Title: Autopsy of a Rabbit
Size: 15.5 cm x 23 cm Medium: Linoleum Carved Block Print Completed September 2022 - Exhibition Text -Autopsy of a Rabbit is a hand carved linoleum print that takes aspects from the surrealist art movement, utilizing Frida Kalho and Lewis Carroll as my inspiration. It is meant to convey the decomposition of innocence and how it can become eroded over time from outside intervention as well as mental state. I wanted this to be my message since as a child I was undermined many times, but then when I grew up that preconceived notion of my innocence was removed.
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- Inspiration -
The Two Fridas by Kahlo, 1939
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Kahlo's works often depict her own traumas and emotions during periods in her own life, while Carroll's illustrations for "Alice's Adventures Under Ground" are meant to elicit an emotion of whimsy. I wanted to combine these concepts in order to convey the desired message of my piece. Both artists have an almost dreamlike perspective that influences their technique and piece. I referenced the way Kahlo connects The Two Firdas, with the human heart. For my own piece this is meant to represent how innocence is still able to survive no matter how diluted it can become. For the rest of my piece i attempted to reference Carroll's style and texture within the way he drew the whimsical animals. Carroll's story has been adapted into many different genres and stories, I have always had a strong connection to the story when I was younger and being able to utilize aspects from his own works demonstrates my core message. |
Alice's Adventures Under Ground by Carroll, 1864
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Kahlo had often used her pieces as her own form of therapy, and in a way I am doing the same with my piece. The message I want to convey is somewhat personal and having Kahlo as a key artist in my inspiration helps boost this motivation. Both Kahlo and Carroll represent aspects of my desired message. Carroll is meant to be a reference to my childhood, while Kahlo is meant to show my own personal outlet. Since Carroll's piece was an illustration his physical process was one that I wanted to emulate the most. Unlike Kahlo, who uses oils Carroll's work is made up of hash marks and only two colors.
- Planning & Experimentation -
When first given the idea for this piece I began planning how to go about it. I wanted to have a main center for my piece, and I began envisioning animals that evoke a sense of innocence when the viewer looks at them. Since part of my inspiration was Lewis Carroll's illustrations I realized I could use a white rabbit. Rabbits are often seen as weak and precious, as well as the color white (at least in some cultures) being associated with purity. Since the main focal point of my piece was the rabbit I began sketching it out while maintaining a pose similar to a Victorian silhouette. I used Carroll's white rabbit illustrations in order to get a better grasp of how to draw a rabbit in a somewhat surreal illustration of my own. I wanted my piece to maintain symmetry while also giving a sense of claustrophobia. I was able to achieve this by using two centipedes to surround the rabbit. Leaving a space open I was able to add the heart into the bottom corner. When I first came up with the idea for my piece I went through many trials of how I wanted to achieve the final product.
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When going through these trials I knew I wanted to keep very little shading/techniques that would be similar to shading in order to keep a strong sense of contrast. Black and white are often seen as opposites of each other, one being associated with "evil" (black) and the other being associated with goodness and purity (white). Since my piece is dealing with innocence and how outside sources can corrupt that, having a strong separation of both colors better conveys it.
- Process & Experimentation -
In my first trials of sketching I was proud with this version, not thinking it needed anything more. However I began experimenting with the centipedes and how I was positioning them, I was debating on whether or not to curve the centipedes or to keep them in a circle shape. I created three more sketches in order to gather a better opinion on what would look best for my piece. Two of the three sketches just focused on the centipedes, allowing me to better understand their anatomy and how to transfer that into a print. After some more sketching I realized that having the circle shape would lend itself to my pieces symmetry.
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- Critique -
Similarities:
-Since both Kahlo and Carroll contain dreamlike inspirations within their own works, my own piece replicates this style with a slight tonal shift.
-The Two Fridas by Kahlo contains an anatomical center, with that being the human heart(s) that connects both Fridas. The viewers focus is drawn to the hearts and how they are connected to each other, and the same can be said about my own piece.
-Since Carroll's work is a part of a book illustration the lining is simple, the same can be said about the coloring as well. I wanted my piece to maintain a sense of cartoon/childishness to it, so the detail of my linework and the way I created my rabbit is very similar to Carroll's white rabbit
-Since both Kahlo and Carroll contain dreamlike inspirations within their own works, my own piece replicates this style with a slight tonal shift.
-The Two Fridas by Kahlo contains an anatomical center, with that being the human heart(s) that connects both Fridas. The viewers focus is drawn to the hearts and how they are connected to each other, and the same can be said about my own piece.
-Since Carroll's work is a part of a book illustration the lining is simple, the same can be said about the coloring as well. I wanted my piece to maintain a sense of cartoon/childishness to it, so the detail of my linework and the way I created my rabbit is very similar to Carroll's white rabbit
Differences:
-My piece utilizes contrast all throughout. There is no purposeful sense of shading, instead there are harsh lines from black to white. Whereas in both Carroll's and Kahlo's works they both utilize some sort of shading. With Kahlo's being more obvious and soft, and Carrol's being more spaced out and streaky.
-With the illustrations done by Carroll his medium is paper and ink, which lends itself to its sketch quality. Kahlo's Two Fridas is an oil painting with smooth shading and lots of color, her works often opt a realistic style with them being self portraits. However since my own piece is a block print the sense of style is more pointed, which lends itself to the medium.
-Both artists have clear messages that they convey within their own works. Carroll's lends itself to his story, and Kahlo's deals with her emotions and inner turmoil. In my piece it has a personal message similar to Kahlo, however rather than emotions it deals with a concept.
-My piece utilizes contrast all throughout. There is no purposeful sense of shading, instead there are harsh lines from black to white. Whereas in both Carroll's and Kahlo's works they both utilize some sort of shading. With Kahlo's being more obvious and soft, and Carrol's being more spaced out and streaky.
-With the illustrations done by Carroll his medium is paper and ink, which lends itself to its sketch quality. Kahlo's Two Fridas is an oil painting with smooth shading and lots of color, her works often opt a realistic style with them being self portraits. However since my own piece is a block print the sense of style is more pointed, which lends itself to the medium.
-Both artists have clear messages that they convey within their own works. Carroll's lends itself to his story, and Kahlo's deals with her emotions and inner turmoil. In my piece it has a personal message similar to Kahlo, however rather than emotions it deals with a concept.
- Reflection -
Overall I had a very pleasant experience with this piece and its process. Being able to get back into carving and printing was very enjoyable, and this piece allowed me to better refine my skills with block printing. If I were to attempt this piece again I would try to add more texture to make my piece more interesting, but I am proud of the movement within the current final product. My inspiration overall was able to boost my message, and the fact that I was able to make a personal connection to both Kahlo and Carroll was very meaningful to me. The story of Alice in Wonderland is important to me and being able to partly use that as a metaphor for innocence was very motivating for me.
- Connections to the ACT -
1) Clearly explain how you were able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your art?
Before gathering inspiration for my piece I had a vague idea of what I had wanted to do, however during this period I had no concrete inspiration thinking that I strictly needed to find inspiration from other block prints/artists who had a similar style. But after I first found Carroll's illustrations for "Alice's Adventures Under Ground" I realized that I could use different artists like Kahlo as well and convert them into my block print. Within the messaging and style I was able to use their own works to fuel my process and final product.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Kahlo specifically would most likely see the similarities of experience/expression of emotion in her pieces and mine. The symbolism would be a strong enjoyment for her.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures etc. while you researched your inspiration?
While researching I was able to relate more closely the Kahlo and her emotion, and when researching Carroll I was able to learn about his process and the original story of Alice in Wonderland that I hold close to me from my childhood, which can be linked back to my message.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
When looking for my inspiration I was trying to find artists with a dreamlike style and message that is not fully obvious to the viewer. With Kahlo specifically I wanted to find an artist who's messages I can relate to, creating something that would be able to replicate my own emotions.
5) What kinds of inferences did you make while reading your research?
After my research and process I concluded that innocence can be a fragile thing, but it can also be defined as different things. For me specifically my piece reflects the innocence of childhood, as seen with Carroll's inspiration.
- Citations -
Dukes, Hunter. “Lewis Carroll's Illustrations for ‘Alice's Adventures under Ground’ (1864).” The Public Domain Review. British Library, June 22, 2021. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/carroll-illustrations-for-alice-undergound
Sert, Busra. “The Two Fridas - A Detailed Analysis.” ArtnSketch. ArtnSketch, May 14, 2022. https://artnsketch.com/the-two-fridas-a-detailed-analysis/.
Sert, Busra. “The Two Fridas - A Detailed Analysis.” ArtnSketch. ArtnSketch, May 14, 2022. https://artnsketch.com/the-two-fridas-a-detailed-analysis/.