Student Work: Surreal Composition

Student work by Ashleymarie Sey Debondt
Commentary by Instructor Cori Ratliff

Here is another great example of a surreal image created by an outstanding student. "Sey" creates a wonderfully ethereal feeling image that makes one stop and look. I love the use of the paper clips - not something you would expect to see in most compositions, but it really adds to the overall surreal quality. The overall effects applied to the image gives the piece a dreamlike quality and the color scheme produces a serene feel. Here is what the artist had to say about her composition:

"I titled this piece, “The Wait.” I found it to be one of the most difficult compositions I have yet to create. At first, I wanted to use a violin and an egg, but for some reason, the placement, or idea just wasn’t sitting right with me. I went through three complete layout changes in this project, and I am surprised with the result that followed. This surrealistic composition actually holds more meaning than an egg or violin.
“The Wait” is about the unexpected paths our lives brings us too; it is that one pivotal point in time which we are faced with the unexpected future.

To understand this, we must break down each part. The first thing we see is the waterfall. Water is often associated with life and death. In this case life, because blue is a calming color and the waterfall isn’t harsh, but almost like heavenly clouds.

The three paperclips symbolize the three aspects of life (past, present, future) and how we try to organize ourselves to be prepared for it. However, they are not holding anything to organize. This means that no matter how hard we try, we can never be ready with what the future has to bring us.

The snail on the window frame represents time. Eyes are often referred to windows of the soul. In this case the window frame is the window to the future, and the snail on the window frame represents time. The waterfall is part of the future coming in on the present.

In short, “The Wait” is the unexpected, unknown, and unprepared present worried about the future to come. However, no matter how much we worry, we can never organize or be completely prepared with whatever path life takes us on. All we can do is live it. We only have one life, and there is nothing wrong in understanding that we do not have a complete hold on it. Sometimes we just have to go with the flow."

Check out more of Sey's work at: http://amithystblade.deviantart.com/