These are just a few gifs posted to our class section on Learn- I am reblogging them here just as a bookmark.
Kevin Weir, via This is Colossal.
Kevin Weir, via This is Colossal.
Julien Douvier via Boing Boing.
Julien Douvier via Boing Boing.
Category Archives: Artists
A Different take on GIFs
http://www.booksofadam.com/2014/09/10-reasons-im-hecka-jazzed-fall-is.html
This is a website/article I just happened to come across, which approaches GIFs in a different way. It’s not exactly an art approach, but not the celebrity-falling-down type either. It’s an intelligent, and simply animated, adding interest to the illustrations.
Week 1: Weekly Question
Our first weekly question: Write a critique on the work of one of the featured artists on either of these websites: torontodigitalprojects.com or inthein-between.com/featured-artists.
I am choosing to critique the work of Meggan Gould for this assignment, particularly her series, Go Ogle.
Headshot, © Meggan Gould.
http://www.inthein-between.com/go-ogle-meggan-gould/
These images are made by averaging out the first 100 images of a particular subject found on Google. I find these images compelling because they lose any kind of individual personality, but yet, gain their own kind of alien uniqueness. By averaging out the image, the results are anything but average – they’re haunting, ethereal, unearthly. These works also take out any sense of individuality, any sense of uniqueness or variance, and give the subject matter a certain monotony or dullness. There are no individual details, only the essence of what they have in common.
This also speaks to human knowledge. In a time when our first line of research is often Google, it is generally only the surface of the information that we seek. It is common opinion, what we think something should be, often with very little in-depth expertise. It is an overview, or an average of human knowledge.
The title is also particularly intriguing to me- I enjoy the play on words. Go Ogle. Google is a place of voyeurism, a way to sort of spy on other people and other places while not being physically seen or acknowledged.
According to Dictionary.com, ‘ogle’ means
“1. to look at amorously, flirtatiously, or impertinently.
2. to eye; look or stare at.”
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ogle?s=t
This suggests to me that the manner in which the project is approached and the images are used is without consent or careful thought/curation- that is, the images were not made to be used in this particular way, or arranged in this order for this reason, but are used in this particular manner to articulate an idea. There is a certain degree of happenstance here (although within a very specific structure), which makes or breaks the image.
I find the work an interesting and logical conceptual take on Google and internet culture. I think the work is successful, but also feel that the point is made succinctly within only a small series of images. It is interesting to note that small variations on her search terms can significantly effect the results, such as the difference between coke+can or coca+cola+can.
I see also that Meggan has some animations on her site, showing more about the averaging of the images- these are useful to show the process. I think this is an interesting addition on her website, but would be unnecessary in an exhibition venue.
Digital Sketchbook 