Drafting proposal

Before the start of term, we had a induction on the overview of the Final Year/ Year 4. Basically all the modules are Major project centred, then in the end of term we will show our art work in the exhibition. This year practice is much different from the first and second year as we are the director of our own project with tutors' support, write our own brief, choose our way of work, produce our own significant piece of art and put on to show.

During the first term of study, we are going to execute Phase 1, we write our own project and we carry out our plan to test the possibility and utility. In the first week of term, our mission is to draft a proposal, each for Research and Development (R&D) and Theory for Contemporary Art and Illustration. According to the briefs (or outline), R&D comes in a pack with Major Project, which means R&D acts as a strategical module and put into practice in Major Project; Theory for Contemporary Art and Illustration in the other hand more emphasis on academic research rather than our own work.

Last week homework was to identify interested area, things we're going to do, etc etc to sketch out ideas for the proposals. I start thinking about collaborate as a production team to produce a complete final piece of work for example stage performance, short film, animation, comic, etc. My role in the team will major in character design, the area I'm always interest in. Before putting this into practice, I need idea to direct the project.

Mind map and notes

My idea was inspired from an incident, which very much contribute to the context of proposals. When I was visiting my friend in London, we went to Chinatown and found a Chinese bookstore selling stationary for Chinese calligraphy and ink painting. Then my friend asked if I even make this kind of work in my course. The mulberry paper and brush reminded me about my identity, then I come to the idea to introduce Asia in my project. I named my project Oriental Character, focus on investigate contemporary culture in Asia, document the life in aspect of society and individual. My research will start from looking at Asian contemporary artist who explore similar context, then I'll take idea from everyday life, e.g. interviewing people and observing from news. The other project inspired by Pictures of Night Processions of One Hundred Demons by Toriyama Sekien, a Ukiyo-e made book recorded many form of monster. I'm interest in the way Japanese mythology reflect the feature of the culture and society, not only traditionally but also in modern time.


Pictures of Night Processions of One Hundred Demons by Toriyama Sekien