Frances Stark

David Hockney - Artwork

The reason for going to the new Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery was to see the David Hockney echibitions that was on. I loooooooove his photomontages.

Unfortunately, there was no photomontages. However, I got to see a lot of his artwork which normally I woudn't of bothered to look at or research. It was really interesting to see his other styles and learn more about him.

I was overwhelmed by "A Bigger Splash" and really do recommend to anyone to go see it. Seeing it in books and on a screen doesn't compare.

- David Hockney, A Bigger Splash, 1967

- David Hockney Rake's Progress, Plate number 1, 1962

Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery

Just before Christmas I went to the new Nottingham Contempoary Art Gallery. There has been quite alot of hype about it being featured in grafik and on some TV shows. I wasn't a massive fan of the building. I like the concept of putting lace over the eterior concrete, its a really nice mixture of textures and really brings the building into the area of Nottingham which it is set (Lace Market). The stains downstairs have a real modernist feel to them too with concrete being used for the floors, walls and ceiling. It is really nice as they haven't treated the concrete, it is pure.

Graphic Design can appear in unlikely places, in this case on a seat. The Gallery has used the logo as a seating point, quite tricky to see in my photos but its quite a clever idea. I like how it lines up right when viewed straight on, but as you move the letters become disjointed. I like!

The logo is a bit weird... back to front. Well... very weird as they have loads which I cant understand at all. If you look through the guide every page has a different logo by a different artist, not designer. WHY!?

UK Cycle Lanes

Constructing meaning from visual images The cycle lane symbol was first defined in the UK's Traffic Sign Regulations in 1982 but since then it has been open to interpretation but sign painters. This has resulted in alot of variation for the cycle lane sign. As I walked down the street I never before realised the variation as they all have the same chacteristics and it has become such a well known sign we simply see the general shape and overlook the details. I think this shows a great strength in the ability of signs and symbols.

- UK cycle lane paintings, documented by Phil Carter

The Elephant's Memory

Constructing meaning from visual images The Elephant's Memory created by Timothee Ingen-Housz was created with the intention of being used to replace written text, a universal pictorial language .he name "The Elephant's Memory" plays on the fact that a huge amount of people would need to learn and remember all they symbols and their meanings for it to be successful. I don't think it works very well as I can't understand most of the symbols on their own, and when placed together to form a sentence I find it even harder!

- The Elephant's Memory, Timothee Ingen-Housz

- "Seeing elephants shot by men makes me cry" sentance using The Elephant's Memory

Emoticons

Constructing meaning from visual images When computers became more accessible, the emoticon appeared. It was a way of informing others of the tone of voice of a particular section of text. The letterforms and glyphs are used to create an image to represent a facial expression, acting as a visual metaphor. We can communicate a whole range of emotions through emoticons such as anger, happiness, shocked etc...

- sample of Emoticons, created around the 1980's

Flight Safety

Constructing meaning from visual images I think these oxygen mask instructions are quite funny in how varied they are. All of them appear as information graphics and have an instruction manual feel to them. I think it is interesting how most using an arrow have chosen red, to demonstrate an order. Most of these message are clear to understand and we would know what to do, but some leave alot to the imagination such as the first in the middle row which just shows the mask attached and an arrow. Some just make me smile, such as the woman with a chin to put Desperate Dan to shame at the end of the top row, and the other woman who seems to be suffocating from her oxygen mask, bottom right, how ironic.

- Range of flight safety symbols from different airlines

Golden Record

Constructing meaning from visual images When I came across this, I was amazed. In 1977, the "Golden Record" was sent into outer space with 2 space probes, The Golden Record was intended to communicate the story of earth and human existence to extraterrestrials. Jon Lomberg designed a series of silhouetted images to go with the Golden Record. I think they work really well to us and we can understand the meaning. However, when it come to extraterrestrials... that might be another story. Symbols work for us as we can relate them to things, but these little green aliens surely wont have the same understanding and won't be able to relate them to anything.

- Jon Lomberg silhouette images sent with the Voyage Space Probe

Favicons

Constructing meaning from visual images Favicons are those tiny images displayed in the address bar of your internet oage. They are designed as a support for the webpage you are on and also be shown in your favourites or bookmarks. When seen on its own, if it is one we use regularly or a well known brand/site we should instantly recognise it. it should work as a visual synecdoche.

- range of Favicons found on www.1stwebdesigner.com

Roadsigns

Constructing meaning from visual images Traffic warning signs are easily understood by the public and help us to be safe on the roads. The effectively communicate things we should be aware of on the roads and most of the time we just need to glance at them to understand the message. Traffic signs use visual synecdoche to show a small aspect to represent a larger concern. By just showing an aeroplane doesn't automatically say "low flying aircraft" but we have come to know that is the message being communicated.

- sample of UK roadsigns

- Exeter August 2000, Interdimensional Pixie Broadcast Network