Fikkymike

For another term Assignment we were asked to create a movie poster.

My first thoughts when I decided to do a The Sound of Music poster was that: I could not mess it up because it is an all time classic.

The truth is I was not sure I could pull it off and live up to the name it has built over the years. It was tough. We had to work with original Imagery. The casting was the toughest bit. I know you are thinking "Dude, its not even that serious, its just an assignment". The legacy of the movie weighed heavily on my shoulders.😂

Me making it into a parody is a projection of my insecurities in making it live up the the expectations I had for myself of the final outcome. So Instead of making a mainstream genre like drama, romance or even a musical, I chose to hide under a parody remake.

Sometimes the simplest designs make the difference.

Some basic geometry coupled with a good concept- nothing over top or too technical can have the most direct visual effect.

I found Jack Forrest's illustrations has that simplistic direct effect- and his works are a breath of fresh air.

designs like this remind me that "simple is good" or "less is more".

Ted Grant is credited with saying:

“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!”

The appeal of street photography for me as I imagine for any enthusiast is its candidness. Its bare, raw and unpretentious and you just have to have been there at the moment in time.

Here are some of my earliest attempts at street photography.

This is titled "Iṣẹ".

It roughly translates as Work or Duty.

Titled "Morning Billows"

Taken the same time as "Morning Billows" above, this is titled "Catch Train"

"Oo de ra?"

One of my very first street photographs ever. It roughly translates: "Are you not buying?"

“For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.”

― Henri Cartier-Bresson

"Street Chore"

This picture was from a fashion shoot series titled: "Ghetto Girl, Rich man". I particularly like it for its composition. The chicken was not planned.

"Headlights"

"Encroachment"

One of my first attempts using Long exposure

"Lurk"

“It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us.”

My entry for "Safe":

My Entry for "Anger". Although it seems more like "Distraught" to me, but meh.

Decided to share this as a reminder to myself that Em Cooper hand painted 1300 frames of oil painting to achieve this effect in this video. Her work humbles and challenges me. Its amazing!

For One of my term Assignments, we were asked to make a poster of a musical act for a particular genre of music. The typography had to convey the mood of the music. Afrobeats/ Afrofusion was what I picked.

Inspiration

Drawing inspiration from its origins(Afrobeat), the poster set out to depict Afro-Fusion as a modern sub-genre of the original Afro-beat because it appeals to a broader and diverse audience in the 21st century. 

Concept

Vibration:

The idea of vibration  was inspired by the indigenous talking drum which is traditionally used in the production of the afrobeat sound.

The idea of a can be linked to the famous. A west African set of drums,when beaten produces a vibration of a tonal language that the listeners interpret to understand the message being passed across.

‘Vibration’ was illustrated literally by creating an illusion of motion or a sound wave in its appearance. This was achieved by creating a faded trail of the letters behind each of the characters. 

Typeface selection:

The selection of the Heavy block type (without crossbars or hollows) is an attempt to drive home the idea of raw and often uncomplicated bold approach to the music.

To balance out the heavy block letters, a slender italicised font pair was chosen to provide contrast to the blocky typeface. It was also selected to show personality as portrayed in the use of script typeface. Various script typefaces were experimented with drawing inspiration from the Artist’s concert publicity happening about the time of the creation of the poster.

Àdìré (ah-di- reh)/ Tye and Dye

Adire literally translates as "tye and dye". In SouthWest Nigeria-in places such as Abeokuta and Oshogbo, Adire played a role in economic development. It was considered a substantial way for women to  make a living and sustain their families. Dyes were being imported into the country and fabrics are being exported to other countries. It has also serves as point of contact for investors and played a role in the empowerment of Nigerian citizens. (Ajoku 2021).

Source: Pinterest

The Traditional Adire making technique dates back to about lOOyears ago. It was made using cassava paste and chicken feathers the dye mainly used is pounded indigo leaves in combination with solution from cocoa pod ash ( Picton 2006) Starch was used as the resisting agent.

Women making Tye-dye fabrics locally

Batilk

Now mordern fabric printing technique by adding chemicals such as, caustic soda and hydrosulphite to the dye bath to infuse it with the fabric without fading over time. Another form of adire is the wax resist which is also known as Batik.

Woman making Batilk-inspired print

Tye-Dye Vs Batilk (Differences)

While batik fabrics focus on precise melted wax painting, tie-dye is all about experimentation and spontaneity. Rather than painting your fabric, you fold, scrunch, and tie your fabric into a tight ball with a rubber band.

Adire textile has became popular not only to Nigerian but in other countries such as Japan, Brazil, China, etc. (Ajoku, 2021)

Batilk-inspired prints l for me bring some nostalgic memories. If you grew up in Nigeria, west Africa or have any idea about the social scene, you would know that there are usually parties almost every other day—especially in Lagos . There was always an excuse to throw a party. If it wasn't a child naming ceremony, it was a burial or a birthday party or just church service . Batilk inspired prints were typically worn on these ocassions.

Source: Pinterest

One almost got the sense that it was a crafty, rushed  process in the creation of these patterns because of how dye colours usually bled out of their geometric shapes. In a way it was a rushed process in the sense that it was mass produced but also locally made, manually, with hands.

And this was fine. I would say part of its appeal was that it was locally made. This is in fact the very thing I associate this memory with— the unrefined, raw look and colours bleeding out of their holding shapes juxtaposed with the social scene: bobbing heads haggling prices at the market squares, boisterious laughters of men on a warm Saturday evening and gyrating bodies in dusty birthday parties. Uncontained Energy just like the colours bleeding out of their boundaries.

Source: Pinterest

I first knew these prints as " Ankara ".

The print design were typically worn as 'Iró' (waist wrapper) , 'Bùbá' ( top), 'Gèlè'( head gear) 'Fìlà' (men's cap) and 'Sòkòtò' (trouser)

“Tumbling blocks” designed by Jide Olowu in his exhibition on pattern and repetition. Quilt Design

Source: Cooper Hewitt

“Tu sors, Je sors” designed by the @Vlisco group. A batik-Inspired wax print

Source: Cooper Hewitt

“Autumn Leaves” Textile design by Dorothy Pease.

Source: Cooper Hewitt.

Wax Inspired prints Designed by Marjo for @vlisco

Source: Cooper Hewitt.

Today I experimented with different mobile phone-compatible graphics application. Autodesk's Sketchbook worked really well during the tests so I dug out one of my old pen and pencil sketches to try out the application.

I did this on a non-display graphics tab with my phone connected as the visual output.

I enjoyed exploring the different pens types, brushes and textures on it.

I'll be definitely using it more moving forward

I recently saw MoonAge daydream at the cinema. I had no prior expectations for movie but I expected to be educated at the very least because the movie came highly recommended. I wasn't disappointed.

The documentary wove a story through the life and career of David Bowie: the highs of his life as an artiste in the spotlight, his more adult life away from the music scene, and the periods between- the transitory phases where he reinvents himself and his music.

At various points in during the movie, bursts of abstract graphical imagery refelcted the mood of the scene as well of tempo of the background music. Overall, there was a discernable underlying visual language that tied the whole visual.

I learnt a few lessons from the narrator, Bowie himself:

1. The expression of art is rarely ever static or rigid. It tends to reflect the times, beliefs or state of mind of the artist. Themes of fluidity in the artists music style as well as physical outward androgynous representation echoed the Bowie's overall message as an artiste.

2. There was a deliberate attempt to challenge the status quo. Bowie wanted to use his craft to challenge the perceived rigid, stifling nature the industrial revolution in his day.

3. You can reinvent yourself as often as life calls for it or often as you need to. You are only as limited as your imagination. Bowie's superpower for me, was his ability to "shed off" an old self create a new one. He changed his physical appearance, music styles as well as his life philosophy as often as he felt the need to.

4. I also got introduced to glam rock music genre. 🙃

From the bus, looking at buildings and signages like I usually do, I spotted this.

Its nothing spectacular it's one of those things that makes sense to only you and no one else.

The broken E at the end of the first syllable. (Che- mist).

In my native dialect, Yoruba, the sound of the first syllable (che) could be an exclamation of a breaking effect depending on who you ask.

Also, "Ke" in another context literally means "to care". The literal depiction of that effect for me is what got me interested. It is broken care.

To think a chemist's shop is supposed to care for people in need of medical supplies, the broken "E" does not inspire a lot of confidence patronizing the business outfit. What a way to loose a customer. 😂. This only goes on to show the effects intentional type setting (well thought-our or not) has on the viewer.

Marking my first tumblr post! 

Was not really sure how to set the tone because my interests and sources of inspiration are broad (just as anybody). I’m thinking a cohesive visual theme would be nice building this account but I would rather explore my interests and hopefully understand my visual palette over time.