This week you will use your readings from the past week as a point of departure to create your own artistic production and a reflection paper.

Week 6 assignment: art creation & reflection – photography/cinema

Introduction Art is a medium of creative expression and it often draws inspiration from various sources such as experiences, emotions, and even other works of art. This reflection paper explores the relationship between my art production and the inspiration piece, which is a photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe titled “Calla Lily” taken in 1988.

Inspiration Piece Robert Mapplethorpe was a prominent American photographer known for his black and white photographs that often featured controversial and provocative themes. “Calla Lily” is a photograph of a white flower, and it is a part of his floral still life series. The photograph has a simple composition, with the flower taking up most of the frame, and it is illuminated by a stark light source. The use of shadows and contrast in the photograph creates a striking image that emphasizes the delicate beauty of the flower.

My Art Piece My art piece is a photograph titled “Flower in the Dark.” The photograph features a yellow flower, which is similar in appearance to a sunflower, set against a black background. The lighting in the photograph is low, with a single light source illuminating the flower from the side. The low lighting creates a dramatic effect, with the flower appearing to emerge from the darkness.

Connection The thematic connection between the two pieces is the focus on the beauty and fragility of flowers. Both pieces use a single flower as the main subject, and the composition is minimalistic, with the flower taking up most of the frame. The use of lighting in both pieces is also similar, with a single light source creating dramatic shadows and contrast.

However, the two pieces differ in terms of their medium and color palette. “Calla Lily” is a black and white photograph, while “Flower in the Dark” is in color. The use of color in my piece adds a vibrancy and energy that is not present in Mapplethorpe’s photograph. Additionally, the formal elements of design, such as texture and line, are different in the two pieces, as Mapplethorpe’s photograph has a smoother texture and a more defined line than my photograph.

The medium impacts the viewer’s experience in different ways. Mapplethorpe’s use of black and white creates a timeless and classic feel to his work, while my use of color adds an element of modernity and freshness. The different textures and lines also impact the viewer’s experience, with Mapplethorpe’s photograph having a more polished and refined feel, while my photograph has a more organic and natural feel.

In conclusion, my art piece “Flower in the Dark” was inspired by Robert Mapplethorpe’s photograph “Calla Lily.” Both pieces explore the beauty and fragility of flowers, but differ in their medium, color palette, and formal elements of design. Through my exploration of Mapplethorpe’s work, I gained a deeper appreciation for the art of still life photography and how it can convey a powerful message through the use of composition, lighting, and texture.

Reference: Patti, P. (2011). The life and work of Robert Mapplethorpe. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.