Design Principles / Task 2

20.02.24 - 05.03.24 / Week 3 - Week 5
Name: ALYSSA AISYAH BINTI 'ARIEF NASRAN (0364017)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Design Principles (GCD60804) / Section 1

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INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK 2

Visual Analysis

For Task 2 of Design Principles, we are to assess, investigate, document, and analyze the existing art/design work we selected in Task 1 to further study the design principles found in that work, as well as the size, placement, purpose, effectiveness of the design in relation to the UNSDG goal that

we have chosen.

The requirements are the following:

• Write a 300-350 word visual analysis of the selected design.
• Include reference links where applicable.

Firstly, I started by visually observing the image itself and re-reading some of the design principles documented in the lectures to refresh my understanding of them so I could better identify which ones are present in the art work, then noted them down.

Fig 1.0 'Guernica'

From my observations, these are all the design principles I have managed to identify in 'Guernica'

• Contrast
• Emphasis
• Gestalt Theory
• Repetition
• Principle of Figure & ground
• Principle of Similarity 
• Principle of Closure
• Harmony
• Unity
• Proportion
• Abstract and Arbitrary Symbols

Following this, I then broke down the art work by highlighting instances of design principles I had found in how they are applied to give me a more comprehensive look into why it may have been used, the purpose of the applied design principle to the work as a whole, and what exactly make up the key identifiers of the design principle.

Process

The purpose of this stage is to help me identify the exact design principles used and link them back to their purpose, the overall idea it signified, or tried to portray, and the message behind the painting as a whole.

Contrast + Emphasis+ Principle of Figure & Ground

Fig 1.2 Light Contrast

To understand how contrast works in this design, I have roughly highlighted the lightest and darkest parts of the piece with red. In the lightest parts they have been mainly used to bring attention and emphasis to the horrors of  'Guernica'; the subjects and their torment, it stands out from the disparate dark background- and here is where we are able to identify the principle of figure and ground as this contrast is further emphasized through the darkest parts of the piece and even utilized to build upon shapes, figures, objects, and create structure throughout, making the viewer instinctively perceive these as being either in the foreground or the background while also calling attention to the most important and meaningful elements in the piece as they are what deliver the message that is trying to be portrayed.

Repetition + Gestalt Theory + Principle of Closure + Principle of Similarity

Fig 1.3 Dark Contrast

Fig 1.4 Breaking Down Triangular Forms

To further analyze, confirm, and demonstrate this design principle, I have outlined all instances of the most prevalent repetition in shape (triangle) that is present throughout the piece. What is interesting, is that some of shapes are not only direct shapes that one can clearly see and recognise as the traditional triangle, but moreso an "implied" shape where the shape itself is not clearly drawn, but rather the outside elements that surround it invoke the "sense" of the shape, or the shape was drawn in a way that is only somewhat complete, but still recognisable enough to identify- this invites the viewer to complete the shape itself through the principle of closure. There is a strong use of gestalt theory that presents itself here, as the entire scene itself, despite being very complex, has been reduced to more simpler shapes as evidenced by the repetition we see with the triangle, though many other forms are also more simpler in general; this is due to the art style used here called 'Cubism'- two of its defining characteristics being the strong use of geometric shapes, and fragmented or abstract forms. Yet not only are these forms simpler, but they tend to be quite similar to each other with the repeated use of angular and disjointed shapes which brings about the principle of similarity- helping to craft a link between these elements. Thus, the nature of the art style itself aids in visually uniting these fragmented forms or disparate elements into a more complete picture of the actual figure or object it is depicting, which then provides coherence and cohesion to the message of 'Guernica' as well.

Part 2: Principle of Closure + Principle of Similarity + Proportion

Fig 1.5 Outline of Horse and Lady

Fig 1.6 Horse and Lady Injuries

Further continuing the analysis, to point out more specific instances of the gestalt principle of closure and similarity in the piece, we may observe the horse and the bottom-right figure (the lady) that floats towards the center as seen in Fig 1.5. At first, their forms may not be so obvious on first glance due to the fragmentation in structure, colour, and overall assembly, though they are just connectable enough visually to incite closure and proper completion of their actual full forms as I have outlined in red. These two examples also happen to show how proportion is manipulated and exaggerated as well as part of the eccentric art style, but also to emphasize certain figures and again, the overall message- the horse and lady being painted with dramatic expressions that display despair, and their bodies contorted in a way that highlights the grotesque scene on sight which really show the physical consequences of war. This message comes across even more severely and obviously when one notices that the horse had been stabbed by what seems to be some sort of stake or weapon, and how the lady's leg seems to impaled in a way by the collapsing building on fire that can be seen in the background which give reason to her seemingly restricted and laboured movement. I have outlined these injuries in Fig 1.6.

Harmony + Unity

As mentioned before in Fig 1.4, repetitive shapes and forms can be observed, yet they have been strategically rendered throughout the piece, and although the abstract look, there is some careful arrangement to the madness. Due to this repetition and sense of cohesion, it pulls the look together to create unity, this can also attributed to the monochromatic colour palette used as it helps with visual coherence that contribute to the theme- which, despite the jarring message, there is harmony in how all elements of this piece fit together to tell the story. In the absence of color, there is nowhere to hide or distract from, and as such, no relief from the intensity of what is depicted. Neither is there a clear focal point, and that may be purposeful as to overwhelm the viewer, bombarding them with an excess of visuals that is difficult to comprehend all at once- similar to war, while the closer one approaches the painting, its depiction of the horrors of war becomes increasingly engulfing.

Abstract & Arbitrary Symbols

In the painting, there are a few abstract and arbitrary symbols that Picasso had used to convey his message and paint a clearer picture on what the painting means overall and the specifics within it.

Fig 1.7 Lightbulb Eye & Handheld Oil-Lamp

Starting with the eye, which is an arbitrary symbol which could symbolize a number of things- such as how the attack on Guernica(the actual town in Basque) and the testing of new artillery and blitzkrieg tactics resonates linguistically; the similarity between the Spanish word for bulb (bombilla) and the Spanish word for bomb (bomba) is notable. Additionally, it may be no coincidence that the eye bulb and handheld lamp reside near each other, as the juxtaposition of the electric bulb and the hand-held oil lamp in speaks about the dual nature of progress. While the electric bulb symbolizes modern technology and progress, its harsh light serves as a stark contrast to the softer glow of the oil lamp. This contrast highlights the darker aspects of advancement, suggesting that alongside its benefits, as it grows to become more powerful, it also brings about death and destruction as it can be exploited for malevolent purposes. It is interesting that in 'Guernica' this light may indeed be more of a symbol of destruction rather than the common representation of light being creation as referenced in the book of genesis and throughout history and art.

Fig 1.8 Bull

Next, the bull, an arbitrary symbol that may symbolize the war itself; "bullfighting" which happens to be a somewhat relevant sport in Spain. This visually shows the viewer a clue of what war is taking place and where by making the reference to Spain. The bull also may represent facism, since as a whole, the painting itself was about the Spanish civil war between Spain's Republicans and Nationalists, it was made following the German bombing of Guernica(the town) after Nationalists had requested it, and the bull is an animal known for brute force, aggression, thus the bull may have been depicted as a symbol of the overwhelming force by Franco(the Spanish military general who led the Nationalists) and the fascist state.

Fig 1.9 Horse

Moving on to the horse, an arbitrary symbol that is the largest figure of the painting, residing in the center of the canvas, fittingly, as it most likely represents the Guernican people in their pain and suffering, this is made made obvious through the terrified expression of the horse as it screams out after stabbed- the horse may also be a reference to the "Four Horsemen of Apocalypse" as each horsemen represents something that can be tied to the painting and what it is about; death, famine, war, and conquest. Although another more hopeful meaning that could be derived from the horse is the defense and endurance of the Guernican people as horses are also companions in war, the horse, quite literally as well keeps its head "held up high"- potentially signifying the resist and retaliation of the Guernican people to facism.

Fig 2.0 Skull

Interestingly, after closer inspection of the horse, whether unintentionally or not, the picture of a skull can be seen when the nose, nostrils, and teeth of the horse are combined- even if unintentional, it still strongly carries the message and theme of the painting, as the most popular use of skulls in art representing death. Naturally, death is a consequence of war, though since the skull is attached to the horse which represent the Guernican people, perhaps it could mean unjust death- the innocent civilians lives, those who mostly had nothing to do with the war but were killed due to the heavy bombing of the town which almost annihilated the city, which wound up killing or injuring one third of the population- death at the time, was everywhere.

Fig 2.1 Dove

An abstract symbol that is harder to spot due to how it has been painted, the dove. Most of its body almost fades into the background with only one portion of it being brighter to help us distinguish its presence, it may have been painted this way to show how in war, there both good and bad intentions, "If there be light, then there is darkness". The dove traditionally represents "peace"- although in this context, it could be interpreted as the end of peace or destroyed peace as when you inspect more closely, an agonizing expression can be observed, furthermore only a part of its body is highlighted while the rest mostly fades into the background, though conversely, it could also be seen as the small glimmer of hope for peace. 

In my shorter summarised analysis, I will elaborate on each design principle and how it is demonstrated/showcased in the painting

Analysis

Firstly, contrast is shown through the lighter sections by drawing attention to the horrors depicted, emphasizing the figures and their suffering against the dark backdrop which is utilized to build upon shapes, figures, and objects, to create structure throughout, making the viewer instinctively perceive these as being either the foreground or background. This interplay between light and dark also creates a sense of depth and directs the viewer's focus. Then, there is repetition with triangles throughout the piece- whether direct or implied, invite the viewer to complete the shapes through the gestalt principle of closure. The use of geometric shapes and fragmented forms, characteristic of Cubism, simplifies the complexity of the scene while establishing visual coherence, while the repetition of angular shapes fosters the principle of similarity, linking disparate elements and unifying the composition. Specific instances, such as the horse and the lady figure, exemplify how closure and similarity manifest in the artwork. Despite the fragmented nature of their forms, they evoke a sense of completion, accentuating their despair and the overarching theme of the consequences of war both physically and emotionally, while proportion is manipulated to exaggerate certain features and injuries, intensifying the impact on the viewer. Additionally, the monochromatic color palette and its strategic use enhances visual coherence, thematic unity, and harmony with how each elements fit together to tell the story. In the absence of color, there's nowhere to hide, and no relief from the intensity of what's depicted. Neither is there a clear focal point, which may be purposeful as to overwhelm the viewer by bombarding them with excessive visuals that are difficult to comprehend all at once- similar to war. symbols, such as the eye, bull, horse, and dove, serve to convey deeper meanings within the narrative, reflecting themes of destruction, misery, death, resist, and hope amidst despair. Overall, Picasso's 'Guernica' transcends mere representation, employing design principles to evoke a visceral response from viewers by communicating the horrors of war while underlyingly calling for an end to it

(333 words)

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FEEDBACK

Week 3

Specific Feedback: Very good work so far, keep it up.

Week 4

Specific Feedback: I like how you've broken down each element to take the time to analyse them deeply as well as the language you use to describe the artwork

Week 5

Specific Feedback: Continue on with what you've done, its great so far. Excited to read it.

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REFLECTION

Looking back on Task 2 of Design principles, I found that it has significantly enriched my understanding of how design principles are applied in design, whether intentional and conscious, or not, and in the artwork I have chosen- along with further understanding the principles of design. My analytical abilities have definitely improved, as I looked into more potential possibilities, in even the most minute details. The task not only allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to a practical example, but also deepened my appreciation for the complexities inherent in artistic expression.

Through the process, I found that I seemed to have naturally developed a systematic approach to analyzing artwork. This allowed me to go through things by a step-by-step basis or list which involved careful observation, documentation, and analysis. By breaking down the painting into its constituent elements and identifying design principles, I gained insights into the underlying techniques employed by Picasso to convey his message.

Moreover, the task helped me develop a deeper appreciation for the power of visual communication. I'm glad I picked this particular art work- as 'Guernica' has such a poignant message that is able to communicate through visual language that transcends linguistic barriers, speaking directly to the viewer's emotions and conscience.

Additionally, the task facilitated a deeper engagement with the subject matter itself. By delving into the historical context surrounding 'Guernica' and exploring the symbolism embedded within the artwork, I gained a more nuanced understanding of its significance. 

Overall, the task of analyzing 'Guernica' through the lens of design principles was both educational and enlightening. It provided an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts to a real-world example, deepened my understanding of artistic expression, and fostered a greater appreciation for the power of visual communication. By engaging with the artwork in this way, I gained valuable insights into the complexities of art and its ability to provoke thought, evoke emotion, and inspire change.