Conceptual Art/Photography


Introduction

My conceptual art/photography piece “Always greener on the other side” focuses on an aspect of the human psyche of the human living in the modern world. It explores important and deeply-rooted issues of materialism and seeks to debunk the notions of material happiness in the world we live in today. It imposes the understanding that the delusion that the “grass is greener on the other side” is something we all face in this society which has come to value personal achievements, status and material wealth as indicators of self-worth. It tries to tug at the heart strings of the viewers as it triggers self-reflection when they are brought on an visual and emotional journey to realize how a simple idea of inadequacy eventually leads to a vicious cycle of insatiable desire to prove oneself and self-gratify. Delivered in a minimalistic and abstract style, it subtly reveals the depth of its message through its symbolic elements and a reversion to a familiar scene at the very end.

YEARN

DESPAIR

TRANSITION

LINGER

REALIZATION

Photo shoot

To find a nice and even grass patch  for the landscape, I eventually narrowed my choices to a field near holland village or marina barrage. I decided marina barrage for the extra bonus of kites.  (Grass was shot for Deep DOF at f/10)

For the sky, the shots were taken at separate timings and weather climate. The gloomy overcast sky was taken near dusk near holland village while the bright sky was taken on a sunny afternoon at the SRC in school. (To ensure the right exposure on the sky, exposure compensation (reduction) was used to bring out the details of the clouds).

Marina barrage was also a good choice as a windy spot for a dynamic freeze shot of the wind blowing the hair and skirt of the lady in the photo. (Shot at 1/250 for freeze)

The ideal rain tree that was short and wide was also found at SRC.

Kites were taken from the photo shoot during the recent kite festival at marina bay, Promontory.

The old abandoned chair was taken from a recent trip to Pulau Ubin.

Techniques used

Perspective

-          The wide-open view and illusion of a endless landscape

-          The perspective guidance from the “wind” in the hair and skirt and line of sight from the first lady in the left.

Symmetry

-          Tree in the center to split the landscape and bring attention to the contrast of the sky and grass on the different sides of the grass

-           Elements are balanced in composition against each other. A lady on each side and kites balancing off the chair in the opposite corner

Deep DOF

-          Capturing the grass in details as well as the trees and clouds in the distance

Freeze action

-          Performed on the kites and hair/skirt on the lady to capture the moment in time and its dramatic effect.