Sketches

Theme : Environmentalism

Problem Statement :
The society that we have now are always ignoring the obvious environmental issues that revolves around them, even though they might be aware of them. Our future generations might not live in the greenery anymore, unlike us, who still have the luxury to enjoy breathing in clean air every now and then.
My main focus is on the grey, polluted city that we currently live in, and the reduction of amount of trees, as compared to how much we used to have.

Purpose of Content :
To bring awareness to the society about the problems, and possibly provide solutions to those who are unaware of the answers.

Research Question :
What will our future Earth turn into? What can we do to prevent the worst outcome to happen?

Step Ahead

Shows that it is our choice to make a change. The footprints indicate that we leave a mark every time we do something to Mother Nature.

Walk Away

This also shows that we should find time to step away from the dull, grey city, and immerse ourselves in Mother Nature more often.

Heaven & Hell

This shows the contradiction between paradise already provided by Mother Nature and the high rise buildings that we have in the city. The girl in the middle is looking at the difference between the two, and making her choice at that moment.

Reflection

This shows a person in front of a mirror, seeing the future himself/herself. It shows the Earth as being dried up, and the trees are all dead. The fire surrounding the mirror indicates that global warming has already happened, and the Earth is now overheated.
*Inspired from "Mirror of Erised" from the Harry Potter series.

Power to Stop

Shows the air pollution caused by factories. The big picture - the hand, shows that it is us, humans, who cause this upon ourselves. It is also us who have the power to stop this from continue happening.

One Piece

Shows a kid standing on the last piece of green grass. The surrounding is just pitch black darkness that symbolizes no more hope for the child, and the loneliness that he/she feels, as the adults are all gone (dead).

Directions

Actually a beanstalk, with branches and leaves showing multi-directions for humans to follow. The directions are actually choices left for us, meaning there are still a lot of things that we can do before the Earth is thoroughly polluted and destroyed.

Holding Up

Shows the weight of the world on a person's hand, as it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to protect the Earth, protect our home.
The artwork also shows the Yin and Yang in Chinese culture, representing the importance of balance in our life.

The Awakening Eyes

Shows that we are slowly opening our eyes to see that we need a better place for us to live in, but nothing can compare to our own home, The Earth.

The Lone Bird

Shows that there is only one last bird left. Represents the extinction of animals happening all around the world. The surrounding is full of colours, symbolizing the chaotic emotions felt by the only animal in the world.

The Fake Companion

Shows a bird mistaking some leaves as another bird, as it has suffered enough from being too lonely. Has the same meaning as "The Lone Bird", which is the extinction of animals.

Colourfied

Shows a person sick of looking at this dull, grey world, and just choose to colour the world using his own imagination.

The Seed

Shows that we can always plant a seed, plant a tree, to help conserve the environment. It is surrounded by small rocks, signifying that the Earth is near to being dried up.

Reaching Out

Shows that a person is reaching out to another, symbolizing that there is actually still hope for us. The background is a bright and sunny blue sky, signifying the un-polluted world.

Weighing The Difference

Idea came from wanting to tell everyone that a tree can only make so much paper. The value of a tree is so much more when compared to a stack of papers.

Top three sketches :

Hourglass

Shows an hourglass containing a tree within. Actually symbolizes that as time goes on, tree decays as well.
Side note : If you rotate the artwork in 180 degrees, it actually shows a dead tree, with its roots constantly being polluted by smoke.


Elements:
Lines - Lines are seen spreading out from the center for the branches and roots
Shapes - A clear view of two semi-circles for the top and bottom of the hourglass. No clear shapes for the leaves of the tree.
Value - Will have a high contrast of light colours on the leaves part and dark colours on the root part to show the difference between the two.
Colours - Mostly green, brown, black, and blue will be used. Might add other colours to add to the mood of the design.
Texture - Smooth texture.
Alignment - It is aligned in a top/bottom arrangement to show the difference between the two parts.
Proportion - The hourglass is proportioned to be larger than the tree, which is a surreal situation. This is to tell the viewers the message of time trickling past us each and every day.
Eye movement - Viewers will have their focus on the hourglass immediately, then slowly move from top to bottom to analyse what the hourglass is representing.

Principles:
Hierarchy - The main focus is on the hourglass, then slowly,
Balance - Contains a-symmetrical balance for top and bottom.
Rhythm/Repetition - There are repetition for the branch and trees.
Unity/Variety - Much variety in terms of the branching out of leaves and roots.

Solitude

Shows a homeless man sitting in the midst of garbage bags. He is the only person left on Earth, surrounded by the dump left by human who does not know the importance of recycling, and thus the immense amount of rubbish produced.
*Inspired from "Wall-E"


Elements:
Lines - Not much diagonal lines. Lines are, however, used to construct the human sitting in the center.
Shapes - Consist more of irregular shapes for the rubbish bags.
Value - Relatively low contrast of colours to convey the dark mood of solitude.
Colours - Colours used for the human would be black, and the colours surrounding the human would be in dark chaotic colours. This might interchange as process goes on.
Texture - Smooth texture.
Proportion - The size of the human in the middle is larger as compared to the other visual elements to create an emphasis on the human.
Eye movement - Focus will go straight to the middle (the human) and consequently move in circular or top-to-bottom motion, depending on viewers.

Principles:
Hierarchy - Main focus is on the human.
Balance - Not much symmetric balance in the sketch. However, balance between each garbage bag is almost similar.
Proximity - The garbage bags in the background are put in small distance within one another.
Rhythm/Repetition - Repetition of garbage bags in the background.
Unity/Variety - Not much variety in the sketch as there are lots of repetition.

In The Orb

Shows a person holding the orb, containing the only tree left surviving. There are three persons instead of one there, to show that it is the responsibility of all three races in Malaysia to preserve and conserve the environment.

Elements:
Lines - Not much diagonal lines. Lines are used to branch out leaves and roots.
Shapes - Only geometrical shape in the sketch is the circle, providing an outline for the orb.
Value - High contrast of light and dark between the orb and the surrounding background.
Colours - Wide ranged of colours used.
Texture - Smooth texture.
Proportion - Size of the orb is enlarged to provide focus to it.
Eye movement - First glance will focus on the orb containing the tree, then the eye movement will move in a circular movement, be it in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

Principles:
Hierarchy - Main focus is on the tree in the orb.
Balance - Symmetric balance shown when there's equal amount of humans placed around the orb.
Rhythm/Repetition - Repetition occurs at the branches, roots, and humans.
Unity/Variety - Unity is shown because the humans are all portrayed to be looking in the same direction.