AVI1O Krause

AVI1OUnit1:SymbolismArtistStatement
Take a picture of your FINISHED cultural symbol painting & post it HERE!

The purpose of an artist statement is to give extra information about your work
of art to the viewer. The artist statement is meant to inform the viewer of things that
they cannot see in the actual art work. They are also there to talk about your process
and artistic style. Artist statement are usually brief, no longer than a page.

How did I come up I first came with my idea when brainstorming the different
with my idea? unique things, objects and aspects my culture held and
represented. Many if not all of Norval Morrisseaus
artworks are centered around animals and their
relationship with humans. Therefore, I decided to use the
national animals of Hong Kong and India as the
centerpiece and focal point of my work

Specifically, what I used a variety of symbols in my artwork that expressed

symbols did I use both my ethnic Indian culture and my Hong Kong culture.
to show my own The body of the morphed animal, tiger, dragon and
AVI1O Krause

cultural peacock is divided into 4 sections clearly shown by their

background? different colours.
The first section, purple encompasses all religions that
the two countries share: Christianity, Hinduism, Muslim,
Buddhist, Jewish as their populations are extremely
diverse. In addition, I also Included symbols such as Yin
and Yang shown and believed primarily in Hong Kong
and China. Included a head of a person with a bindi on
their forehead as it is popularly worn by Indian women as
it represents a third eye and protectiveness.
In the second section, green holds all the festivals and
traditions that are celebrated yearly and annually in Hong
Kong and India by the locals and some important
symbols. I included popular Chinese Lunar New YEar
celebration items such as the Chinese Lanterns and
firecrackers that are put up every year and brings a warm
glow to the new year as they are coloured red as it is said
to be a lucky and prosperous colour in China. In addition,
I included fireworks, a rakhi band followed by a few
Indians, a diwali candle, the umbrella movement's symbol
as it has a major political and social impact on Hong Kong
and a head of a person covered in colour representing the
festival of colour, Holi
In the third section, blue carries the national and popular
sports of both countries as they include: Ball Hockey,
Cricket and Equestrian
The the fourth section, pink carries all the other important
objects and aspects that effectively symbolize India and
Hong Kong. Such symbols include the leaf that are
popularly used in South Indian culture as plates for food,
roti, the famed Chinese Junk Boat, the bauhinia flower, a
few notable skyscrapers in Hong Kong

What do the The different use and palette of colours that I have used
colours say about sends off the vibe and message that both cultures, Indian
my artwork? and Hong Kong are both extremely diverse, multicultural
and vibrant especially when mixed together. Many of the
flag colours are used throughout the painting and animal
such as Red, White, Blue, Orange and Green

List some (min. 3) A few elements and principles of design that mainly stood
specific elements out to me in my piece are colour, shape and line
and principles of I found that colour mainly stood out to me due to the
design that stand vibrant variety of colours that i had used. My paintings
out in your piece. included all primary, secondary and tertiary colours and I
AVI1O Krause

effectively mixed and many shades of different colours for

them to complement each other. I used a vibrant and
attractive bright red/pink wash in the background with
vibrant bold colours around and in the animal to express
its diversity and uniqueness. Colour allowed me to give
importance to each symbol, each part of the body, the
animal itself and every single portion of the painting. I felt
comfortable with using many colors that too contrasting
colours as Norval Morrisseau himself did the same
I found that shape also stood out to me as I included a
variety of convex and concave shapes and many of them
had curves and no edges. All the shapes were unique
and outlined the body and other objects and symbols
excellently and was an integral part of the work
One of the most important elements used in Norval
Morrisseaus works are line. Therefore, I made sure that
line had to be executed well in order to follow his unique
style. I had no straight lines as all my lines were curved.
In addition, I was extremely patient when creating the
outlines of all the shapes, objects, animal and symbols
whether it be thick or thin

What is something Something I think that I did very well that I would like my
you did very well viewers to notice the bright vibrant colours and what the
and want the different objects could represent . I would also like them
viewer to notice? to notice the morphed animal that I have created to
support my cultural situation

What is one area One improvement I would do if I got the chance to redo it
of improvement if is to make the body of the dragon slimmer and longer as
you could redo this Chinese dragons tend to be slim and snake-like and my
piece? dragon looks like a regular dragon. However, one my
argue that the dragon is on its side which it is. However, I
would still wish to accurately design my animal to the way
it was meant to be.
*Tip: When you are trying to answer these questions, you may review your mind map,
sketches and final artwork.

Now its time to put it all together in FULL sentences!

ArtistStatementSymbolismPainting
AVI1O Krause

Put together everything you have written into one final statement! Add transition
sentences!
I am of Indian of ethnicity and was born and brought u in Hong Kong for m entire life. Therefore,
I first came with my idea when brainstorming the different unique things, objects and aspects my
culture held and represented. Many if not all of Norval Morrisseaus artworks are centered
around animals and their relationship with humans. Therefore, I decided to use the national
animals of Hong Kong and India as the centerpiece and focal point of my work. Moreover, I
used a variety of symbols in my artwork that expressed both my ethnic Indian culture and my
Hong Kong culture. The body of the morphed animal, tiger, dragon and peacock is divided into 4
sections clearly shown by their different colours. The first section, purple encompasses all
religions that the two countries share: Christianity, Hinduism, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish as their
populations are extremely diverse. In addition, I also Included symbols such as Yin and Yang
shown and believed primarily in Hong Kong and China. Included a head of a person with a
bindi on their forehead as it is popularly worn by Indian women as it represents a third eye and
protectiveness. In the second section, green holds all the festivals and traditions that are
celebrated yearly and annually in Hong Kong and India by the locals and some important
symbols. I included popular Chinese Lunar New YEar celebration items such as the Chinese
Lanterns and firecrackers that are put up every year and brings a warm glow to the new year. In
addition, I included fireworks, a rakhi band followed by a few Indians, a diwali candle, the
umbrella movement's symbol as it has a major political and social impact on Hong Kong and a
head of a person covered in colour representing the festival of colour, Holi. In the third section,
blue carries the national and popular sports of both countries as they include: Ball Hockey,
Cricket and Equestrian. The the fourth section, pink carries all the other important objects and
aspects that effectively symbolize India and Hong Kong. Such symbols include the leaf that are
popularly used in South Indian culture as plates for food, roti, the famed Chinese Junk Boat, the
bauhinia flower, a few notable skyscrapers in Hong Kong. In addition, the different use and
palette of colours that I have used sends off the vibe and message that both cultures, Indian
and Hong Kong are both extremely diverse, multicultural and vibrant especially when mixed
together. Many of the flag colours are used throughout the painting and animal such as Red,
White, Blue, Orange and Green. As the elements and principles of design are crucial to
artworks, I found a few that stood out to me. A few elements and principles of design that mainly
stood out to me in my piece are colour, shape and line. Colour mainly stood out to me due to
the vibrant variety of colours that i had used. I included all primary, secondary and tertiary
colours and effectively mixed many shades of different colours for them to complement each
other. I used a vibrant and attractive bright red/pink wash in the background with vibrant bold
colours around and in the animal to express its diversity and uniqueness. Shape also stood out
to me as I included a variety of convex and concave shapes and many of them had curves and
no edges. All the shapes were unique and outlined the body and other objects and symbols
excellently and was an integral part of the work. Finally, one of the most important elements
used in Norval Morrisseaus works are line. Therefore, I made sure that line had to be executed
well in order to follow his unique style. I had no straight lines as all my lines were curved. In
addition, I was extremely patient when creating the outlines of all the shapes, objects, animal
and symbols. After completing my work, something I think that I did very well that I would like my
viewers to notice the bright vibrant colours and what the different objects could represent . I
would also like them to notice the morphed animal that I have created to support my cultural
situation. Finally, one improvement I would do if I got the chance to redo it is to make the body
of the dragon slimmer and longer as Chinese dragons tend to be slim and snake-like as my
AVI1O Krause

dragon looks like a regular dragon. However, I would still wish to accurately design my animal to
the way it was meant to be.