Author: Elva Rodriguez-Formisano

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Cataloguing

MAGCD 1 | 2 • 2 Work + Feedback

HAKUJA (Snake)

Hakujya is the Japanese White Snake, a symbol of good fortune. 

Crossing the road of a snake is a good omen and they deliver wealth.

They are considered a god of luck. Associated with Japanese Buddhism, it represents art, music and eloquence. 

KAERU (Frog)

Kaeru is the Japanese Frog, and means “to return”.

It’s a symbol of spring, fertility and good fortune. 

They are often given as lucky charms or thoughtful gift to return safely to a place. 

KITSUNE (Fox)

Kitsune is the intelligent Japanese Fox, with paranormal powers.

They can be found near Irani shrines which are red Shinto gates.

They grow a tail every hundred years as they get wiser and stronger powers, and can only grow up to nine tails. 

KOMAINU (Lion-Dog)

Komainu are Lion Dog guardian statues at entrances of temples and shrines. 

They are a pair or guardians, a female and a male lion dog.

The famale sits on the left with her mouth closed and the male sits on the right with his mouth open. 

TANUKI (Racoon-Dog)

Tanuki is a Japanese Racoon Dog with a reputation for magic and mischief.

Associated with the gods, they can shapeshift and are popular for pranks.

Their habitat is the forests, they have large eyes with black fur mask around the eyes, and, long and puffy fur. 

TATSU (Dragon)

Tatsu is the serpentine-like Japanese Dragon, a water deity.

Originated in Shintoism, Tatsu has four claws and superpowers.

They live in palaces at the bottom of the sea or ocean, or in other secluded places such rivers and lakes. 

TSURU (Crane)

Tsuru is the Japanese Crane, symbol of success and good fortune.

They are very popular and represent longetivity and happiness.

Tsuru are an inspiration to artists and appear often represented in prints and variety of artistic objects. 

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Cataloguing

MAGCD 1 | 2 • 1 Work + ✐ Tutorial Notes

Uncompleted brief: To this point I have only analysed the content of the set. There is no manipulation or highjacking of the elements to create something new.

✐ Tutorial Notes

☞ Feedback:

• “Analytical point of view not creative at all”

• Look at Japanese Woodblock prints

• Look at grids and rules of image composition

• The idea is to look at the pictures in a different way or in more detail

✶ References:

• Whole Earth Catalogue

▶︎ Try next:

• Take elements and combine into one

• Remove the colour or look at the colour palette of the images

• Cropping in different to discover something new

• Look at the detail of the pictures

• Contextualise / break them / change medium of work

• Try reading the required reading material to see if it sparks any ideas

❄︎ Reflections :

• When analysing the content of this set, I did not think ahead of what could be the outcome or what medium to use to create “something new” with it. I only observed the content of the photographs, although arguably perhaps superficially and too literally.

• Some comments mentioned in this session were not constructive or helpful.

• A helpful comment from a creative colleague of mine from outside UAL, was: “When I feel stuck on a project, it’s usually because I overlooked something, did not do enough research or missed a step. It could be useful for you to go back to the start and the brief to find if you missed anything that can help you push it forward”.

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Cataloguing

MAGCD 1 | 2 • 1 Japanese Photographs

Methods of Cataloguing | Part 1 Japanese Photographs Set

Harvard Library : Early Photography of Japan : Japanese Photographs of the Meiji Period, Volume 1. Widener Library (52 items)

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Investigating

MAGCD 1 | 1 Written Response

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Investigating

MAGCD 1 | 1 • 3 Work + Feedback

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Investigating

MAGCD 1 | 1 • 2 ✐ Tutorial Notes

“Nike by you” former Nike ID rebranded by NY based agency Gretel.

⭐︎ Feedback :

• Try removing the UCA Logo as it can limit you

• Try layering elements of the space such graphics / materials / colours, etc.

• Experiment simplifying different space configurations

• Look at the prompts, be critical at the methods you are using

• Try creating a symbol per texture/material/colour or any data. Then try layering the symbols.

❤︎ References :

• Ilona Sagar

• The other side: Emotional map of Brexit Britain

• Olivier Kugler

☞ Next :

• Finish creating all the swatches of patterns, colours, textures, etc.

• Consider animating layers

• Look into ways to incorporate braille.

• Try to create something new

• Mosaic?

☾ Reflections :

• At the moment I only see swatches. I have collected all these elements and I am not quite sure what to do with them. At the end of last week I wanted to put them all together in a poster, like a Pantone poster and add funny names underneath each swatch.

• Today, the work so far makes me think of Nike by you (former Nike ID). I can visualise dressing or creating “personalised” versions of the UCA logo by adding different patterns, colours, on each of the blocks/lines. There could be infinite variations.

• Possible creative outcomes I can visualise are: collection of illustrated posters, a flip book of swatches, an app, an animation, even a mosaic…

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Investigating

MAGCD 1 | 1 • 2

Methods of Investigating | Part 2

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Methods of Investigating

MAGCD 1 | 1 • 1 ✐ Tutorial Notes

⭐︎ Feedback :

• My work is too rigid

• Try to be more organic

• Consider the private spaces
within public spaces


❤︎ References :

• Dear Data

• Vernacular

• Ellen Lupton

☞ Next :

• Look into visually communicating the textures of the space

• Look at the pattern of words found within the space (public information)

• Create a visual package “like a visual capsule” of the space

• Catalogue all details

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Investigating

Moonage Daydream

Notes related to MAGCD:

In the film, Bowie talks about his search for artistic expression via different methods, including, new and different methods of writing music. For example, writing music that simulates visual thought processes, challenging himself to play for a period of time different notes without repetitions or changing the role of instruments.

Some of these methods can be adjusted and/or applied to our own processes to create work.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes him and his music, and/or wishes to immerse themselves in the creative mind of David Bowie.

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MAGCD 1 Methods of Investigating

MAGCD 1 | 1 • 1 UCA

Methods of Investigating | Part 1

SITE : UCA, Rochester Lecture Hall

To be continued…