meanings to be evoked. Another difference between my piece and the “High-backed chair,kiti cha enzi'' is the amount of intranet detailing within that piece or chair cannot be seen in mine. Thisbeing because I wanted to keep a heavy meaning to the piece and having intricate detail would only work for the single chair in the middle and not the four surrounding ones.
Reflection
Overall I am content with the outcome of this project because it came out how I wanted. Making the piece was not as hard as some of the other ones I've completed because I have some experience with the mediums and tools used from a piece I did in the past. Something that was successful about this project was the outcome. I was able to produce the idea I had and connect it to my inspiration and theme. Something that I believe I could have improved or done better was the amount of detail in the piece and the amount of ink on the paper. I think I could have gone in and added a style of pattern in an area to fill up space. Also I had quite a hard time applying or transferring the print onto paper because the amount of ink was either too little or too much. When people look at my piece, I hope that they see that there is a distinct reasoning behind a room filled with chairs and that there's symbolism regarding the entire piece.
Connecting to the ACT
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
I was able to identify the cause-effect relationship between my inspiration and its effect on my artwork because I was able to produce an idea of how I wanted to display and depict what I wanted in my piece.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of the inspirations overall approaches were one to show the physical attributes of what a chair can do and have to a setting and environment. Secondly to show the cultural aspects of what a seat would have looked like within a select culture and environment.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
A generalization or conclusion that I discovered about people, ideas, and culture is that chairs are something that is fundamental within many societies and they can show ranking from the way that they are styled.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
The central idea or theme around my inspirational research was to find something that helped me convey the meaning I wanted to bring to the piece. Most people associate chairs with just sitting but they can also have different meanings and objectives.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research was that many people think of chairs as just something to functionally use and not more of something that has a larger meaning within a community.
I was able to identify the cause-effect relationship between my inspiration and its effect on my artwork because I was able to produce an idea of how I wanted to display and depict what I wanted in my piece.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of the inspirations overall approaches were one to show the physical attributes of what a chair can do and have to a setting and environment. Secondly to show the cultural aspects of what a seat would have looked like within a select culture and environment.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
A generalization or conclusion that I discovered about people, ideas, and culture is that chairs are something that is fundamental within many societies and they can show ranking from the way that they are styled.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
The central idea or theme around my inspirational research was to find something that helped me convey the meaning I wanted to bring to the piece. Most people associate chairs with just sitting but they can also have different meanings and objectives.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research was that many people think of chairs as just something to functionally use and not more of something that has a larger meaning within a community.
Bibliography
Mooney, Post author By Claudia, and A Fold of Chairs – In Want of Jasminesays: “To Touch, or Not to Touch?” Milwaukee Art Museum Blog, 27 Apr. 2011, blog.mam.org/2011/05/03/to-touch-or-not-to-touch/.
Google. (n.d.). High-backed chair, Kiti Cha Enzi - Google Arts & Culture. Google. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/high-backed-chair-kiti-cha-enzi/tgEMxV1M2jnSKw?ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A8.484974919461697%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A3.4703872767653854%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375066984325311%7D%7D
Google. (n.d.). High-backed chair, Kiti Cha Enzi - Google Arts & Culture. Google. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/high-backed-chair-kiti-cha-enzi/tgEMxV1M2jnSKw?ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A8.484974919461697%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A3.4703872767653854%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375066984325311%7D%7D