Nalye L.

Y O U R _E V E R Y _M O V E

______[©nalyelor]There's problems everywhere- whether it be in a kindergarten classroom to the meeting room of some big company, to conflict between two nations. This project is all about these problems. We were to choose a conflict and express it on the carving board. I had many initial ideas as to what issues I should address creatively. First, I started with some man vs. self concepts, then I moved onto man vs. nature. However, I just wasn't satisfied with the sketches for them. I don't know why but they weren't enough. So I brainstormed more problems. I came up with gender vs. gender. I did some sketches for that too but they weren't very original. Then, on a whim, I drew a thumbnail similar to an image I had seen before: a woman sitting on a chair that was held up by multiple men stacked on top of each other. That image led me to power and persuasion, and eventually manipulation.
______[©nalyelor The ideas that drive my pieces are most important to me. It is also the part that I struggle most with, probably because of its importance. "Your Every Move" can be interpreted in many ways. I must admit that I enjoy having it that way. Besides, it's not like they're incorrect exactly (since I'll most likely agree with their meaning)- they just did not see it the way that I did while making it. Individuals are always being taken advantage of, whether it be by society, the people around them, or even themselves. It's kind of like Cooley's social psychological concept of "the looking-glass self".

______[©nalyelor]I tried my best to portray some sort of stage (there's an audience, the spotlight glass under the puppet, and the curtains). I also tried using texture and contrast. These helped separate the positive and negative spaces, giving emphasis to the light parts. The textures help emphasize that both figures are puppets: the puppet is being controlled by yet another mere puppet. In fact, it could even represent that they are being controlled by none other than their very own self.

______[©nalyelor]This conflict relief printing assignment was very enjoyable. Printing is always so exhilarating. When you carve, you can easily make a mistake, but sometimes those mistakes make it even better or you're forced to turn the mistake into something great. Even worse is trying to duplicate perfect prints. It's tough but very much worth it. Just like that, conflict always surrounds us. I don't necessarily think that my piece has a 'best part', but the puppets sure can stand on their own without the background. Personally, I believe that every aspect brings it together as one wonderful, best part.