Exbibition Development

Exhibition Development I have decided to develop my initial research and analysis of artworks to create exhibition designs based on theme of death in art . The name my exhibition is ‘MortalitÊ’ French for mortality, linking to my theme of the representation of death in art through time .

I am focussing the exhibition on how death is represented visually and by the use of symbolism , for example the use of a Momento Mori in art. Continuing on from my analysis I will develop my own recording by drawings and photography surrounding the subject of death in art.

Following on from this I am going to analyse existing advertising material to then crate poster designs, tickets, a leaflet, exhibition design and finally model for my final outcome , focussing on artworks I have chosen, relevant to my theme of Death.

Font Development To develop my advertising I have looked at different fonts for my exhibition title.

I have looked at 12 different fonts ranging from calligraphic, decorative to more simplistic. The fonts below on the right stood out the most because they are lightly more simplistic and I think they would be effective when used with my own imagery and photography which may be more complex.

Simple fonts

Decorative fonts

Bold fonts

Digitally manipulating Title

Original font To develop my own title and font I have looked at created a font using the clipping mask on Photoshop and using images of real paintings in my text .

For the first font using the clipping bask I used imagery of rows of skulls, I think this worked well because of the dark areas contrasting with the light but I would rather have more colour rather than monotone.

For the second font deign I used roses to add more colour and texture and I think it works well and could compliment a poster with a darker background .

For the last font design I used the clipping mask with a font I liked , and used the image of The Raft of the Medusa , I think this is on of the strongest of the three as the darkness of the image works well with the clipping mask.

Exhibition logo Ideas After looking at fonts for the title of my exhibition I have now looked at logo ideas for a gallery. The designs of existing posters and advertising material I have looked at have an exhibition logo included so I have decided to create my own called ‘Royal Victoria Gallery’

These logos I have found are from a range of art galleries and exhibitions from the UK and abroad and all have different styles. For my advertising development I would like to create a logo similar to the style of the V&A using only letters in a block bold font.

Although I would like to create a simple exhibition logo similar to the V&A I have looked at ways of overlapping text to create a logo similar to this logo from the art gallery of alberta . The logo is simply 3 initial with the centre letter being darker and the outer letters lighter , set as a transparent colour which when overlapped creates a layered effect of colour

For this logo idea I have tried to replicate the overlapping effect of the logo above , using Photoshop I manipulated the text and colour options and I think this is effective but may not suit my style of my posters and monochrome colour palette.

For my logo design I have decided to replicate the V&A logo as I like the simplistic and sophisticated style of the lettering . I have used the initials of the ‘Royal Victoria Gallery’ along with a crown shape combined to create this final logo .

I think this works well as it can fit well into a poster design and compliment the overall appearance .

Clipping mask Fonts Using the same clipping mask method as for my other logo designs I have created two logos using images . The first logo design uses my own photography of black and white roses which I think works well although it is not as bold and defined as I would like it to be Own photography of dying flowers , edited to black and white

For the second logo using the same font I have used a painting as the fill image. The painting is a still life / Vanitas painting which works well with my theme of death. The colour palette also make this logo much bolder and would work well on a poster or other advertising.

Vanitas themed painting/ still life

To start my own posters and advertising material I decided to use my own photographs and some secondary images symbolising death, to create a Momento Mori style line drawing. I made the drawing linear and simple as I would like to digitally manipulate the image which could then become a logo and an element in my poster designs.

Original drawing, simple line

Warped image using digital manipulation

Original image repeated

I have decided to use my original drawing repeated as I like the repeated forms such as how the pocket watch looks at the centre of the image. I have now looked at different colourways and line variations I could use as a final design , for example a bolder posterized line and simple block colours .

After creating my own drawings and choosing a font for my title I have made this possible logo that could be used in my advertising material . I have repeated the drawings to create this spiral effect , with the stopwatches meeting at the center which I think works well as I like the simple line drawing effect with this font .

Analysis of existing art exhibition posters

Bold, bright background made up of lots of relevant imagery, eyecatching and attracts viewer

Exhibition logo is large and bold which stands out from the busy background White information box to contrast with bright colours , includes info on the exhibition e.g. title, date , location, contact details

Primary Research I have looked at the International poster design book , ‘Up Against The Wall’ written by Russell Bestley and Ian Noble to research poster designs. The first set of advertising posters I have looked at were produced in the UK to promote events for the design and education research project called ‘ We interrupt the Programme’ 1999-2000. The posters use photo shopped, manipulated imagery with bold text in a carefully chosen font which contrasts well with the imagery used. The posters are simple yet effective for their purpose of showing a modern approach to art, design and media.

I like these poster designs because they include both imagery and bold text which work well together. I also think the use of digital manipulation could be part of my poster designs; I will look at manipulating imagery from painting or photography and incorporating them into my posters along with a modern twist for example the font and graphics used .

Each poster deign features a different bold block title that matches the information at the bottom

Digitally manipulated imagery/photographs take up most of the space on the poster , the colours also compliment and work well with the white text and font chosen

Relevant Information; time, date ,location ect

Use of original painting alongside a modern image creates a contrast

Manipulated imagery and distorted text gives a modern feel to the poster

Poster design for an exhibition in The Courtauld Institute of Fine Art The poster is split into 4 triangular sections using different imagery, photography and collaged imagery.

This works well as the colours are bold and eye-catching and it is a very geometric and artistic approach to a modern poster.

Matching the gallery logo , the information section is small and hidden in the corner .

Although the title of this text is bigger and bold , the text is quite hard to read but does not detract from the imagery of the poster

Bold title/logo of exhibition directly in centre , bringing the four sections of imagery together.

Very small gallery logo , although it does compliment with the colour of the dark imagery behind

Poster Design 1

For my first poster design I have used my own drawings which I have then digitally manipulated to create the design above.

Using Photoshop I used this image along with Andy Warhol’s Electric Chair image as my background which I have faded, to give emphasis and focus on my own imagery and the exhibition title directly in the centre .

Because this was an initial design I have not added any information to the poster as I wanted to focus on the imagery which I can then improve and develop.

Poster Design 2 For my second poster design I have used imagery of Warhol’s electric chair.

Combined with an overlay of my own drawings in a kaleidoscope effect across the image . I have decided to look at a more monotone , dark colour palette to compliment my theme. For my title I have used the same font but this time I have created a stamped out effect in a black panel which I think works well as it blends in well with the overlay drawings . At the bottom of the poster I have included the date and location in a simple eroded font which I think suits the theme but lacks the bold , eye-catching quality I would like .

Finally I have added the RVG logo in the bottom right corner and have made it a transparent grey to match the grey tones in the poster

Poster Design 2 Final

Poster Design 3 For my second poster design I have not included my own drawn imagery but instead I have used a combination of art imagery and my own photography.

For this composition I started by digitally manipulating Damian Hurst’s ‘For the love of God’ sculpture using Photoshop, adjusting the brightness , contrast and inverting the colours. I darkened the image and used my own photography of dead roses, repeated in the background surrounding the skull. I used a simple gradient background to finish which I think works well as I wanted this design to be dark with a range of tones.

To develop my second poster idea I then added information at the bottom of the poster in a simple font, the same colour as the exhibition title. I also included my gallery logo I created in the bottom corner.

Continuing to develop my second poster design I have animated it using Photoshop , using a timeline and ‘growing’ elements of the image such as the roses coming from behind the skull .

I have also made my title fade into the composition during the timeline, in sync with the roses . In addition I have included a rose vine growing from the mouth of the skull.

After completing my poster design I have decided that I will use this for my exhibition as it is the most effective and more advanced than the other two . I have converted my poster into a video which can be viewed with the QR code

Ticket Stubbs Front

Back

For my ticket stubb idea I have used the imagery from my final poster design as I want my advertising material to all have a similar look and colour scheme. I have included the bold title and exhibition information as well as the Royal Victoria Gallery logo in the bottom right corner . On the front of the ticket I have also included a barcode to be scanned and the price of the ticket. On the back of the ticket I have included a QR code which when scanned will take the viewer to my animated exhibition poster . I have also included a website for further information .

Exhibition Booklet Analysis

As I am going to produce an exhibition leaflet/brochure to accompany my model I have looked at a range of publications from Bath Spa school of art and design’s recent and previous art exhibitions , featuring work produced by students of the university .

These booklets are produced to show work produced by students that are shown in annual exhibitions . The work featured in these booklets include Fine Art, textile designs, photography and pottery.

Site Unseen ,

This booklet is a portrait format book featuring a range of artwork produced by students . The front cover is simply a brick wall with the title ‘Site Unseen ‘ in the centre which seems quite ambiguous . The pages feature a large photograph of the work followed by the name of the artist/ photographer , the title and size of the work and then a small paragraph describing the work and inspiration or themes. I like how these pages are simplistic and focus on the image rather than too much information . Using this format the viewer of the exhibition can be given a short text giving an insight into the work.

Bath Spa School of Art and Design , MA show , 2013

This next exhibition booklet has a slightly different layout as the image of the students work is displayed on one page , a lot larger and the page opposite features the same information with slightly more information regarding the work being shown. The booklet is also displayed landscape with a more fine art cover of a what seems to be scraped paint and modern text which works well with the background colour palette .

Overall I like this approach better as I feel this gives more space for the artwork to be shown .

My Booklet Design

Pages of Booklet

Exhibition space layout – Tate Britain As I will be producing my own exhibition model ,I have looked at the lay out of different museums , looking at how paintings and artwork are displayed , the spacing between the, the overall layout and the dÊcor inside .

The photo on the left taken from the Tate Britain shows a sophisticated , clutter free layout . The paintings are placed above each other on walls but are all within eyesight . Beside the paintings , small information panels give a small amount of information about the paintings, the artist and context. The size of the exhibition rooms are very large with free space with no separate displays blocking the centre, allowing for viewing benches at the centre .

On the right is another room from the exhibition , with evenly spaced out paintings hung on walls with no other paintings above them. I think this layout is much more effective and gives much more emphasis on each painting rather than having too many to look at in one space. Unlike the room above this room has brighter , red walls which I think work well with the paintings but for my own exhibition I would like to use a simple, possible patterned , interior with only a few paintings on the walls of each room .

Swindon’s Museum and Art Gallery – Old town Another exhibition I have visited for ideas for my exhibition layout is Swindon’s museum and art gallery. The room layout is a long rectangular shape and has paintings placed randomly along the walls with sculptures in front relating to the painting . The title of the exhibition ‘ Where I’m Standing’ is written in bold on a back wall along with some information .

There is a lot of free flowing space in the gallery room although some areas (bottom right) of the exhibition are not displayed as sophisticated as in the Tate Britain , as some paintings and sculptures were placed on tables randomly in the centre of the rooms. I like how the exhibition has a dark floor and clean white walls which works well with the individual pieces of art , although for my own exhibition I would leave the floor space clear, other than for one or two small sculptures that can be viewed in the round .

After looking at the layout of exhibition spaces in local galleries I have used a website called Room Sketcher to create a plan of my exhibition, then converting it to a 3d virtual space . The photo below shows the layout of my first room, showing three paintings. I have taken inspiration from the Tate Britain by adding benches at the center and placing the paintings up on the wall , with no distracting art such as sculptures r displays in the room . I have also used a simple patterned wallpaper as I think it works well , and does not detract attention from the paintings .

For the real exhibition model I would chose a lightly more symmetrical patterned grey wallpaper with a darker wooden floor, as I would like the overall theme to be simple yet effective and stylish .

Floor plan

3d Exhibition Design After looking at existing art exhibitions and their layout I have made a 3d exhibition from a 2d plan from the slide before .

The space has 3 exhibition rooms with a wide entrance room at the front stretching across the building .

Left , is a view of the entrance room with an information and tickets desk at the center.

The design is spacious , similar to that of the Tate Britain. In the 3rd room there is also a gift shop towards the end which leads to the exit back into the front of the exhibition .

I have placed the paintings into rooms with other paintings around the same time period , for example room 3 which has modern art from the 20th and 21st century.

Below is a view of the first room , with the first three paintings; Vanitas , The Arnolfini Portrait and The Anatomy Lesson with Dr Nicolaes Tulp . The first two rooms have a similar layout with three paintings in each ,leading onto the third room featuring modern art.

Here is a birds eye view of the exhibition space , below is the 3rd room with space for the two Damien Hirst sculptures as well as another painting . The 3rd room is separated and includes a small gift shop before the exit, leading back to the main entrance

Third room – two Damien Hirst sculptures from the 21st century on display blocks , as well as an Andy Warhol print on the east wall. This last room is split in half with a gift shop leading on to the exit .

Exhibition model In addition to creating a 3d exhibition I have created a 3d model to see what it might look like in physical form and to see how the layout of paintings would work .