Monthly Archives: December 2013

Mona Lisa Smiles

Fig. 1, Mona Lisa http://www.shawnsmallstories.com/wp-content/uploads/Mona-Lisa-Framed.jpg

Fig. 1, Mona Lisa
http://www.shawnsmallstories.com/wp-content/uploads/Mona-Lisa-Framed.jpg

Mona Lisa (Fig. 1), the most famous painting of the Renaissance period. “It was painted by the Leonardo Da Vinci, the famous Italian artist, between 1504 and 1519, and is a half body commission for a woman named Lisa Gherardini.”(Totally History) This icon of the art history has amazed thousands people around the world. But how is it related to Graphic Design?

Mona Lisa has very complicated structure if we look at the composition of the painting. It is structured geometrically and follows some of the rules. Leonardo Da Vinci applied the rule of Archimedes spiral (Fig. 2) in order to build up the composition of the body.

It is amazing, how an artist can structure his artwork using maths. If so, are there any other secrets hidden in this painting? Is there worlds famous “Da Vinci Code”?

One of the hidden meanings I found fascinating was that the painting is split in four nature forces: earth, fire, water and air (Fig.3). In the order mentioned above you can follow the painting seeing all four. I have seen this painting hundreds of times, but never thought it is so full secrets, and this really inspires me to do my designs with a twist of mystery in them.

Another mystery of the painting is Mona Lisa’s smile. In combination with unforgettable eyes it has inspired thousands of artists, writers and musicians. I would call it an honest smile, in most cases people do this kind of smile for themselves, very deep and true, without overdoing it. Probably that’s why people fell in love in it so much.

Competing love to the painting, there have been several situations when vandals tried to destroy the painting. “The first occurrence of vandalism was in 1956 when somebody threw acid at the bottom half, severely damaging the timeless masterpiece. That same year, another vandal threw a rock at the work, removing a chip of paint from near her elbow. It was later painted over. Afterwards, the piece was put under bulletproof glass as a means of protection has kept the painting from further attempts at vandalism and destruction.” (Totally History [WWW])

Mona Lisa has been reproduced and parodied by many famous artists such as Andy Warhol (Fig. 5), Philippe Halsman, Fernand Leger and others.

Fig. 6, Mona Lisa Shirt
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iUGxLv-eL.jpg

Nowadays, Mona Lisa’s identity has become a brand. Designers use their reproductions of Mona Lisa in order to produce work to be put on t-shirts (Fig. 6), posters, canvases and even promotional materials. At some point it was very popular and everybody used imagery related to this painting.

To conclude, Mona Lisa is inerasable spot in the art history. Being a hot topic of discussions, it has gained an amazing popularity around the world. If you still haven’t seen it in real its worth of visiting Louvre in Paris. Personally I have not been there yet, but my dreams might get true soon. Can’t wait!

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References:

The Guardian [WWW] Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2012/oct/04/mona-lisa-leonardo-painting  [Accessed 15/11/13]

Live Science [WWW] Available from: http://www.livescience.com/4648-25-secrets-mona-lisa-revealed.html [Accessed 14/11/13]

Smart History [WWW] Available from: http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/leonardo-mona-lisa.html [Accessed 15/11/13]

Totally History [WWW] Available from: http://totallyhistory.com/mona-lisa/ [Accessed 16/11/13]

Telegraph [WWW] Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/8249386/Mona-Lisa-landscape-location-mystery-solved.html [Accessed 15/11/13]

McMullen, R. (1976) Mona Lisa: The Picture & The Myth. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston

British Design And Postmodernism

In April 2012 I have visited probably the most breathtaking and amazing exhibition in my life. The exhibition took place in Victoria & Albert Museum in London and was called simply British Design. The exhibition traces the changes in design of the period from 1948 – 2012 by exploring ideas, images, fashion and architecture based in Britain. In my opinion this exhibition has a mark of postmodernism on it as most of the designs exhibited were produced particularly in the time period when this style was dominant.

“The first use of the term “postmodernism” is before 1926, and extends to the 1870s, when it was used by the British artist John Watkins Chapman.”  (Appignanesi and Garratt 1999  pp.3)

“Posteriority”, the negative feeling of coming after a creative age or, conversely, the positive feeling of transcending a negative ideology, really develops in the 1970s, in architecture and literature, two centres of the postmodern debate.” (Appignanesi and Garratt 1999 pp.3)

Coming back to the exhibition, I would like to say that it really inspired me and helped me while I was working on my project related to British design and postmodernism. Despite of being graphic designer, I found fashion and fabric prints the most interesting for me.

I was very impressed by tulle dress designed by Hussein Chalayan. This dress is breathtaking and unique.  Large, bleeding tulle egg probably has thousands metres of fabric in it. Red colour sort of fades out and gives fascinating effect.

Fig. 3, Factory Club Poster by Peter Saville http://www.cerysmaticfactory.info/images/fac1posterdetail.jpg

Fig. 3, Factory Club Poster by Peter Saville
http://www.cerysmaticfactory.info/images/fac1posterdetail.jpg

As a piece of graphic design I can highlight the Factory Club Poster by Peter Saville. The design is very obvious, based on the look if BSI work-site hazard warning signs and it firmly established one of Factory’s multifarious designs remits.

Fig. 4, God Save the Queen Sex Pistols poster by Jamie Reid http://lewebpedagogique.com/anglaisfastoche/files/2013/09/god_save_the_queen_poster.jpg

Fig. 4, God Save the Queen Sex Pistols poster by Jamie Reid
http://lewebpedagogique.com/anglaisfastoche/files/2013/09/god_save_the_queen_poster.jpg

I think, the most famous work on that exhibition was world’s famous God Save the Queen poster for Sex Pistols designed by Jamie Reid. It is very simple and effective design copied and reproduced millions of times becoming a brand identity of British design and Sex Pistols as a band. Nowadays it’s being printed on lots of different souvenirs and canvasses.

British design exhibition has opened my eyes to the new dimensions of art and culture in Great Britain.  Genius ideas, fascinating designs and amazing historical treasures all in one place are able to make happy and inspired any visitor of this lovely show. I remember myself drawing some of the pieces as we were unable to take photos, so much exited I was. If I had a chance, I would definitely visit this exhibition again as it is going on every year. London! Here I come!

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References:

Appignanesi, R. and Garratt, C. (2003)  Postmodernism. A graphic Guide. Penguin Books Canada

Heartney, E. (2001) Postmodernism. Tate Gallery Publishing Ltd, London

Victoria and Albert Museum [WWW] Available from: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-british-design/british-design-about-the-exhibition/ [Accessed 10/12/2013]

Apple vs. Samsung

Apple vs. Samsung

For more than four years two competing companies Apple and Samsung are fighting against each other because of the patent violations. The fight began last year when Apple sued Samsung in a US federal court, accusing the South Korean company of “slavishly” copying the iPhone and iPad. Samsung countersued.

“The fight began last year when Apple sued Samsung in a US federal court, accusing the South Korean company of “slavishly” copying the iPhone and iPad. Samsung countersued.” (PCPro 2013)

In my opinion, Apple is number one on the technology market and I believe that any patent violence causes incredible money loss to the company. As far as I know Apple came to the technology market with absolutely unique and innovative concepts. Company has put on the side all the leading competitors and became number one in the world. This is why I think that Apple in particular is not able to break any copyrights or patents. It has its own point of view and concepts as well as originality, so they do not really need to copy anyone.

Let’s have a look at designs from both companies.

The Apple iPhone (L) and the Samsung Galaxy S. In fact, they look pretty much similar, I’d same they are same. First of all you have to say that their shapes are absolutely identical. A rectangle with rounded edges and a metallic stroke around. Ear speaker is very similar and interface is absolutely identical. However, Samsung screen is a bit longer and it has different home button shape as well as two more sensor buttons on the both sides which is different from an iPhone. Samsung’s got front camera, which appears on iPhone only few models later. Isn’t it interesting?

This is why judges refused Apple appeal to ban those products as well as award the compensation for the iPhone maker.

Just another short look on the tablets.

Despite of them two being in two different colours, they are absolutely the same. The only difference is in the size proportions (Samsung tablet is longer, when Apple one is wider). Similar interface and  buttons as well as silver border around the devices. Considering the fact that iPad is slightly older that Samsung Galaxy Tab I am more than sure that it’s been copied causing so many problems with the patent violence between Apple and Samsung.

At the moment, there are few more cases going on between world’s leading gadget producers. One of them is regarding current iPhone 5 series, where Samsung think that Apple copied their ideas. In my opinion, Apple is right in most the cases, because as we can see Samsung really copied their designs making Apple to lose sales of their devices. If we think logically, if two devices are very similar, people would go for the cheapest, in this case Samsung wins, but Apple loses billions. In fact, no one can beat Apple in its quality and originality. This is why it’s the best in the world!

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Refferences:

The Wall Street Journal [WWW] Available from: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703916004576271210109389154http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13124753  [Accessed 9/12/2013]

The Guardian [WWW] Available from:  http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/18/apple-samsung-advert-cool  [Accessed 9/12/2013]

Ubergizmo [WWW] Available from: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/09/apple-sues-samsung-in-japan/ [Accessed 9/12/2013]

Huff Post [WWW] Available from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/15/apple-samsung_n_4284320.html [Accessed 9/12/2013]

Pc Pro [WWW]  http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/376123/apple-vs-samsung-the-latest-news-from-the-patent-battle [Accessed 9/12/2013]