A Tragic Vanity

Continuation from previous post...

What is real beauty? When we look in the mirror are we blind to the way we look? A common artist practice for assessing your own work is to leave the piece of art work and look at it at another time as if you have never seen it before, then ask yourself; what is this work about? Often more times than not you won't be able to answer this question, but when you do, it could mean one of two things -- your codding yourself or you may have created something very special.

However, when relating this theory back to my original question -- 'what is real beauty?’ how is it represented? Are we dressing like others; is make-up a cover up? Is it necessary? A recent study on one particular model shows a dramatic change. See for yourself and ask what's the natural look or is this even a valid question? 

 

Narcissius - Not just a Greek Myth

The Ancient Greet story of  Narcissus - the handsome Greek youth who rejected the desperate advances of the nymph Echo. As punishment, he was doomed to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Unable to consummate his love, Narcissus 'lay gazing enraptured into the pool, hour after hour, though eventually, through utter fatigue he fell into the water and changed into a flower that bears his name, the narcissus.


It is clear in my mind that this theory of ones self-love has certainly carried through the ages and has indeed been applied to every cultural since in some way or form. For example, if you were to look at hierarchy alone - through time, notable historical figures have come up presenting themeselves with utmost glory, proclaiming that they are who everyone should; they look the way everyone else should look; and act the way everyone should act.
 

Take the egyptians for example, their elaborate clothing and outstanding head pieces - they believed in the overwhelming no matter how expensive or strange it may have looked to the poor of society. Even there actions were riddled with vanity; 'Seth' the God of Chaos, was afraid of losing power to his brother, so he killed him.  





 

King Henry VIII
An 'Elitist' Character

This is only the eqytians, think further along time and you will meet rulers from the Roman Empire, the stately Tudors, the regal Romanseque artists and the roylal victorians --  all of whom in some way or another, have echoed the story of Narcissus.






Queen Elizabeth II
An 'Elitist' Character

Today, there is a society that perceieves this historical culture of vanity, egotism, conceit and indeed narcissism though an the indulgence of ones-self. The doctoring of ones physical features either pernamently or otherwise through the 'nip-tuc' proceedure has become extensively popular. However it is broadcasted throughout the world as if it should be or actually is accepted or tolerated. A general attitude in society today, If its in the media its ok to do it, or if she can do it, so can I. 
 



Lady Gaga

Yes, there is the few who think conceptually where fashion is their life, bringing new style ideas is very important for the development of society. However there are still cliques that become excessive when it comes to their idea of 'beauty' that we get examples of from the TV such as Essex, Jersey Shore and Dublin's own Tallafornia.



Character from TV Series
'Jersey Shore'

Today

Today I am working with two main ideas with the hope of merging them together. Before I continue I will just briefly explain these.

PERFORMANCE ART

In Spring of this year I wanted to focus my work on dance, music and art as a whole. I began working with oils, using music sheet paper as my canvas and applying the paint delicately. I created an image of beauty and perfection to represent that in the art of ballet refuting it with the natural beauty of the world. However as the imagery that I was creating was that bit too beautiful and 'Disney' like, I took the opportunity to change medium and import myself into the picture.

Nature Vs Ballet

Music & Lyrics

To do this I began working with performance art. Using digital photography I self-shoot solo-performances of myself dancing. It was suggested to use a Video Camera to record it however I preferred to get the results of a SLR Digital Camera in that it would miss the in between frames and pick up on the flaws as well as the perfected movements. The positioning of the images in the presentation of the work was also very important which is clearly illustrated in the images below. I believe that the placement of the prints was vital for this project to work, it added another dimension.

 

Influence of Materials & Raw Setting

Original Studio Shoot

Rihanna S&M

I am currently developing this concept of performance art, pushing it to the next level.

A MYSTICAL WORLD

Tim Burton, Walt Disney, JK Rowling, Stephanie Meyer and James Cameron all created a new world. These creations all feature the four main elements of fire, water, air, and land which are necessary. However I would like to create a world that you can feel the music present in the 2D painting, without presence of physical sound; If you will, a world for the deaf. I believe that my performance work could aid the creation of this new world and therefore I would like to eventually merge these two main aspects of my work.

...AND BACK TO TODAYMy influences from the start included such artists as Degas, Richter, Duchamp, Rembrandt, Disney, Burton, Muybridge and even touches of the great Renaissance artist Caravaggio. With these influential people along with my own primary research in the photography studio I have developed into a new aspect of the photographic sessions. Dance and music is certainly still present yet aperture and shutter-speed setting alterations allowed me to create a moving image in one single shot. I wish to transfer these images to 2D paintings to push them further. But prior to that I will further explore the graduation I have made since my initial photo-shoot in the Spring, seeking out other color options, clothing, setting, moving objects and natural life, figurative expression through dance and acting etc.

A New Development

Expressive Emotion