IB Visual Arts
Sara Suiter
Through my artworks, I want to show how we perceive the world differently through dreams and how they open the doors to various new perspectives of reality. I want to demonstrate that dreams can be a confusing but wonderful escape from reality. Through different art forms, I want to take the audience on a journey of my dreams, to show how it is possible to relive childhood and memories through dreams. I also used these works to contrast elements of fantasy and childhood seen in my dreams with reality to show how dreams can change your perception of reality. By presenting symbols that evoke curiosity, confusion, and obsession, I want to portray how dreams can manipulate emotions, changing how you perceive others. By focusing on this concept, I would like the audience to think more about their own dreams, what stories they tell, and the role dreams play in day-to-day decision-making. A number of my works in the exhibition were visually and conceptually inspired by Rene Magritte’s use of surrealism in his artworks. I investigated how dreams combine memories and pre-existing knowledge into a singular confusing moment by combining different forms of realistic subject matter to make a surrealistic artwork.
During my IB DP, I enjoyed refining my technical skills in painting. I found this the most effective way to depict particular landscapes that illustrate my memories and dreams. I used this form as it was able to contrast realism with surrealism by portraying realistic subject matter in a two-dimensional format. I also focused on doing sculptural works. These sculptural works invite the audience into the artwork by existing as a three-dimensional object. They are drawn in to view all facets and intricate details of the works and therefore can interact with the dreams and memories themselves. I created fantasy-based imagery using digital illustration programs to contrast with the physical paintings and sculptures. I also included drawings in my exhibition. I found this an effective way to contrast reality with fantasy in a similar way to dreams themselves. Again, I wanted to use this form to show how dreaming can manipulate the way we perceive reality. However, I also wanted to depict how we make decisions; choosing between what we genuinely want and what is more realistically possible. My artworks all vary in size, however, in most of the works, I explore colour and subject matter to represent the unreality of dreams and fantasy. In the overall exhibition, I have grouped artworks regarding concepts of memories, obsession and my dreams.
Through my artworks, I want to depict scenery and subject matter that the audience will already be familiar with to demonstrate how individuals share dreams. Repeated use of unicorn motifs represent a recognised symbol of childhood for many people that I reflect on through these artworks regarding my memories and my maturation. I wanted to focus on maturation, to demonstrate how we develop as individuals, with our dreams and fantasies becoming more realistic, in contrast to our memories and childhood imagination. I also wanted to create parallels between artworks by using series of artworks with fantasy creatures and with realist and surrealist landscapes. There are also several similarities in my works’ design or art form to emphasise ideas of dreaming, imagination, and maturing from childhood. By using various art forms, I want to engage with the viewer in different ways. My sculptural works prompt the viewer to be submerged in the ideas of the exhibition, in contrast to the two-dimensional works, which instead encourage the audience to reflect on their own experiences interacting with dreams and imagination. Through my artworks, I want to take the audience on a journey through my imagination, different external perspectives, and dreams and explore how these concepts can act as ways to escape from reality. I want to share the critical role dreams play in emotions and how I perceive the world around me, as they can somewhat demonstrate the absurdity of a monotonous day-to-day lifestyle. Ultimately, my artworks reflect on how it is essential to revisit memories and acknowledge fantasies to understand how as individuals, we have changed while ‘growing up’.
SAra suiter
Day dreaming
Oil on canvas board and digitally edited photograph + illustration
92 x 61cm
This artwork uses repeated imagery to depicting my family’s holiday to Queensland. The images illustrate the contrast between the fantasy of my dreams and genuine reality. The subverted image is a repeat of the painting; however, as the audience interacts with the work, it is possible to understand its true nature. I also wanted to use this artwork to contrast how individual people see the world differently depending on their maturity and perspective. Ultimately, I wanted to show how your imagination can make reality more beautiful and meaningful.
Reminiscence
Oil on canvas board and digitally manipulated photograph
101 x 40cm
This oil painting depicts a holiday in New Caledonia I had with my family in 2019. I find that sometimes my memories fuse with my dreams and I struggle to differentiate between the two. This artwork is a way of showing this connection between dreams and reality by revisiting my own memories. The digitally manipulated photograph contains imaginary elements that portray how our perception of the past, through memories, can change over time. I also wanted to juxtapose more childish symbols with mature subject matter to demonstrate how age affects our understanding of the world.
Crossover
Acrylic paint on canvas board
40 x 51cm
This painting subverts familiar imagery by including surrealistic elements in a realistic environment. Inspired by the surrealist paintings of Magritte, this aims to replicate the way in which our dreams can combine familiar and unfamiliar elements that can change our perspective of reality. The use of different and bright colours also imitates child-like perspectives of reality, where their imagination is able to make reality more of a fantasy.
Romancipation
Digital illustration
44 x 31cm
The imagery from this artwork, made using Adobe Illustrator, aims to link concepts of fantasy and dreaming linked to childhood. I wanted to use this opportunity to capture all the conflicting dreams I am experiencing, particularly in this time with COVID-19. For example, I have always dreamed of having the ability to fly, and love and romance is also a frequent subject in my dreams. I demonstrated these ideas through the character design and included my own and sourced words of love seen in the background of the artwork.
Spirit Animal
Series of 6 digitally manipulated photographs
Overall dimensions: 102 x 118cm
These photographs aim to depict childish subject matter from my past to demonstrate how we grow and reject our past dreams. I personally went through an obsessive “unicorn phase” and all items photographed are trinkets I found in my room from this period. There is an innocence associated with these elements, and by subverting their typical nature through digital processes to exaggerate the colour and repetition they show how these fantasies and obsessions with a fantasy creature are seen through a childlike lens.
Imperfect Past
Found objects, sourced 3D printed objects, screen-printed folded paper + battery operated fairy lights
25 x 25 x 20cm
By using found objects linked to aspects of my own personal growth and maturity, I wanted to show how dreaming can act as an escape from reality. By reflecting on my own maturity, I was able to learn more about myself and the ways that I have changed. It also demonstrates how focusing on creativity and a child-like perspective can make reality more fun and colourful.
The Wonder Dog
Series of two coloured pencil drawings on paper
Overall dimensions: 51 x 85 x 2cm
In this artwork, I wanted to combine familiar imagery from the film The Tale of Princess Kaguya and my dog. By doing this, I wanted to recreate the way factual imagery and people, and absurd events occur in conjunction in my dreams. I wanted to show how dreams can be disorientating and confusing in contrast with reality as they can manipulate our emotions, and what we believe to be real.
Hurry up, we’re dreaming
Oil paint on wooden board and wooden door sculpture
31 x 30 x 34cm
In this artwork, I wanted to show the idea that dreams can allow you to journey to an alternative reality. The oil painting in the background depicts a scene from a dream that I remember where I was travelling in a car past a massive glowing mansion. By using both a sculptural element as well as a painting, the artwork juxtaposes the familiarity of reality with a dream landscape that is foreign and mysterious. Allowing the audience to interact with the artwork also invites them to relate to its content and understand these two contrasting concepts.
Incentive
Ballpoint pen drawing
40 x 58cm
This artwork explores the complicated nature of decisions and motivations. I have chosen to represent this through the contrasting ideas of head versus heart as a way to portray how people make decisions. I was inspired by my own lifelong dreams and the upcoming decisions I will have to make, facing many different options. However, the final decision is defined by whether you chose to follow your heart or listen to your brain.
Process portfolio
