Generally, visual analysis describes the entire art involved in writing (Montgomery, 78). The main work of visual analysis is to understand the concepts used in designing an image that will communicate about a certain topic. The technique involves writing what someone has observed from various sections of the art in the whole object then trying to come up with the better meaning revealed by the image or painting. One may discuss the entire object or describe some parts contained by the object .This is to suggest that visual analysis basically describes the formal elements portrayed by the object. It includes attributes such as lines, color, texture and size as revealed by the object in art work (Mannay,23-24).The essay describes how the visual analysis has used various concepts such as lines, colors, the descriptions of the paintings, shapes, metaphors and how different components are related to each other. The conclusion is based on what one learns from the painting I have used in the essay. Also, the essay includes a diagram illustrating the painting discussed.
In the essay I have used Soto’s “The Last Voyage” Visual Analysis to describe the art of visual analysis. I have described the meaning of the object and then critically interpreted the overall meaning we get from the object.
Generally, Soto’s “The Last Voyage” Visual Analysis, It is a painting in a wood panel which is 72 inches by 60 inches (Gafford, 80).The subject matter in this art work is about a monster which has human characteristics that is inhabiting a desolate piece of land that typically represents our earth. The object in fact it is entirely connected to humanity and our surrounding that is environment which here has been seen as undeniable aspect.
The foreground in the image is crammed in a ship that is seen to be between a huge desolate landscapes which is entirely polluted although the image has a sky which is clear despite it being polluted. The grey and blue colour indicates the landscape full of barren mountains that seems to jut out directly to the creature in the ship and also to the blue sky (Sullivan, 132).Soto uses the swirls and graffiti which is inspired with spirals and beautiful circles that reveals the idea of pollution .Also, one can observe a stream of exhaust that is emanating from the back of the ship making it to hover thus it cannot completely leave the land it came from. In addition, the sky despite being green there is polluted atmosphere which seems bright surrounded by the white clouds that entirely linger around the ship .Also, there is evidence of green colours coming from the shade from the trees.
The flag and sails are highly blown by the wind. The sails seems smaller compared with the other parts .They seem minuscule as if they are not strong enough to support the size of the ship. Below the sails sits a creature with extra ordinary features (Gray & Julian, 200).The creature has pointy ears and oval blue eyes. His right hand has an anchor that is dangled behind him and directed towards the mountains. The anchor is tiny while the left hand holds the roller which extends to far end where one can see light blue trail that is between the green and white sky.
Lastly, the ship as I have described looks as if it is suspended on the earth’s atmosphere. It is in between the clouds and the sunlight which seems to come from far while there is penetration of green smog and concept of pollution that hovers on the mountains. In fact, the image is not ornate or extravagant in any case. The black smog from the back indicates struggle being experienced by the ship.
Therefore, from this visual metaphor one understands the metaphor for human and our relationship with environment (Reynolds, 38). There are a lot of questions to ask ourselves from this art work. The work is a critique to the humanity as well as the aspect of celebration. In fact despite having the dark colour and some graffiti which are influenced in the whole style, there seems bright colours and huge vibrant juxtapositions contained in a darkness. This raises the question of does this show what we as human beings we are being surrounded of ?What meaning this bright colours have ?Do they show hope for human beings when it comes to life and death or is there hope after destruction ,that is a new start?
In order to understand the art work, then we see that the title itself communicates a lot. I think the title is all about the complex relationship we human beings have to the environment. This is a metaphor for all human beings under the earth (Danahay, 154).This reveals that we are no longer human beings who used to care, we are no longer friendly and we are product of our differing cultures which have done nothing to the environment we have other than destroying it at high degree. We don’t have hope after destroying the surrounding and that’s why we regretting for destroying the beauty of our nature. In fact what Soto clearly captures from this picture is all about humanity and idea of caring our natural resources. What is bright as shown by the image is our innocence and hope as human beings .This brings the idea that despite all flaws from human ,we need to appreciate the importance of loving ,the aspect of caring and also to consider the entire process of nurturing .For instance in this art work the sail is purely a benevolent compared to the red creatures .The eyes are gentler in sense that the creature is being surrounded by flowers and through this one can conclude that his kind is the main reason why the mountains are barren in all places.
The important thing from this work is all about hope (Hassig, 189). The image shows hope which stems directly from rebirth, through the cycles of life ,through the entire belief that is show that even if all human beings were wholly wiped out of the earth all things would have continued to grow, to live and also to prosper without any inconvenience. This gives belief that life has to prosper despite anything .This is because there is natural order of doing things and even if the life is not well cared by human being then it is also entirely that it will neither end nor cease.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Soto’s work reveals a lot. The image itself describes the relationship human beings have to the environment. Human is the source of the environmental pollution (Leech, 56).This pollution to our surrounding is done from one place to the other. Also there is concept of culture and hope we ought to have. Therefore, to sum up the art work is ideal for the relationship we have shown to our surroundings. Through the juxtaposition we see the idea being the issue of destruction .This has been clearly described by the use of dark, use of graffiti inspired imagery in the art work and creative use of painting. All these conveys a metaphor of destruction .The art reveals a relevance for the surrounding and the world at large. Through the illustration of the cultural influences by use of cartoons, use of graffiti and those pop surrealism then the reader can view key concepts (Wells, 131).This results to better understanding to the dynamic relationship that co exists in our visual culture and entire connections human beings have to the environment .This initiates new implementations which will cater for how we can develop criteria’s for caring environment is needed.
References
Danahay, Martin A. Gender at Work in Victorian Culture: Literature, Art and Masculinity. Routledge, 2016.
Gafford, Olivia. Visual identification of facial expressions of basic emotions across cultural lines. Alliant International University, 2015.
Gray, Carole, and Julian Malins. Visualizing research: A guide to the research process in art and design. Routledge, 2016.
Hassig, Debra. The mark of the beast: the Medieval bestiary in art, life, and literature. Routledge, 2013.
Leech, Geoffrey N. A linguistic guide to English poetry. Routledge, 2014.
Mannay, Dawn. Visual, narrative and creative research methods: application, reflection and ethics. Routledge, 2015..
Montgomery, Douglas C. Design and analysis of experiments. John wiley & sons, 2017.
Reynolds, Frances. “‘Colour and communion’: Exploring the influences of visual art-making as a leisure activity on older women’s subjective well-being.” Journal of Aging Studies 24.2 (2010): 135-143.
Sullivan, Graeme, ed. Art practice as research: Inquiry in visual arts. Sage, 2010.
Wells, Liz. Photography: a critical introduction. Routledge, 2015.
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