Broken Relationships: Mixed Media
Title:Broken Relationships
Medium:Mixed Size:52.5cm x 37.5cm Completed:December Intentions: I wanted to apply my knowledge of the Japanese legend of the Red String of Fate, to my piece and form a visual representation of a relationship ending. The contrast of black and white with the only pop of color being the read thread creates an impactful image/message. One can find their soulmate, but too much anger or stress can snap what ties the two together leaving the two individuals sad and lonely. Made or Found:Both |
Culture
"The Red String Of Fate: A beautiful Japanese Legend." BrightSide. N.p., 2016. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
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I was inspired by the Red String of Fate legend hailing from Japan. The legend focuses on the fact that the heart is connected to your pinkie finger via the Ulnar artery, making it a true representation of the heart.
For this reason, in many cultures, when two people make a truce, or swear a vow, they do it by crossing their pinkies "According to the Japanese legend, this thread emanating from the heart doesn’t end at the tip of the finger. It continues in the form of an invisible red string, which ’’flows’’ out of your pinkie and goes on to intertwine with the red strings of other people — connecting your heart with theirs. |
Two people who are connected in this way are bound together by Fate itself. Sooner or later, they are destined to meet, no matter how far apart they live or how much their life circumstances differ. And, when it happens — that encounter is certain to profoundly affect both of them. The strings can sometimes stretch and become tangled, which could postpone the fateful meeting. But — those ties will never be broken."
In my works the string is attached to the wrists because it was more asethetically appealing, especially with the positions my hands were in. Though the legend says the string can't be broken, in my head I believe it can be. When you are in a relationship with someone, it can feel like they are your one true soul mate. Moments of high stress and anger can force the string to be taught and cause it to fray and perhaps eventually cause it snap. Leaving to those in the relationship lonely, feeling like they are missing their other half.
"The Red String Of Fate: A beautiful Japanese Legend." BrightSide. N.p., 2016. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
Two people who are connected in this way are bound together by Fate itself. Sooner or later, they are destined to meet, no matter how far apart they live or how much their life circumstances differ. And, when it happens — that encounter is certain to profoundly affect both of them. The strings can sometimes stretch and become tangled, which could postpone the fateful meeting. But — those ties will never be broken."
In my works the string is attached to the wrists because it was more asethetically appealing, especially with the positions my hands were in. Though the legend says the string can't be broken, in my head I believe it can be. When you are in a relationship with someone, it can feel like they are your one true soul mate. Moments of high stress and anger can force the string to be taught and cause it to fray and perhaps eventually cause it snap. Leaving to those in the relationship lonely, feeling like they are missing their other half.
"The Red String Of Fate: A beautiful Japanese Legend." BrightSide. N.p., 2016. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
Planning & Process
I first began planning this piece about a year ago. I made a very detailed outline when I first thought of this idea so I would not forget it and so I could create it during my senior year as one of my choice pieces.
My final product is different from my original plans in the following ways...
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Tools
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I began by looking at images for inspiration. I would sketch my design onto a piece of printer paper, and cut all three sketches to the same size. I tried to position the hand in ways that created a balance. The hands are either centered or are covering an equal surface area on opposite sides of the paper. I would trace over my sketch with sharpie pen, turn the sketch over and go over the lines I darkened with a pencil so I could transfer the graphite. I then transfered it onto watercolor paper. After that I used a sharp carving tool to poke holes on each side of every wrist of every hand in every image. This made it easier to put my needle through the paper so I could then wrap the thread around the wrists. Then I lightly glued the thread in the positions that I thought looked the most visually appealing.
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Experimentation
Originally I had planned all three images to be dry points. All three images were carved into Plexiglas, had ink forced into the carvings, were then wiped clean (except for the ink inside the grooves), the paper was soaked, patted dry, and was put through the printing press. The only problem was the ink did not transfer onto the paper. I attempted to troubleshoot by retracing the groves with the carving tool with greater pressure, making them deeper, ensuring enough ink had gotten into the carvings. Even with that change, the ink did not transfer. When I tried to print my images this second time the printing press fell apart. My assumption is that the press was forcing enough pressure onto my carving so it would transfer the image. Due to time restraints and teacher availability, I could not wait for the press to be fixed. I did the next best thing and still put ink on the paper via a pen.
Reflection
This is absolutley my favorite piece and the piece I am the most proud of. During this time I was going through a pretty bad break up and creating this visual truly helped me express my feelings. I feel that the changes I made from my original planning a year ago were the rights ones and that they helped enhance my piece. I am a little bummed out that the end products weren't the dry points that I had planned, but I feel as though I made the best out of a bad situation. If there is one thing I would change it would be recentering the first image with the two hands holding eachother, because it is a little off-center.
Response to ACT Questions
1. The Japanese legend of the Red String of Fate is clearly influencing my work. There are two people being bound together through a red string.
2. The one critique that might be made would be how far I had strayed from the legend. The string does not start at the pinkies and the string does break.
3. It was very interesting to learn about the Ulna artery and how it connects to the heart. I assume that this is why we in America promise with our pinkies, its a way of vowing over our hearts.
4. The central idea/theme was to focus on relationships/love, and how there might be another force out there bringing two people who are meant to be together, together.
5. I concluded that there is something that ties two people together, it doesn't neccessarily have to be a string, but I do believe in fate and another force out there.
2. The one critique that might be made would be how far I had strayed from the legend. The string does not start at the pinkies and the string does break.
3. It was very interesting to learn about the Ulna artery and how it connects to the heart. I assume that this is why we in America promise with our pinkies, its a way of vowing over our hearts.
4. The central idea/theme was to focus on relationships/love, and how there might be another force out there bringing two people who are meant to be together, together.
5. I concluded that there is something that ties two people together, it doesn't neccessarily have to be a string, but I do believe in fate and another force out there.