jacqueline oh

Fall 2012 Thesis 1 Jacqueline Oh

CONCEPT

WORD LIST

INTRODUCTION

I am intersted in exploring ideas of isolation as formal and conceptual gesture in a variety of different mediums.

In a literal sense, isolation means to be aloneor apart from others, without relation to it is astate of being that is often enhanced in an urban environment.

Other people on things, to seperate. My thesis will investigate how ideas ofisolation becomes visible in differentenvironment , medium and formats.

01INTRO : ABOUT ISOALTION

CAUSE OF ISOLATION

Thesis : Jacqueline Oh

ABOUT ISOLATION

INTRO : ABOUT ISOALTION 02


“It’s more than ‘just’ a feeling and can be as bad for your health as smoking”Becky Squires, AARP Foundation,

May 23, 2012

Although researchers began looking at the effects of isolation on people in the late 1970s, studies on isolation have become more common in the past 15 years. Discovering how isolation contributes to the hunger, housing and income problems many seniors face and seeking workable solutions to those problems is the task of AARP Foundation’s Isolation Impact team.

1.The need for social connection is rooted in our basic urge to survive, and is wired into the neurons in our brains. As we evolved from relatively weak, small mam-mals, we became a dominant species because of our ability to form social connec-tions and because our brains expanded to meet this need.

2. Isolation is not a mental disease, but a situation that can and does lead to health changes. Health studies show that older, isolated people have much higher rates of mortality from breast cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and other chronic diseases.

3. Caregiving often triggers isolation. The number of people providing unpaid care for a friend or relative rose 23 percent to 54 million — from 2004 to 2009, and that number continues to grow. Caregivers often work by themselves, and more than half.

4. 53 percent say they have less time for friends and family. All too often, they don’t call doctors when they are sick, and they have little or no time to exercise or eat well. Studies show that up to 70 percent of care-givers have clinically significant symptoms of depression.

READINGS 03

READING LIST


The Death and Life of Great American Cities , Jane JacobsThe Tortilla Curtain , T.C BoyleThe Arts Of the Beautiful , Etienne GilsonI Miss My Pencil , Martin Bone Kara Jonson

PHOTOGRAPHYPETER BAKER

IMAGE COLLECTION 04


Depiction of isolation and loneliness in Peter Baker’s photographs it is both romantic and sad. especially evi-dent in the rural towns he photographs, but it’s also apparent in the metropolitan cities he shoots. Chicago, Portland, and Brooklyn can be just as lonely as Epsilon,MI, Fargo, ND, or Mosfell, Iceland .

Iceland, 2008In a name , 2006

IMAGE COLLECTION 05

PHOTOGRAPHYHIROSHI SUGIMOTO

Theater series by Hiroshi Sugimoto represents isolationof people in places like movie places and drive-in spots were built as communal gathering places. Contrast between absence of people and the theater also shows solitude.The white screens stand as a symbol of the technologically innovative role the cinema once played in American cultural history.

The screens seem to serve as a metaphorical beacon, calling on the viewer to acknowledge the significance these theatres held in their time for their audiences.There is also something sad and poignant in their message. In their time, they would have played to packed houses. Yet, in the light of the screens, the theatres are revealed to be empty. The void on the screens is complemented by the void in the theatres.


U.A Play House , 1978 TRI, CIty Drive In , 1993

IMAGE COLLECTION 06

PHOTOGRAPHYANDREAS GURSKY

The perspective in many of Gursky’s photographs is drawn from an elevated vantage point. This position enables the viewer to encounter scenes, encompassing both centre and periphery, which are ordinarily beyond reach. Visually, Gursky is drawn to large, anonymous, man-made spaces—high-rise facades at night, office lobbies, stock exchanges

Isolation and solitude both presents in Gursky’sphotographs of 99cents and the factory scene.Isolation of people in factory and isolation ofobject in 99cents captures how none of them areinteracting with each other .The theme of isolation expands even further when the idea of the millions targeted by mass is superimposed on the crowd that physically present.


99 Cent . 1999.Chromogenic color print. 6 ‘ 9 1/2” x 11’ (207 x 337 cm). Factory . 1999.Chromogenic color print. 6 ‘ 9 1/2” x 11’ (207 x 337 cm).

IMAGE COLLECTION 07

SCULPTUREROBERT GOBER

Robert Gober’s sculptures call everyday objects into question and what he discovers in calling the common into question, is the disquieting, the disarming, the unnerving and the disconcerting. Taking objects a bed, a crib, a door, the accoutrements of a pet which, while anonymous are also universal,

he plays with the tension between the neutered forms and the strong emotional and physical connotations we attach to them. In the alchemy of transforming these objects, Gober transforms a viewer’s emotional and physical reality; the common made uncommon.He represents isolation through an object in a literal way


Untitled (Leg), 1989-90, beeswax, cotton, wood, leather and human hair, Museum of Modern Art, New York

Untitled, 2005–2006. Steinzeug, Baumwolle, Aluminiumfolie, Öllack- und Acrylfarbe, 73 x 53,3 x 75 cm

Untitled1999-2000Plaster, beeswax, human hair, cotton, leather, aluminum pull tabs, enamelpaint 50 3/4 x 47 x 26 1/4 inches; 129 x 119.5 x 67 cm

IMAGE COLLECTION 08

SCULPTURETHOMAS DEMAND

Demand makes a point of not providing the viewer with any background information. Even the works’ titles are hard to find, placed behind glass on wooden tables next to each piece. Nevertheless, this complete separation of image and text is integral to the exhibition: none of the images shows any textual information and where there should have been text in “real life”, like on a cigarette machine or an emergency exit sign, it’s been excluded from the paper model.

A master of illusion, Demand carefully incorporates small yet visible imperfections into his otherwise meticulous cardboard models. His photos are taken from perspec-tives which make sure these flaws are detectable. The result is often an image that is slightly wrong, evoking a sense of discomfort, violence and danger. images. As a representation of an object instead of the object itself, the spatial reconstructions lend themselves to interpretation.


Studio, 1997, C-Print / Diasec, 183,5 x 349,5 cm Copyshop, 1999 Courtesy of Victoria Miro Gallery, London

IMAGE COLLECTION 09

GRID SYSTEMJOSEP BROCKMAN

Simplicity and clarity isn’t just for visual designers as developers and architects should also try and achieve clear designs that focus on a set of core messages. A well-designed architecture will arrange independent components in an orchestration that has a certain clarity and symmetry to it, pretty much like one of Josep Müller Brockmann’s posters.

There will be well-defined relationships between each element. Nothing will be added unless it’s really required. The overall purpose will be clear.The parallels between good architecture and graphic design aside, if you’re working in interface development then it’s important to develop some kind of appreciation of visual design.


Posters designed by Josep Muller Brockman

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PROJECT1 CARNIVAL

Absence of people in the carvival shows both isolation and solitude. Carnival is the place where supposed to be filled with crowded people but my phtographs focuses on emptiness to juxstapose isolation.


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PROJECT1 CARNIVAL


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PROJECT1 :CARNIVAL


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PROJECT1 CARNIVAL


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PROJECT1 :CARNIVAL


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PROJECT1 CARNIVAL


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PROJECT1CARNIVAL


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PROJECT1CARNIVAL


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PROJECT2PUBLIC SPACE


Isolation in public spaces with mass people.Existance in same public space in physical formbut emotional seperation caused isolation. ; People doing own things.

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Image of people in line

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Institutional Isolation : Image of Absence of student in school

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Institutional Isolation : Image of Absence of student in school

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Object in isolated forms

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PROJECT3ISOLATION IN SCENES


Isolation and everyday life of people drawing on transparent plastic

Literal way of representing isolation of peoplein their life by working on illustration on transparentand I explored with how images could isolated fromphysical medium.

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Shape of isolation dwarn from peple survey

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PROJECT4 ISOLATION IN LABORS


Image of worker in Chinese fisn market taken from outside of the window

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EXPLORATIONS

PROJECT4 ISOLATION IN LABORS


Image of cooks in Canal Street taken from outside of the window

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EXPLORATIONS

PROJECT4ISOLATION IN LABORS


Image of labors in Whole Foods located in Union Square

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EXPLORATIONS

PROJECT5 ISOLATION IN FORMS


still images from my video work

Video communicates through the betta fish as a metahpor of people in urban environment. Wild betta fish eat almost anything in its living environment. Contrast between isolation of the betta fish and people confined in work places represents isolation in different forms.

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EXPLORATIONS

PROJECT5ISOLATION IN FORMS


Still images from my video work

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EXPLORATIONS

PROJECT5ISOLATION IN FORMS


still images from my video work

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THESIS PROPOSAL

PROPOSAL

I will continue to focus on ideas ofisolation becomes visible in differentenvironment , medium and formats.

Three series of videos will representsspecific forms of isolation by differnetsettings , times , moods

I would like expand more further on how forms of isolation could be translatedinto an art form.