Author: Vanni

Vanni

Week 1

Banners adapted from Dirty Words by Tammer-El-Sheikh, from Canadian Art

Upon reading the article a couple of times many fragments of the text caught my interest :

  • Overused in artists
  • Thirteen Years
  • Picked out at novelty
  • Aesthetic of Powerlessness
  • Performance-driven conditions of the workplace
  • I can not be bound to them
  • The Exhibition is interesting
  • Architectural Detail

In the end, I decided on my last choice *ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL* and I chose to print the letters in a dark blue, so it would look similar to a blueprint. I liked how it is not perfect and a bit messy, as that goes against the norms of architecture and its need to be perfect and calculated. The choice to hang it under the map of Zavitz was intentional; in my opinion, maps or blueprints are the most apparent details showcasing the building in its entirety. I did think of different locations, but due to weather, I could not hang it elsewhere, despite that, I am happy with the outcome.

Week 2

Reading Reflection – Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman

Introduction

  • “These fine minds are, as my father’s was, of a bygone era, a different media environment, and their biases may make them, as they made him, hostage of another time, perhaps incapable of seeing the present world as it is rather than as they’d like it to be.” (Page viii, Introduction to the Twentieth Anniversary Edition)
  • “Where once it stood for a single generation, now it seems to stand for three”  (Page xiii, Introduction to the Twentieth Anniversary Edition)
    • This quotation captures the dynamic nature of modern society, in which new trends emerge at an unparalleled rate, constantly modifying the cultural landscape. Each generation develops and adopts its own lifestyle, inspired by technological breakthroughs, social movements, and shifting societal values. However, these changes are becoming more frequent, hastening cultural development.

Foreward

  • “The roots of liberal democracy had held.”
    • Despite difficulties that have tested its stability, I believe liberal democracy has mostly preserved its core values. While some components may have eroded or destabilized over time, the essential principles and institutions remain intact.

Chapter 1 – The Medium is Metaphor

  • “Indeed we may have reached a point where cosmetics has replaced ideology as a field of expertise over a politician must have competent control” (Page 4, Chapter 1, Amusing Ourselves to Death)
    • Unfortunately, this statement has been true regarding politics and almost every aspect. People have the right to look as they want, but choosing to look a certain way because someone else does should not be in our minds, but it has come to be.
  • “It’s form excludes the content” (Page 7, Chapter 1, Amusing Ourselves to Death)
  • “Iconography thus became blasphemy so that a new kind of God could enter a culture” (Page 9, Chapter 1, Amusing Ourselves to Death)
  • “Eternity ceased to serve as the measure and focus of human events.” (Page 11, Chapter 1,  Amusing Ourselves to Death)
  • “Light is a particle, language, a river: God (as Bertrand Russell proclaimed), a differential equation; the mind, a garden that yearns to be cultivated.” (Page 14, Chapter 1, Amusing Ourselves to Death)
  • “Our Metaphors create the content of our culture.” (Page 15, Chapter 1,  Amusing Ourselves to Death)

Week 3

Field Trip

Art Gallery of Ontario

The bolded and capitalized lettering of the word ‘TRIBUTE’ when one entered the installations captivated the eye. It drew me in, and my curiosity to explore urged me to go further into the exhibition. It certainly was a Tribute to the past, in my opinion, a tribute to the artistic textiles, symbolic pieces, and memories of the great hip-hop artists of today and yesterday. This exhibition was not only a tribute to the musical artists but also to artists who helped them create their artworks.

My favorite work would have to be this one. I loved how the artist gave depth to the piece despite using one singular shade with a hint of gold accents. The details in this piece force the viewer to look at it from different angles and longer.

Moreover, it was inspiring to have an opportunity to view Indian artists like Kavi Gupta achieving success and recognition. I am eager to visit AGO again to view Sarinder Dhaliwal’s work.

Power Plant

  • The folktale of Lo Ting, a mythical human-fish character thought to be the ancestor of the Hong Kong people, serves as the basis for Lap-See Lam.
    • In her works, Lo Ting’s needs to return home – Frangernt Harbour – and the unintentional calling of the dragon ship, is portrayed beautifully.
    • The dragon ship serves as a metaphor for the confusing elements of displacement and diasporic identity, as well as cultural misinterpretation.
  • The complexity of seeking belonging using imagery is depicted excellently by the artist with the help of cultural narrations.
    • Lam is known for using traditional form of storytelling as a structure for art. These narrationes are a depiction of her family’s history of immigration from Hong Kong to Sweden.
    • These allow her to navigate the conflicts between preservation and change within diasporic memory, both asserting and complicating cultural legacy.

Week 4 & 5

Internet Video Art – Quinn & Vanni

Video Art Ideas and Inspirations

To begin creating the foundation of our video and this research presentation, we methodically compiled a comprehensive list of the many types of videos and information we frequently watch on YouTube and TikTok.

  • The millennial pause
  • Fitness Influencers 
  • MSA videos
  • Eating everything/muk bangs

We have decided to focus on Fitness Influencers and their unrealistic life choices and advice. The video will contain clips from their TikTok and Youtube videos of their routine commonly labeled as ‘A day in My Life’, and ‘Healthy Eating Habits’

Finally, creating a “One whole day in the life of an unrealistic lifestyle“.

Some videos we might clips from:

@sandsxfitness

watching this back u wouldve thought zara made the workout, idk how the girl masks her pain like that i- my full fit is oner active kiddos, shop through l!nk in bio to support this egg 🤍 PRIDE preworkout ofc u can use code SANDS for $$ off hehehehe #fyp #GymTok #coreworkout #abs #abworkout #browngymgirl #girlswholift

♬ Get Low VS Gasolina by 917Josh – 917Josh

Final Internet Video – Quinn & Vanni

In our video, we wanted to depict social media’s toxicity of fitness to its extreme. The content influencers market as effortless and healthy are not always the best options for everyone, especially for adolescents. Our video might not be perfect, but we wanted it to give a rushed kind of gruesome aesthetic to the video to emphasize the gravity of the issue.

Furthermore, we did face challenges with our schedule and most importantly technology. We had another version, that had some more edits, which unfortunately did not save, hence, this is our final internet video.

Week 6

Reading Reflection on My Crops Are Dying But My Body Persists

Bridget Moser uses memes, YouTuber clichés, and online culture in “My Crops Are Dying But My Body Persists” in a way that is both recognizable and unnerving. Her use of absurdity is significant as it emphasizes the peculiar fusion of materialism, discomfort, and humor that characterizes much of digital society. She takes use of the way that superficial, processed aesthetics—such as those of lifestyle vloggers or beauty influencers—are frequently the foundation of internet content, making them strange and uneasy.

Moser’s choice of costumes and props recalls the staged but manufactured settings common to online influencers. Her use of French manicures and blush-colored earplugs, for example, evokes the carefully prepared images that are common in lifestyle and beauty vlogs. These components “lead to processed foodstuffs as points of contact between sculptural stand-ins for idealized people,” as Charlene K. Lau points out in Artforum, underscoring the monetization of individual identity in digital environments.

Similar to the minimalist aesthetics of social media, Moser’s scenes’ monochromatic color palettes convey a feeling of homogeneity and sterility. This selection highlights the shallowness frequently inherent in online self-presentations. The boundaries between object and person are blurred by the props, which include packaged foods and ornamental accessories. Moser “establishes each gesture within monochromatic fields that hold space through color and serve to still them momentarily,” according to Lau. The transient nature of digital personas is suggested by the statement, “But they cannot hold.”

The video still evokes a mixture of physical anguish and amusement. Moser engages in both sensuous and unnerving relationships with objects, such as massaging a couch or stroking a skull with a baked bean-filled glove. The parodying of internet comfort genres like ASMR deprives them of their calming impact and instead incite anxiety.

Moser discusses the pursuit of belonging, consumerism, and whiteness. A critique of privilege and complacency can be seen in her character’s longing for security and comfort. Lau points out that Moser’s art highlights “the narcotizing effect of consumerism,” making spectators consider their involvement with these structures.

In Moser’s work, absurdity is a major theme, acting as a medium for revealing the inconsistencies and shallowness of contemporary existence. The absurdity of navigating modern society is reflected in her embrace of the nonsensical, which encourages viewers to discover meaning amid the turmoil.

A closer look at Moser’s other creations, such as her videos and performances, demonstrates a recurring theme of identity-building and consumer culture blunders. Using comedy and absurdity as instruments for critical engagement, her work asks viewers to consider their experiences within these frames.

Week 8 & 9

Video Art about Our Parents

Ideas for Video Art about our Parents

  • Not really parents, but there is a video of my sister when she was 2, and my dad, who is fond of photography, trying to make a video of her, but she just wants to play and it is such a sweet interaction between them. Though the video is in Hindi and my dad is the only person my sister would communicate with in Hindi, hence I wanted to recreate that video – But got rejected.
  • I do have a bunch of childhood pictures with my mom that I could recreate, as once again my dad would take lots of pictures of us, some candid, some trying to capture the perfect angles.
  • My parents had gotten married when my mom was really young, and then she had to move continents. I have seen pictures and heard stories from my cousins about how she would dress up and spend time on herself and do goofy things like straightening a doll’s hair or volunteering on their school trips. Over time, she got busy and started working, and now she works 7 days a week and has no time for herself. Hence, I wanted to ask her if she could dress up as they used to and record her doing her makeup and hair, as she had a huge collection of lipsticks back then, which I know because she still does.

Final Parent Video

Week 10

Open Studios Visit

It was incredibly exciting to visit the Capstone and MFA students’ Open Studios. I was truly fascinated by the wide range of art created by other artists—each piece had its own distinct style and story.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get opportunity to take any photos. I was so focused on knowing about their creative processes and interacting with them that it entirely slipped my mind.

I’m already excited for next year, when I can to share my work at the Open Studios as well!

Week 11 & 12

Artist Tattoos

For our artist tattoos, initially, I wanted to create a tattoo that was more literal or maybe even too conceptual. It would represent the struggle of student life and their ongoing relation with the hardships in education, with the moon being the student and chains depicting educational hardships. I wanted the moon to be spinning, entangled, and entrapped in chains.

Upon receiving feedback that the idea was a little too vague and metaphorical, Yasmin and I chose to design our artist tattoos together, so the design would work with one another. We wanted to create something fun for our last experimental assignment.

Thus, we chose to design template tattoos inspired by drag makeup, specifically Trixie Mattel. Some other fun makeup designs we did were heart-shaped blushes and wavy-colored eyebrows.

Designs – Vanni (Left) and Yasmin (Right)
Carys with Our Full Face Drag Tattoos

Vanni

Week 1

Book Stacks inspired by Nina Katchadourian’s Book Stacks

To create my Book Stacks, I used books from my sister’s and my shared library. From our library, I was able to create some interesting book stacks, which held personal meaning to me and I hope others will be able to connect with them as well. While browsing for these stacks I knew right away what I wanted to create and that I wanted to capture them where we read most of them, i.e. my bedroom.

Stack 1: Sakugawa and her Stacked Universe

For my first stack, I knew I had to use one of my – as I call them – ‘Meditation books’. The preseason behind this stack was not only the books being by the same author, I thought the titles flowed well together and was a clever way of using something spiritual with something most of us do have a personal list of our life hacks as well.

Stack 2: Your Element

For my second stack, I knew I wanted to add one of my Ken Robinson ‘Element’ books to my second stack. Even if I haven’t read them yet, I still find them to be quite inspirational.

Stack 3: A Stack for Life

This stack came together because of the aesthetic of both the books and the puns. The initial perception one would get from these books is quite similar.

Stack 4: Wishful Wishes

For this last stack, I wanted to use book titles that used the same words, for this instance, the word ‘wish’ is used in two out of the three books and it just came to be that I could relate to it as well, cause who wouldn’t wish for “All the Bright Places“

Week 2

Ideas for Environmental Video – Yasmin & Vanni

1 – Conversations with Squirrels

2 – Dressing as a tree and then hugging another tree –> different shots of each of us hugging different trees

3 – Dressing up as a tree/ bush and rolling down a hill or camouflaging – not the smartest or safest

4 – Use the weeping willow tree and emerge out of it dressed as an animal or another tree

Week 3

Field Trip to the Toronto Biennial of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Arts

The Toronto Biennial Of Art at 32 Lisgar St

Precarious Joys 2024
Guide & Map of The Exhibition

  • These frames represent the history of musicology.
    • The frames are arranged so the viewer glances first at the ‘pattern’ and then below at the correspondence poetry.
    • Musical notes inspire the patterns, hence a musician who played an instrument could read them and detect the flow.
      • Some of them are pitch, rhythm, and flow.
  • These frames were exhibited in a hallway, so one could hear the sound arts playing in other rooms along with looking at these musically inspired works.

Three Songs – Raven Chacon {2021}

  • This piece by Raven Chacon consisted of three video art.
  • “Three Songs (2021) is a three-channel video installation that explores a history of Native resistance and questions the myth of an uninhabited American West.” (Toronto Biennial of Art)
  • Each Video was presented on different walls of the room whereas the instrument used in the videos was displayed on a wall for the viewers to have the full experience and emerge in work.
  • All three songs are sung by Indigenous women and one can hear the struggles they have gone threw in their voices
  • This piece can be heard throughout the exhibition when walking by the hallways as well, so the viewer gets a sense of the before viewing it.

The Supernatural Powers of Fabulous Panther – Biimskojiwan by Maria Hupfield {2024}

  • This is a sculptural installation based on the three spirals, made out of industrial felt and adorned with silver and tin jingles.
  • This is a sensory work exploring the surroundings and water.
  • It is meant to engage the crowd and give them rhythmic instruction, so the crowd follows the artist until the end of the performance.

Leila Zelli

Passing by Maira Ezcurra {2022}

  • This is an installation meant to mimic the silhouette of birds, so the viewer can experience how it feels like to walk under birds flying in the sky.
  • The artist created these noticing the lack of migrating birds in Southern Ontario as compared to their hometown.
  • The deconstruction of shoes represents how the changing environment has affected not only humans but also many other species – migrating birds.
  • When introduced to this work during the tour, the first thought was, ‘What do the birds think of this piece?’

Scent of Thunderbolts by Karen Tam {2024}

  • This is a piece created by the artist reminiscing about their childhood and the language barrier between them and their grandparents
  • The work is a multimedia interactive installation that deals with the artist’s memories of watching Cantonese opera

Esotric Dance by Citra Sasmita {2024}

  • These paintings depict mythological goddesses in the old Kamsan style.

Toronto Biennial of Art at 158 Sterling Road, Floor 9

  • This textile art represents different flags.
  • the stitch on the right end is not the full stitch, here the artist is trying to communicate the political drift between the United States and Mexico

Sanitago Yahuarcani

  • In these works the humans are represented in the form of animals to depict their struggles and similarities with them

The Other Home by Hangama Amiri {2024}

  • This textile artwork shows the struggles of Amiri having to move from place to place, the battle of having to pack up your whole life
  • The material used is from the Middle East and Central Asia, places where Amiri lived
  • The piece of fabric connecting all of them represents the pain the artist wants through didn’t end even after moving and leaving the places behind

Temple of Love by Gaëlle Choisne {2024}

  • This Is a 29-minute long video art and is inspired by Roland Barthes ‘A Lover’s Discourse: Fragments’
  • The artist talks about the balance of the universe and the human body which sparked an interest in me but unfortunately, I could not watch the entire work due to the lack of time

MOCA – The Museum of Comtempary Arts

Week 4

Environmental Video at the Arboretum

Trees by Vanni & Yasmin

For this assignment, we knew we wanted to interact with nature. Our idea was to use the Arboretum as a location and involve it in our video. We chose tree-hugging as our gesture which was required to do.

Tree-hugging in Native culture

“In Native American cultures, for instance, the act of hugging trees was seen as a way to connect with the wisdom of nature and to heal both body and soul.” (Mastrantonio, 2024)

We were also influenced by the painters we studied in the studio, especially those who blended in with their natural surroundings through camouflage. The concept of “being one with nature” was explored by these artists very literally. Moreover, we were immediately drawn to embracing trees during our first visit to the Arboretum. We started looking for trees without poison ivy vines that we could safely embrace. Our first clip was shot under the canopy of the weeping willow, which caught our eye right away with its elegant branches.

At first, we only concentrated on hugging trees. But as we went along, we thought an effective visual perception would be produced by using thinner trees. This made it possible for us to shoot in a way that gave the impression that we were merging with the woods. This camouflage effect was emphasized by the wide-angle, distant clips, especially as we wore brown and green clothing to further blend in with the surroundings. As we tried to blend in with the surroundings, the long shots heightened the sense of being one with nature.

Lastly, not facing the camera was an artistic choice we both decided on, other than the last shot, to depict our respect towards the surroundings along with our dependency and attachment to nature. Upon further observation with the group, we could have added more ‘close-up’ shots but we thought the long shots accentuated the camouflage aspect of our idea.

Week __

Blurb Books

Ideas for my book

  • Translate my childhood story book which is originally in Hindi into English
  • Inspired by an artist’s book shown in the studio
    • each spread would have a different brush stroke to show the different textures and how the particular brush works
  • A book that shows how a person with colorblindness views the world vs how people who do not have color blindness
    • It would contain images so one half is colorblindness, and the other is without
  • A book that would have the first and last sentence of other books but would change so the last sentence is typed first depicting “the end is only the beginning”
  • A book that would have scanned the last pages of other well-known novels – Winner!🎉

Final Book

This book contains covers of 21 Mystery Books’ and their corresponding last pages. Read at your own risk.

Spoilers’ Book – Vanni.KaushalDownload

Week 10

Artist Multiples

Ideas for Artist Multiples

  • Ignorance is not a bliss / Ignorance is a sin
    • Make a banner in white and display it on a white wall to emphasize the ‘ignorance’ aspect.
  • Breath
    • Modify a card deck and add stickers or writing so the player remembers to breathe and be calm; it is just a game.
  • ” I swear, I am an honest person ”
    • Make pins that have this quote
    • Make pins with pictures of controversial people and the quote is underneath it.
      • Donald Trump
      • Diddy…? hope I don’t get attacked…. thank you Beyonce 🙏
      • Some Serial Killers maybe?

Final Artist Multiples

For my final artist multiples, I focused on the expression “I swear, I’m Honest” and made pins with synonyms but different fonts and colors. I wanted them to be subtle just like how one would use this expression in a conversation to depict the casualness but at the same time the impact our words can have based on how we use them.