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This piece is from the Spring Term 2024 exhibition. Since I have always focused on just one building, for this piece I decided to combine two iconic buildings together while also changing the colours of the image. I decided to include Big Ben, as it is a symbol of power where the Houses of Parliament are home to the government in London. I merged this with the Empire State Building in America as it is symbol of industry and creativity and symbolises how powerful America is financially in the whole world.
Although both buildings may affect and represent different people and are in completely different styles (gothic revival and art deco respectively), they are both seen as such powerful buildings in their countries. This is why I painted them in black and white which provoke feelings of power and creativity. Merging power, creativity and industry gives a sense of hope for a bright future represented by green sky. The colour grey could combine the emotions one experiences when thinking of black and white, but to a smaller extent e.g., mystery and purity.
Furthermore, splitting two iconic buildings with similar silhouettes in half and then putting them next to each other is an interesting way to make the viewer question their recollection of what the buildings really look like and creates a confusion between reality and what’s in front of them. In addition, incorporating such an old building (Big Ben was finished in 1859), and a much newer building (the Empire State Building was opened in 1930) could link to how our own old and new memories sometimes become blurred.
The above images show me experimenting with different compositional layouts and positions at different heights around the exhibition space.