Ganbarimasu!

Here's the outcome of what I proposed in my previous post and The Last Sunflower Project puts and end here. It was an interesting brief. I tried what I could with the feedbacks given during the presentation and transformed the thing into a book instead. It's not awesome but at least it looks better than what I had previously. がんばりました。ganbarimashita. (Tried my best)

Now for a new brief, project 3! To do a book based on any culture of your pick. I thought for a while and looked at the calendar, I have to make this within a month, sounds like a rather challenging task. But when I read about #quakebook, a book by writers, journalists, editors, citizens all around the world coming together through the internet for a cause - to help the Japan Quake victims, I was touched. Their aim was to finish the book in 1 week from the quake compiling thoughts and quake experience while the memories are still fresh and emotions still raw.

Back onto the topic, I thought for a while and there's always this "ganbatte" spirit of the Japanese people that never fails to inspire me. Not only apparent in Japanese music, movies, animes or stories, this "ganbatte" (do your best) phrase has also been used quite commonly among us students to encourage each other during crunch times. How this spirit can be portrayed in book making I'm still not sure, kedo ganbarimasu!(But I'll do my best)

Encouraging project isn't it? ;)

After the presentation

Previously what I've done for the final presentation last week were 5 folios containing my illustrated sunflowers and a small booklet of photos for a photographic record of the dying process day by day. Right now following up to what I had for feedback last week was that the files and the booklet too disconnected, that they don't look like they belong together, the folios may be a little unnecessarily big (A4) Other than that, the concept was good. So following up to that, the deadline for submission being pushed back to Wednesday, I'm trying to see what I can improve or revise on what I have done so far.

Right now I'm thinking of fusing everything into just one book, to make things easier to see but at the same time I'm hoping the form of the book is more than just a book. Wondering if it's too ambitious. Here's what I have in mind now:


I'm thinking of folding each divider page (before another section starts) to something like this, hoping it looks like an extended petal out of the book. Thus fulfilling the idea of the bright yellow petals branching out like the sunflower. Well of couse the photo right now shows a mock up of used papers.

Then the inside should show things roughly like this. I'm still not sure how I should fold them, which is the challenging part. Whether it'll work out I'm not sure too but nevertheless I think I'll give it a try. I'll have to think carefully how I organise the content inside due to these pages. Well I have 1 day left to work on it....

Inspiration4

東京の夜, Musey.
Album Cover by Koike Amigos 小池アミイゴ

Like how the night scene of Tokyo is illuminated by the those mark makings of yellow and white.

Inspiration3

A composition of typography and plants. The cycle of life drawn beautifully with charcoal.

Source: Everything Is A Cycle on the Behance Network

Inspiration2

Incredible control of pencil shades.

Source: Without me you can see the answer

Inspiration1

Some reference sources of flower paintings:

I thought the angles of the sunflower drawn were quite unique, usually they're drawn in a straight up front position but here, they're portrayed in different angles.

Source:
http://helenreads.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post.html

The Last Sunflower

Design Statement
In an attempt to preserve what the sunflower is well remembered for, this project aims to document the sunflower of its positive qualities and personality in standing contrast to its unfortunate predicament. The last sunflower on this Earth bears a responsibility to be captured in essence representing its species human kind has associated them as. Main qualities such as the sunflower's joy, warmth, loyalty, optimism and admiration will be represented in a series of day by day illustration to its eventual death. The illustrations will demonstrate a transformation from life to death yet encompassing the sunflower’s bold and bright spirit.

It will embrace death like a dignified sunflower.