Following on from Cheongsam Series #4, where I made a 3D canvas in the form of a Cheongsam (traditional Chinese dress also known as Qipao) and I painted part of the Blue Willow pattern design on the canvas after researching its history. The reason for the Blue Willow design is explained in the Cheongsam Series #4 blog and after reflecting on the work, I decided that although I enjoyed the making process, I didn’t care enough about the Blue Willow pattern topic to make another painting on the subject to form a series. It was a very useful first attempt of that way of making (3D dress canvas) and I learnt a lot. I am keen to make another Cheongsam canvas but with a different approach to the design. I wanted something more vibrant and contemporary. Whilst mulling over ideas and looking for inspiration online, I was presented with an image of Andy Warhol’s banana:
I like the pop art banana and something about it made me want to paint it. Then I remembered the word ‘banana’ being used a lot in the 1980s and 90s to describe ‘Westernised’ Chinese people (yellow on the outside but white on the inside). I remember that very well and since my art practice is about exploring identity, Warhol’s banana image being presented to me online seemed like it was meant to be.
I researched to see if the word banana in this context is still being used. I found many articles about it and this blog from an East Asian reporter from Radio New Zealand was very interesting as it describes the background to the use of the word ‘banana’ in this context and also talks about why its use has become popular again as a result of the Hollywood film ‘Crazy Rich Asians’:
The article reminded me of how I was often called a banana by friends at boarding school and university. I didn’t find it offensive, it was a word that we talked and joked about a lot between ‘bananas’ during the 1980s and 90s. All those memories and the fact that the use of the word is on the rise again made me feel that I had to make this painting.
METHOD
I have started to use Adobe Fresco as my digital sketchbook and I made a design using the Fresco app. I used images of Warhol’s banana as well as another image that I adapted to show a half peeled banana revealing the whiteness inside. I decided on a bright green colour (as close to neon green as I could get it) as the background because I wanted this to be a piece of pop art on a Chinese Cheongsam dress – an unlikely and unexpected combination that challenges traditions.
Below is the image creation process captured as a time-lapse video by Fresco:
–
REFLECTIONS
Although this is work-in-progress and I have only done the digital sketch so far, I was happy with how the time-lapse video worked in Fresco. Presenting my digital sketch work in this way was a suggestion in my MA Unit One feedback. I am pleased that I experimented with the Fresco function as I want to do more with video and moving images in my practice.
I recently showed ‘Cheongsam Series #4 – Appropriation. Appropriation.’ in our MA class group crit where my colleagues suggested I could try screen-printing for the next dress. Although screen-printing is well suited to this design, I decided to paint the dress like I did with the last dress because I enjoy painting. I haven’t had enough of painting on a dress canvas yet so I want to do more.
In a recent MA class discussion, we talked about the making process vs the product. The discussion made me realise how much more I enjoy and value the research and making process than the product. In fact, once I have finished a painting or a piece of art work, I often feel rather indifferent towards the product. I have no desire to display them in my home let alone think about selling them. I love the process of research, ideas generation, making and problem solving along the way. Once it’s finished then I want to move on for the next ‘fix’ – i.e. I find the process of creating addictive.
LEARNING
Reflecting on the MA class discussion about process vs product has helped me to understand why I have no interest in displaying my art and how I often just want to move onto starting the next project. However, I wonder if there’s more to it than that – why am I indifferent to my creations? I will log this thought and come back to thinking about it at a later stage.
NEXT STEPS
Make the banana dress painting and use the creative process to explore the identity of a ‘banana’.
elizarawlings 