Zoomorphism: Inner Beast
Antoine Helbert: Hybridsbellow is French Illustrator Antoine Helbert series "Hybrids".
Hybrides is Antoine Helbert’s series of illustrations combining the features of birds and people, particularly women. Culturally, it is not unusual to attribute femininity to the quick movement and behaviors of birds, but in Hybrides, Helbert applies the less glamorous scaly feet and caruncles of birds to humans, and the combs and bright feathers of male birds to female humans. It is not clear in each illustration whether the bird additions are costume, growth, or innate to the humans: in some it is a complete cover of feathers over skin; in others, it seems like the coloration or texture could be makeup or accessory. There is a twinge of tongue-in-cheeck humor in the depiction of a peacock-man holding a peacock-feather fan, a crane-person holding crane-feather quill, or a rooster-woman with a chicken leg on a plate before her, alongside the serious, total and equal acknowledgement of the features of bird and human. -https://artistbestiary.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/antoine-helbert-hybrids-in-fine-art-and-advertisement/ |
What is Symbolism Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another, to give an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however, an action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. For instance, “smile” is a symbol of friendship. Similarly, the action of someone smiling at you may stand as a symbol of the feeling of affection which that person has for you. Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the context they are used in. “A chain,” for example, may stand for “union” as well as “imprisonment”. Thus, symbolic meaning of an object or an action is understood by when, where, and how it is used. It also depends on who reads the work. Animals as symbols Animals are powerful symbols. They are universally recognized. The unconscious meanings of their symbols come from a collections of myths, traditions and religious cultures around the globe. These animal symbols in themselves contain secret meaning that are revealed through oral traditions or written texts about them and they are mostly related to specific characteristics of the animals they represent. The idea of spirit animals or inner beast of humans are a common theme of literature, theatre, movies and art. Such famous examples are are "beauty and the beast" Kafts' Metamorphosis and http://animal-symbols.com/ Zoomorphism Zoomorphism is a sort of inverse of Anthropomorphism. . Zoomorphism is rather when a character (or even an object) is described as having animistic qualities. This is usually accomplished through metaphor or simile. A few examples include:
Examples in literature "She’s the twelve-year-old, the one who reminded me so of Prim in stature. Up close she looks about ten. She has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin and stands tilted up on her toes with arms slightly extended to her sides, as if ready to take wing at the slightest sound. It’s impossible not to think of a bird." (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins) |
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Assignment
Zoomorphism: Inner Beast Using the erasing and double exposure technique create a Zoomorphic Portrait. The portrait should show at least 1 human and one symbolic animal. Students should consider utilize the symbolism and create a concept for the artwork. The portrait should be a unified picture and not feel like like a "modge podge" of different picture. The erasing will need to appear smooth! |
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StepsStep one
Find images of either an animal or human that displays a characteristic that you can see their other in. ie Maybe a human portrait with a powerful stair reminds you of owl eyes. or a woman's hair reminds you of a tangle of snakes etc. Extra Credit 5 pts if you use yourself!! Step two Find a complementary picture of an animal or human (the opposite of your first) that matches the profile/ angle and emotion of your first. Step three cut out both backgrounds and warp/ adjust the photos so they match and fit oneanother. Then place them ontop of yeas other Step Four use your eraser with finesse to lightly erase and revile a the portraits in a combined and new creature Step Five clean up and add filters and colors to create a new look. 
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Skill OneUsing the erasing and double exposure technique create a Zoomorphic Portrait. The portrait should show at least 1 human and one symbolic animal. Students should consider utilize the symbolism and create a concept for the artwork. The portrait should be a unified picture and not feel like like a "modge podge" of different picture. The erasing will need to appear smooth!
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Rubric |
