sensation

Sensation, by Meagan Colon

: Page 1. Caption: Cover page of the chapbook is a black ink woodcut relief print on Japanese silk paper, titled ‘Sensation.’ It is binded by string using the poke and stitch method on Bristol paper.

: Page 2. Caption: Description of factors that influence our sensation such as our experiences in life, cultural backgrounds, and how we interact with outside stimuli with our senses. These all affect our perception. The purpose of this chapbook is to provoke various reactions from the viewer through differing color schemes throughout the same print subject.

: Page 3. Caption: This page explains the subjectivity of how we interpret outside stimuli based on our beliefs, physical or emotional condition, expectations, and so on. The same stimuli can even result in different interpretations between the same person from one time to another.

: Page 4. Caption: An abstract print with predominantly red with yellow accents. Below is a description of what the color red is typically associated with in American society. The description is provided to consciously provoke the viewer’s thought process in terms of how or why they concluded the print and specific color usage brought them to their specific interpretation. If the viewer is not from this society, they can compare and contrast what cultural influences brought them to their interpretation.

: Page 5. Caption: In American society, green is typically associated with nature, growth, harmony, fertility, and the environment. It also signifies money, ambition and jealousy. The dark green presented in this abstract print is associated with greed, wealth, and ambition. The background usage of red with the predominant dark green may cause a calming and warming affect.

: Page 6. Caption: An abstract print that is predominantly yellow-green. In American society, yellow-green can stand for sickness, jealousy, and cowardice. Although, of course, viewers may not entirely agree with that sentiment based on their experiences, upbringing, and familial cultural influences.

: Caption: Blue typically represents the sky and the sea; it is associated with freedom, sensitivity, and can invoke rest since it is on the cool spectrum of hues. It may also signify somberness, melancholy, timidity, and depression when overexposed. These reactions would typically be on a subconscious level.

: Page 9. Caption: The abstract print is predominantly grey, with a red background. Grey is cool, neutral, and balanced. It is usually a moody color that can be associated with feelings of dullness, dinginess, dirtiness, as well as formality, being conservative and/ or sophistication.

: Page 10. Caption: Center of the page is an abstract print that is orange with a red background. Orange is the color of joy and creativity; it promotes a sense of energy, passion, and warmth.

: Page 11. Caption: An abstract print with predominantly black ink, and an orange background. Unlike the prints before it, this print uses black as the focus which may bring about unsettling feelings, provoking the thought of death or mourning as is experienced in American culture. The contrasting hue of orange which is typically associated with energy and warmth may bring about a conflicting emotional response.

: Page 12. Caption: This page touches upon Ong’s discussion of one’s sensation and which he personally deemed the most critical; orality. Ong believed that “a typical visual ideal is clarity and distinctness, a taking apart.”(2002) Although Ong supported the inclusivity of oral culture, the prints in this chapbook are meant to remain ambiguous so as not to induce the ideal of clarity and distinctiveness. To leave it entirely up to the viewer means that there is room for one’s personal outside stimuli and experiences to provide the meaning.

: Page 13. Caption: Although similar to the previous abstract print, the background of yellow may provide a slightly different emotional reaction from the viewer. This is interesting to note because orange can be viewed as a shade of yellow. Even though they are closely associated with one another, the emotional impact they have can vary greatly.

: Page 14. Caption: The last abstract print of the series does not have any background hues, solely in black with negative space (white). This print may not cause as strongly of an emotional reaction in comparison to some previously shown since some colors in particular have been shown to stimulate strong psychological reactions from an individual. This print provides a clearer view of the subject matter within the print itself as opposed to its color composition being its predominant feature. The composition and details within it may cause an entirely different reaction from its predecessors.