Metaphor and Allegory

In our lecture we discussed the use of metaphor and allegory in images, personally i found it very hard to grasp as both metaphor and allegory are very similar to each other. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. A allegory is a picture that can be interpreted to reveal hidden meaning. We looked at two pieces by Sarah Lucas, Self-portrait with Fried Eggs (1996) and Au Natural (1994).

Self-portrait with Fried Eggs (1996) is an image that combats the ideas of gender stereotypes by her presenting herself as androgynous. The main metaphor of the image is her fired egg breasts; they are all that prove that she is in fact female. Eggs are often a symbol of life however because they are fried this view is alters, perhaps this is an important representation to Lucas. Her masculine pose and dress sense contrast with the expected views of how a women should be, while the makeshift kitchen floor places her in a realm were the old fashioned idea of a women should be placed.

Au Natural (1994) is a representation of married life consisting of a dirty mattress, an old tin bucket, sagging melons and a stiff cucumber with oranges. The piece removes all glamour making marriage seem depressing and mundane, almost making it seem almost as a life sentence. The objects symbolise sexual organs, both the breasts (melons) and the penis (cucumber) are living fruitful objects, still able to work. Yet the tin bucket symbolises the way in which many women see their genital as they grow older

Semiotics Discussion

We talked about the uses of semiotics in images, I personally didn't know what semiotics were but i found out it is actually something i do alot of in my own work. Semiotics is the study of signs, images, sounds, gestures, objects and the language behind certain imagery and how it effects how we look at things. We learn semiotics naturally as we grow and the way we see certain signs depends on many factors such as age, culture and sex. We all can read images and signs differently, meaning that semiotics can not actually be teached because there is no true semiotic behind anything.

We looked at this image advertising pasta and other similar food. We discussed what semiotics that photo has to help sell the food. The deep red colour makes you think of passion and a strong rich flavor, while the fruit and veg makes you think of freshness. The fruit and veg lead you to believe its all natural and organic, however its packaged dried food in plastic. The found is show in a shopping bag, this make you want to go out and buy it straight away or to add it to your own basket because it has already visually been placed into your brain. The simple use of Italian writing is a semiotic adds to the idea that the food is made with passion, as Italy is know for its pasta dishes.

We also discussed the semiotics in the music video for Johnny Cash's "Hurt". A very powerful video that I feel represents Cash's life coming towards it's end and show him looking back on his life. While watching the video you notice alot of biblical references, this is most likely because of johnny Cash's god-like following within country music. Empty museums full of old Johnny Cash merchandise are shown, the museums are 'churches' were his fans would go, however showing them empty symbolises the end of his fame and ultimately his existence.

We talked about how the video had a very Renaissance feel to it, with a look of many paintings of the time. A references of 'The Last Supper' is seen, Cash sitting at large banquet of fruits and meat, known for lasting only a short while before rotting, the food symbolises how short life is. The wine he pours refers to life washing away and how wealth and luxury mean little to a dying man. The video ends with Johnny Cash closing the piano, symbolising the end.

ShowStudio - In Your Face

I travelled to London with some friends and we came across a gallery called ShowStudio (1 - 9 Bruton Place, London, W1J 6LT) and by came across i mean searched for hours. I really wanted to see the exhibition that was being held called In Your Face, named because the work being shown is very bold and defiant. The exhibition show work ranging from fine art, sculpture, film, fashion and photography, yet they all shared the same idea of being 'in your face'. Coming from a BTEC Art & Design course I always find myself drawn toward all types of mediums in art not only photography, i look at the work displayed and get inspiration to add to my own practice.

I went because i heard that one of Nick Knight's photographic prints was on display but while there i found myself also very interested in the work shown elsewhere around the exhibition. All the work dealed with different ideas of portrait and I found this very interesting. I found the gallery very easy to move around in the and staff very willing to name and explain what the peices were about as none of the work came with text, perhaps to leave the veiwer to make you their own ideas of the work.

The work of Nick Knight that i went to see was 'Devon' (1997). It is a photograph of Japanese/American model/actress Devon Aoki dressed Alexander McQueen shot for the cover of the style magazine Visionaire in 1997. The photo is a combination of two visionaires in the fashion, a world famous fashion photographer and a world famous designer. The work is meant to be confrontational and thought-provoking, and captures Aoki with a dark, futuristic style. The colours are muted and cold, along with Aoki serious expression makes a powerful emotion come from the photo. As i stood in front of the image I felt as if she was also looking back at me, i feel this is very important in portrature.



Another display of work I found interesting was 'Sauna Faces' by Stephen Doherty, 2011. The pieces are created using crayon, coloured-pencil and watercolour on coloured paper. Sauna Faces is a series of illustrated characters of a mixture of regulars, one offs, or first timers at a gay sauna. Some are people he has met, others are constructs of what Doherty imagines must be commonly shared feelings among sauna-goers.

"Lonely, lovelorn, unlucky, messed-up, his drawings trace the lines of psychological tragedy and desire that overspread the faces of men who are constantly looking, and being looked at, on the prowl, yet unmistakably vulnerable and lost."

Though I didn’t know of the meaning behind the work while I was there, I could still understand the ideas of emotion he was trying to show in his use of colours and drawing style. I find it interesting that he is dealing with the emotions of people doing an act that I can imagine much of society look down upon, making them equal human beings.