I chose to put these images together, as family is something very important to me. Often in the childcare centre, children draw pictures of their family describing to me that "this is my mommy" and "this is my daddy." By putting together a compilation of family photos, I was able to not only compare how each child's idea of family looked different, but also how a child's interpretation (Art work from the Museum of Children's Art) of family differed from say an adult artists interpretation of family. All images here depict family, or capture some type of experience that happens within the context of family. Visual Analysis Image 1: A child's dream of parents with more time (1993) by Mia Koch
(The International Museum of Children’s Art) This image is of a painting. The surrounding context/landscape depicted in the painting is one of a beach. The painting consists of mainly different shades of blue. A family consisting of three people exists standing in the distance, before the tide of water. A woman, presumably the mother, with black hair, a white sweater and blue pants, stands next to the child and another person, who is most likely the father. However, the back view of the person does not offer any further detail. The child sits up on the father’s shoulders, as both the father and the child point out into the distance. Image 2: “I was really angry when my baby brother spoilt my favourite toy (2002) by Joseph Toh
(The International Museum of Children’s Art) This image is a drawing, presumably done by pastels. In the background of the image exist many things. In the middle stands a yellow dresser, with the word “TOYS” written on it. On top of the yellow dresser is a ball, a teddy bear and some other toy. To the right, hang two framed pictures on the wall, one of a cartoon boat and one of a cartoon car. To the left side of the dresser, exists what appears to be a brown door, with blue, yellow and green rectangle panels on it. The wall in the surrounding context is a shade of light blue. In the forefront of the image, on the left hand side is a little boy, who appears to be crawling on what seems to be a tile floor. He is pictured on his knees and two arms. He has short, black spiky hair, a red shirt and purple shorts on. He has a scared, distressed look on his face. A little brown car lays next to him, to the right hand side, along with what seems to be a hammer, two screws and a spring. Further to the right, stands another boy presumably the older brother, with hands on his hips and an angry expression on his face, and furious eyebrows. In the bottom, right hand corner is a little green shelf with lego blocks on it. Image 3: Family (2009) by Anagha
(The International Museum of Children’s Art) This image is a painting done most likely by watercolours, based on the way the colours blend into one another, giving a sense of almost bleeding into the colour next to it. This image consists of a landscape and a family consisting of a father, mother, a child and some type of pet, which the child is pictured walking using a leash. This painting offers a back view of the family, and captures them walking off into the distance through what seems to be snow. The bottom half of the image depicts very light colours, light white, light blue and light orange. The top half of the image is separated by what seems to be a pole and wire fence. The top half of the image consists of dark purples and blacks. The painting offers linear perspective, as the image seems to disappear to one single vanishing point in the middle of the painting. Image 4: Family Portrait (1906 – 1993) by Georgette Chan (National Heritage Board, Singapore) This image appears to be a painting. A family of five is pictured sitting on some type of couch/futon, which is a shade of blue. In the bottom left hand corner, sits a little boy on the floor, cross-legged. He appears to be naked, whilst holding sticks with feathers on them in both of his hands. He wears a headpiece with feathers on it that extends downwards across his chest. Behind him on the couch, appears a young girl, who lays on her stomach, in a blue dress, with black hair that is in braids. In front of her lays a book. Both the girl and the boy look out with a neutral smile on their face. To the right of her, sits an older looking woman, presumably the mother in a grey, plaid, turtleneck dress. She has black hair, and wears glasses. She holds what seems to be a newspaper in front of her with both of her hands, with a not impressed expression on her face. To the right of the woman, sits another young girl, with black braids as well. She wears a white blouse, and blue shorts and appears to be knitting something with both her hands. Behind the couch/futon appears a man, presumably the father. His head is slightly tilted to the right making it appear like he is looking at something in the woman’s newspaper. He has short black hair and wears a white dress shirt. Pictured in his right hand is what seems to be a cigarette. The background wall behind the man is a light shade of yellow. Image 5: Family Story 09-2 (2009) by Yim Man Hyeok (Korean Art Museum Association) This image appears to be a colour drawing to me, using coloured pencils based on the fine line detail depicted within the image. It appears to be a colourful rough sketch with many lines everywhere. The background of the image is mostly a shade of green. In the forefront the image exists a family, consisting of a mother figure, a father figure, a little boy and a little girl and a dog. In the bottom, left hand corner appears a little boy, down on all fours, in between the legs of his mother. He has short hair, and wears a blue shirt and black pants. His facial expression holds a sense of wonder or amazement, as he is pictured looking out at something. To the right of the little boy, appears a dog, lying in between the father’s legs on his belly. The dog too looks out at something. Kneeling above the dog, is a man, presumably the father, wearing brown pants, a belt, and a white shirt. His facial expression also depicts a sense of awe or amazement at something that is being seen in the distance. His arms extend upwards above his shoulders, as he holds a little girl on his shoulders. The girl has a similar expression on her face. She is pictured wearing a red shirt, with long brown hair that is captured blowing in the wind. To the left of the little girl and father appears a woman, presumably the mother, who has short brown hair, and wears a yellow dress with flowers on it. She took looks out into the distance with amazement on her face. Connection to Course Concepts Sturken and Cartwright (2010) repeatedly mentioned throughout the textbook, that the meaning that is derived from an image depends on the context in which it is viewed. This applies to all the images selected. My experience with family, and the many other experiences I’ve had help me form a meaning related to these images that makes sense to me. However, someone else who is viewing these images, may formulate a different meaning as they may have a different understanding of what family constitutes. For example, I am able to easily relate to the second image of the two little boys and the toys, as this is something I’ve experienced within my family with my siblings, therefore the meaning I derive from this image may be different then someone who is viewing it, and hasn’t had this experience with their siblings. In addition, another concept mentioned within this course is that of representation. In other words, the images selected here represent the family in a socially constructed way which can help viewers formulate an understanding of what makes up a typical family. We have come to understand family as existing of a mother and father figure, with children, who spend time with each other, and often represent it in this fashion in 21st century society, due to the social and cultural factors that have driven us to believe this. These images also speak to the concept of interpellation in a way. These images speak to me, of how family consists of people who love one another and spend time together, in a variety of situations which is captured throughout all these images. Whether it be on the beach, on a walk, gazing out at something, enjoying relaxing time together or playing and arguing, family is those that we spend time with. They also interpellate me in the sense that they help me think of the position I hold in my family.
