Responding to Shaun Kardinal and how I can apply this to my Catling responses

I have taken a series of photographs of my brother which I decided to use as he represents one of the main male figures in my family. I have explored ways of using embroidery as Shaun Kardinal does to try and portray my theme of negative stereotyping and challenging this concept. To carry on investigating the reductive process whilst sewing thread into my photographs, I have selected a large needle so that it pierces large holes than necessary in the surface.



In this composition I have combined Kardinal's embroidery techniques and Kruger's use of words to emphasise the theme of stereotyping. I have sewn the word 'strong' across the top of the photograph to portray how society believes a man should be. I chose a blue thread as this colour typically has male connotations and so this helps to accentuate that the composition is surrounding the male gender. As the holes that the needle has created are quite large, a disjointed feel is brought to the lettering. This adds to reflect that I am challenging this idea of men behaving in such a way as the lettering appears almost broken. I chose to stitch this word over a photograph where Richard's head is turned to the side as it portrays how society expects men to turn a blind eye to their emotions and keep them at bay. Richard has a slight smile on his face which reveals how men are 'supposed' to seem like everything is ok and uphold a strong exterior.




Rather than looking at applying words onto my photographs, I have also investigated shape.  I have used the thread to create linear line to build a shape over the mouth area. I selected this area to cover as it seals the lips from speaking about emotions and feelings. I wanted to make the viewer question the shape on the photograph and so I have made an obscure bow tie shape to reflect a traditional ideology of men keeping their emotions to themselves. However,  have skewed the shape to present how I am trying to challenge this idea and how many other people are beginning to realise this too. Additionally, I chose a softer blue thread to connote how this issue has been laying in the background for some time. This is because this tint of blue is soft like the other colours in the photograph, especially the lighting.

Furthermore, reflecting upon the artist Shaun Kardinal and how I have applied his techniques to my own work - by sewing words that are relevant to my concept,like 'cry', into my own photographs. i have colcuded that these experiments didn't progress as I envisaged. However, I began to look at how Kardinal arranged his work. His arrangements have influenced me greatly as he fuses together several compositions to make one larger one. This could use this idea to allowe me to bring together many compositions to reflect how we should all be together as one. This message would be subtle but I want to make the viewer inquisitive as to what is meant. Moreover, I think this subtle message would also allow the viewer to take a personal stance as to what my concept is, which is important as I want to draw out everybody's uniqueness.