Class: Newly Formed, RISD Spring 2021
*All photographs, edits, and direction was done by me*
Newly Formed - Zoomorphism - Project Prompt
In this assignment, I read a lot of stories about zoomorphic deities. In each story, I found myself trying to imagine how deities and goddesses would look like; this made me realize how we all have different associations and imaginations of superstitious/ religious figures. Even though most of these stories had a serious tone or message behind them, it's our perceptions of them that gives them timeless power and meaning.
As I did my research, what stood out to me was the way deities and goddess were presented in. The way they’re drawn or showcased in books exhibits a clear sense of hierarchy and authority – which enforces obedience & fear from the viewer.
Another element that captured my attention was the role of Greek sculptures in representing and narrating stories about deities. These sculptures were (and are still) seen as perfect and sacred; thus, I wanted to play with that sculpture element and situate these forms in a different context. I decided to use clay because that medium has been used in either sculpting deities & forms or as a canvas to engrave stories.
For the final publication, I wanted to create a book that is the opposite of serious & opposite of sending or telling a specific story. Which is why I created clay form that are palpable, affable, and easy to approach. I wanted to change the context in which these stories take place in which is why you can notice a play in conjunction in each book spread.
In some pages you might notice the use of type. I was interested in Latin words and how certain words had different meanings to them depending on the time (origin vs modern day English) or the context in which they're used in.
At last, the text deployed in the background is extracted from stories about deities or articles about the usage of words that we have associations to in modern day English that are completely different from their latin origin meaning.
