Life Cycle Photograms and photographs

Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy uses the environment and things we would come across in our everyday lives as the main aspect of his photography work, this adds a more realistic effect and relates to us more so the audience will be able to have a better bond with his work.

The first that came to my head when I looked at this piece was autumn as the leaves are a mixture of red, yellow and orange which are typical autumn colours. The first thing I noticed was the pitch black hole in the very centre of the image, this makes the image look 3D like its a dark tunnel or a hole in the floor which has been built up from leaves that have fallen from the trees. A theory that I came up with from this image is that it may represent the reality of life. In life we are always made to believe that 'there is always a light at the end of the tunnel', in this image it represents both as the outside starts of dark with no colour, then it goes into the bright colourful leaves, and then goes into the black hole which shows that at the end is not very bright as the end of life means death. This photograph could also represent an eye with the black circle being the pupil.

Goldsworthy has made the leaves to look very texturised putting the range of colours on different levels. I think his aim was to make the audience think about the deeper meaning behind this picture and not just the obvious that is could represent autumn.

Personally I like this photograph because it could have many deep meanings behind it and it makes your mind think of all the possibilities. I like the colours used and they are very eye catching as its on a dark background. The texture of the leaves and the background are very clear and contrasty, this makes the image look more real and look more 3D and levelled. Overall I find this piece very good and cannot see much features I dislike about it.

Bill Viola - The Nantes Triptych

The Nantes Triptych was created by Bill Viola as his own form of spiritual iconography. The three panels of images are of a baby at birth on the left,  the right image is of an elderly woman in the process of death, and the middle image is of someone in floating in water which shows a part of the two combined together hence why it is positioned in the middle. The birth was inspired by Violas first son born in 1988 which was filmed at a child birth clinic in California, the floating body was filmed in a swimming pool, and the last was filmed by Viola as his mother was dying in a coma back in 1991.

The first thing that came to my mind when looking at this set of images was life and the journey we go through in life which is life and death. These images are quite dark and have a meaning behind them. The middle image of the person under the water has a hand pulling them which may symbolise someone dying and at the same time someone is trying to help them to keep them alive which is a combination of life and death. The importance of this sequence is the beginning of life and the end of life, the journey of life isn't the most important factor here.

The colours used symbolise the images well. The first image is of a baby, the babes face is a smooth pink which looks warming and humble which reflects a baby as being a blessing. The second image isn't as warming as the first as it uses a kind of gloomy blue with shades of black. The final image is depressing and has not much contrast giving it a grey tone which represents the old man being lifeless with no colour or brightness.

I think that the artists intentions were to make the audience think about the most important stages of our lives and to show that in life the most important thing is the beginning and the end. When a baby is born it is a new life which for parents is the most important part of their lives and the best feeling in the world. When someone is in a coma on the verge of death it is the worst feeling and the most important thing also. 

Personally i am not quite fond of this piece as it is quite serious and from seeing a new born baby to seeing death is quite a depressing thing to see. Apart from that I think that the meaning behind Viola's Nantes Triptych is very deep and a lot of thought went into it, it also has a serious effect on the audience and makes them think about the important stages of life.

Life Cycle Mood Board

Life Cycle Mind Map