Berlin

ALL photos on this post, are Author's own - unless link is added below

Below are a selection of my photographs that I took on my trip to Berlin during the second week of my FMP. These images show the most famous 'landmark' of  Berlin, the Berlin wall. Which will forever be remembered as the wall that divided a city literally into two sides. There is not much left of the Berlin wall other than along a deserted corner of the city. Here we saw the transformation of the wall - it is no longer a tall, concrete wall but covered completely in graffiti art. The bright colour seems to mask the sadness and loss of lives because of its symbol. The graffiti covers the wall and the rest of the city - it appears to cover the fear and anxiety that people had during the past.  The photograph below is a zip opening too reveal a hidden message. This reminds me of the subconscious that is hidden within - the subconscious influences us in everyday but it is hidden deep inside.  I like this art as it expresses how under the fear a strength can be hidden - nice concept i might refer to during development. Alternatively anxiety disorder are often hidden under as front that people put up so that others cannot see their differences, they do not truly show who they really are. These colourful 'memorials' look very dream like and remind me of free association -  during the visit we also saw a man playing the electric guitar half naked with a horse mask on (and holding a unicorn mas for one of us to come over) it made the experience even more surreal - yet he seemed to belong to the wall art. 

http://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Greg-Gorman/0066D7EBD20F9982/
Artworks?Params=3936382C43757272656E74506167652C322C31

Greg Gorman photographed a series of images that looked at the male body. This one in particular really stood out to me. The body language reminds me of a man defeated - he has created this closed and protected shield. And because he is so closed of from the audience I feel that he could be thinking - Anxiety. The darker tones that have been highlighted and the background give this photograph a darker feel - the darkness seems to be slowly descending towards him and he has no where to hide other than in himself. This image has enabled me to understand how the body can be a projection of the emotions that are being tormented inside.

We cannot see what others are experiences inside - and the slight emotion can give this away if we can catch it. From looking at this photograph I got a potential idea that I may use later on in the development stage. I felt it expressed the idea of repressed emotion - hiding how you feel and bottling up the emotions, in the end is what causes anxiety (and this negative effect on the subconscious.) My idea comes from this idea of 'bottling up' before finally exploding with all the things you are afraid of consuming you. What makes this image so powerful is that it is a man. Without intending to give stereotype, men re normally considered and expected to be less emotional and stronger - yet here we are presented with an image that depicts this man to be breaking down and revealing a weaker side. People that suffer from Anxiety can be vulnerable but are in the same way strong for this 'disorder' they must deal with. Lastly in earlier research about anxiety and its initial use ('Fight and Flight' theory) - a way for us to be cautious among predators however today anxiety is created before a test (and our bodies cannot react in the same way as running away from a wild animal and so panic attacks occur and etc.) Anyhow, this idea I find very interesting. This photograph, made me thing of human instinctual reason behind anxiety because this man is in his natural form (nude.) I think this could be another potential concept for the development stage.

http://www.faheykleingallery.com/
photographers/gorman/personal/gorman_pp_31.htm

To the right is another image in the same series by Greg Gorman that presents interaction and beautiful poses between two men. The tones in this photograph is a lot darker and therefore cast this shaded feel on the photograph. One man seems to be gripping onto the wall whereas the second other is dramatically held up by the first man. I felt that these two men could be another good example of a person and anxiety. What if anxiety could be represented by a second character? Which of these two would represent anxiety? One seems to denote the idea of strength and the other a weakness. Which one of these words best fits a person dealing with anxiety.

https://www.pinterest.com/robbi1384/greg-gorman/

To the left, is another photograph featured in the Greg Gorman exhibition. This photograph immediately captured my attention - I have previously noted throughout this project that I often dream about water bringing anxiety in my own dreams. Often destroying and dangerous - in these dreams I avoid it. However this photograph is very beautiful because this man is emerged within in this water completely. He is actually camouflaged with the ripples of the surface covering his entire body with this pattern. When i saw this i though of the idea that perhaps this man has so much anxiety and fears that it has consumed him and he has given into living this way. The body language emphasizes this idea as this man appears to be turned away from the camera and hiding again in himself. I really like this idea of drowning in anxiety and using water to represent this.

http://in-lan.com/en/art-culture/photography-art-culture/
helmut-newton-francois-marie-banier-dark-beauty/

To the right is a photograph taken by Newton Helmut, for London Vogue in 1967. I really like that this image embodies fear and anxiety - this model is really reacting to an aeroplane taking of the runaway that she is on. This urgent run and expression is alot more interest one that just a simple standing pose that doesn't have connection with the surroundings. I love the composition of seeing this large aeroplane behind her - and the matching colours of the sky and the plane to her dress. When I first saw this image it seemed very dream like - it isn't a common scenario and therefore appears to be surreal. The black and white colours take it out of reality and we are presented with this strange scene. What makes this work is this extreme scenario coupled with her expression. Overall I really like this photograph, probably the most. We are given a set up like a scene of a film - this image is ultimately expressing fear - and when i look at this photograph i feel panicked and frightened for this girl. It could also  be a fake scenario that this girl is coming up with about her phobia of planes. What i want to take away from this photograph is to really create fear and anxiety in my animation - I want the audience to experience the same torment that anxiety can do to a person (and what it feels like.)

Surrounding are some of the photographs that I took and inspired me. Although none of these works relate directly to my theme - instead they have elements that may influence later ideas that I may have. Above for instance are abstract paintings that use brushstrokes and tone to create these different moods. Our subconscious minds may connect with these colours and certain strokes and make associations. Below is a piece of art that is very busy and reminds me of a dream like image. There was also a box that played an old song from the 40s. At first we couldn't figure where it was coming from - however i liked that this was interactive it let up explore the work and question what was the purpose.