Imperial War Museum Manchester

This week I visited the Imperial War Museum in Manchester to continue my research into archives and collections. The museum exhibits many artefacts from various conflicts and wars. At the moment there is an exhibition called 'Lest We Forget', a memorial to mark the hundredth year anniversary of the end of the First World War. This exhibition shows the casualties and loss of life during this conflict.

Within the museum on display were old, delicate poppies. The poppy has become the symbol of remembrance every November. Armistice Day is on the 11th November each year. It represents the day the Great War ended, and the gunfire ceased at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The occasion is marked with a two minute silence to remember those who served their country and lost their lives.

The symbol of a poppy as remembrance was inspired by the Canadian Lieutenant Colonol John McCrae who wrote the poem 'In Flanders Fields'. He referred to the devastation and death surrounding him and seeing a small symbol of hope in the shape of the simple poppy flower, the delicate flower survived, despite the barren war torn land it was growing in. Each year The Royal British Legion raises money through the poppy appeal for soldiers and their families.

I have been inspired by this simple flower. A symbol of hope and memory and intend to investigate and explore this image further, to produce various different digital designs.

Comments

End of Unit Review

At the beginning of this project I was asked to produce approximately a hundred object drawings. Although I find drawing enjoyable I have found some of the more complex work rather challenging and, on occasions, have lacked confidence when trying to create a piece to a high technical standard. The assignment has highlighted that drawings can be produced not only in pencil but from different medias such as paints, charcoal and ink, incorporating various textures and styles. The sheer quantity of drawings required helped to greatly improve my sketching technique. I chose fabrics suitable for a range of interior products such as cushions, bedding, lamp shades and blinds, including heavy weight cotton and polyester. The pigment colours and effects produced varied on different fabrics. I have used many digital prints within my collection, as I felt they integrated well and complimented each other. I have found using my sketch book very beneficial when planning prints from conceptio...

Sampling Update

Mid - week review Reflecting on my work so far, I am not feeling as confident as I would like at this point. I need to broaden my samples through experimentation with different techniques, including foiling and puff binder. After a constructive one to one session with one of my tutors, I now feel more confident in the direction I wish to follow and I am looking forward to trialling new techniques and producing a strong collection. The unit demonstrates that often the more simplistic drawing proves the most effective in print. Further more these designs are often the ones that I am most attracted to. Throughout this unit I have discovere d that samples do not need to be made up from one sole media, but are in fact stronger and have more impact if they are a combination of different medias. I am motivated to work independently, however I feel I have benefitted from the guidance of my tutor at times, which has given me more confidence and ideas to think about. By...

Whitworth Threads Unit x

Unit X allows students from interdisciplinary areas within the School of Art to work together as a team on a project, exploring and experimenting shared ideas. The group comprises of designers covering 3D design (specialising in glass making), weave and printed textiles. The aim to bring a personal contribution of creativity through a shared body of work, to create and develop a range of products, relevant for purchase within the Whitworth shop. The gallery houses thousands of art works and artefacts spanning many centuries and supports developing artists and designers. RESEARCH During the groups first meeting it was decided we would complete research visits to The Manchester and Whitworth Art Galleries. The pilot project allowed us to explore our individual skills and how they combined as a whole to achieve a strong outcome. It was beneficial for the group to bond, understanding each others strengths and creativity. My personal contribution was...

Amelia Zandra Textiles

Search This Blog