Look at the image above, does it look like a cupcake you’d like to eat? At first glance the colours may give the impression of a scrumptious cake you’d find at a party. But take a close look at the details. Observe the main cake, what’s inside the icing and what are the elements decorating it.
It is a digital artwork created by Lilly Friedeberg @elfriede_s
What do you think the image is about?
Lilly Friedeberg is making a visual commentary about the danger of eating too much sugar. Did you notice the body of the cupcake is actually a snake, the icing has eyeballs in it, and the cherry on top is actually a bomb? Some foods contain hidden sugars and other harmful ingredients such as colourings and preservatives that we are not even aware of.
When was the last time you spent time truly observing your surroundings, the tiny details of an object? Observation is an important skill for everyone from designers to lawyers and doctors. It’s a skill we need to practise.
Here are 3 simple steps to help you become more observant and get better at understanding images like the one above.
Step 1: Look
Start with the most basic: what medium or material is it – a photograph, an object, a painting, a drawing, digital art? The materials, style and approach, feed directly into the overall feel and meaning of the work. This digital artwork by Australian-born Yeah Yeah Chloe was made in 2017 and is called ‘Drowning’.
Step 2: See
Looking is about literally describing what is in front of you, while seeing is about applying meaning to it. This artwork combines two icons or symbols: drowning hands waving for help and an smartphone with a blue screen that looks like water.
Step 3: Think
Think about possible meanings. It’s not about finding the “right answers”, but about understanding what the artist is trying to say.
Context is important. Yeah Yeah Chloe releases her work through Instagram and is known for her colourful pop-art style that often combine unrelated objects to make a social commentary. Yeah Yeah Chloe is making a visual commentary about how smart devices can overwhelm you, like drowning.
AH-HA!
This satisfying feeling happens when you look at an image, deconstruct it and understand it.
– By Tanya Wilson
“HOW TO USE YOUR EYES” is a What’s Up series created by our friends at EYEYAH!
