Manifesto

I decided to create a manifesto that supports my print; based on hunting. I did this as many art movements with manifestos also have supporting art works. Having both makes my message louder.

I used typography lightly in the background: the words ‘hunting is murder’ over and over in different angles and patterns. This was inspired by Paula Scher, a postmodernist artist. With text she conveys emotion and expression just with the way the words are presented. With this idea I created a postmodern style background; to me this represents the oppression of animals- and by not using Helvetica I am showing that humans are no better than other animals.

The messy style of the main text is down to the work of Grayson Perry. His ‘red Alan’ manifesto is unordered and juvenile- and its one of my favourites. His style is fun and aesthetically interesting; which is why I decided to adopt his style.

The actual content very much mimics the manifesto designed by the Guerrilla Girls. It is very sarcastic; this makes their message come across in an amusing way and portrays women’s lack of representation in the art world seem like a joke. This is how I feel about hunting for sport. The whole idea to me is absurd. Absurd and cruel. This is why I used strong sarcasm in my manifesto. However I ended with a serious point to pack a punch, and make people walk away from it thinking.

Paula Scher

Greyson Perry

Guerrilla Girls

Final Print

As I am very against speciesism, I decided on an anti-hunting propaganda poster. All of the prints came out unique, which I think was successful. The simple image coupled with the powerful message makes the poster a good one. A quick, simple and powerful way to get people thinking and get a message across. With the whole of year one’s posters up together, it made a very dynamic exhibit.

Print planning

I started my printing journey by making a mind map of everything that I am passionately against. This way it would make the print more sincere and easier to compose. in the end I decided on the unnecessary death of animals. whether it be animal testing, hunting, or using them for clothes I wasn’t sure. all of these I am strongly against.In my sketches I explored several designs, but I decided to go with the stag with the hunting message as I thought it would make the best print. I chose this message because I think that it will make people really think, and maybe even see hunting from the prey’s perspective. The aim of the print is o make an impact, and get a strong message across. Hunting for sport should be stopped.

Summer project

For our project inspired by the ‘Making and Unmaking’ exhibition in Camden, London- I focused on 4 artists:

• Claude Cahun
• Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou
• Meredith Frampton
• Yinka Shonibare

Shonibare was the artist I was most inspired by, therefore based my piece on his work. he is a British- Nigerian artist who has experienced many injustices, such as racism, sexism, and other such things that mankind use to distribute power. His work in the exhibition is called ‘the butterfly kid’ (as shown). it is a sculpture of a child poised to fly away. Away from all of the trouble and strife the humans have caused. Its not the children’s fault, but they’re the ones who have to live with our mistakes.

My piece is a painting that build on this concept. I have a figure flying away from the ruined world, with the butterfly wings a reference to nature and the destruction of it. there are faces/skulls in the background- each represent a man made issue e.g. sexism, racism, global warming, hate, deforestation etc.. of course the biggest world issues are down to personal experience. However the faces are melting/fading as the figure rises up.

The painting style is so thick, and almost messy, is to represent the mess that we have made as humans. I gave the figure an unnatural skin colour because Shonibare uses non-human colour to show the crudeness of racism and that it was something that doesn’t need to be a problem.

Print making influences

When first presented with the screen printing assignment I had never come across the subject before. Therefore I looked to artists who are/were experts I the field. Artists like Sebastian Brant and other 16th century political prints were what I came across first.

These images told stories, and in classic cases promoted political views. they were used as a way of communication to those who were illiterate and most of the designs are very worker-day. Them being from issues and beliefs from the 16th century I was unable to relate too much.

I started looking at more recent artists such as ‘Olive47’ and such prints that inspired the 2012 ‘pussy riots’.

These more recent prints and the meaning behind them gave me the inspiration for my print. they represent something much bigger than what they are and actually made a difference. That’s when I decided to to a protest screen print of my own on a subject that I was passionate about.

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