"TO LIVE - What is it all about?" is an illustrated book and 4D paper collage that I made for my final major project at UCA. This illustration shows a united and utopian world in which the progress of the human condition is more important than a materialistic way of life. This message is shown through the process of paper making, in which I collected and reused different paper-like materials and moulded them to form the image down below. I also added essential oils which gives the piece a fourth dimension and as the viewer looks closely at the inscription besides each character, they will smell the contrasting fragrances of the grass, wood and oranges. In summary, this colourful piece illustrates a hopeful and child-like world, inviting the viewer to reflect on the actions and purposes of their personal life through simple images and words.
"TO LIVE" Handmade mixed media paper 45x45cm
This project started from a drawing I made for Woodland Heritage. The drawing focused on the circular cycle of the woods, the process of growing and maintaining the Woodlands as well as universal actions that are in accordance to living. During this time, I was also interested in transforming certain objects into another state, finding ways to change objects stagnant in their form, into a flowing circular one. Paper-making allowed me to do this and I experimented by making paper with felt, umbrellas, wood, fake grass, cotton, leftover paper, fabric, plastic and more. Through this process I created different textures which lead me to making my primary idea out of recycled materials. This process was very freeing and I experimented with materials that failed as well as succeeded. However the experimentation led me to this technique which I love and which I'm excited to develop further in the future.
Spread from "TO LIVE - What is it all about?" SOW / NOURISH
Spread from "TO LIVE - What is it all about?" QUESTION / BUILD FAITH
Spread from "TO LIVE - What is it all about?" MAKE MISTAKES / FLY
Spread from "TO LIVE - What is it all about?" REAP / SUSTAIN
The style of the illustrations is also quite childish and surreal, which I believe is the best choice to explain deeper topics. The faceless and silhouetted characters, can represent any one of us, they aren't truly characters, but representations of certain actions. The grand tree in the middle, represents growth, sustanance and harvest which reflects the inscriptions alonside each character. The parallelity of the human's interior world and nature's exterior world reflecting off of each other. In conclusion, the book and the bigger piece give an open answer to an open question. The actions of the characters are some of the basic foundations on how to live, calling us to question our life itself. Leaving behind religion or morality but inviting us to simply reflect on deeper spiritual questions, in a humble, open-minded and creative way.
"TO LIVE - What is it all about?" Book cover