Ivy Chen
Meriden School
MURMUR OF PASSING
Time-Based Forms
Digital animation
Looking through the lens of reality, the imagination seems to be merely a fleeting escape. My body of work investigates the appeal of escapism - often called unproductive and childish. What leads someone to want to detach from their life? Is it just a distraction from life's stresses, or a concerning departure from reality? I chose the medium of animation for its versatility. Contrasting the sharpness of reality with imagination's fluidity I represent the indulgent nature of the daydream, inviting the audience to immerse themselves in flight, to forget the character's mundane life - until they are forced to return to it.
Marker's Commentary
Murmur of Passing is a time-based, 2D digital animation that explores imagination and daydreaming, depicted as a literal flight of fancy. This sophisticated and charming work demonstrates a confident practice in hand-drawn animation to depict the flight of birds within their environment. The work demonstrates a thorough understanding of materiality, mark-making, illustration, and traditional drawing conventions, while exploring a range of digital pen and ink effects that mimic the birds’ forms. The animation begins with a sombre, monochromatic colour palette but slowly transforms into bursts of abstract colour and form. This body of work is complemented by the electronic glitches of the soundtrack, working together to enhance the freedom and vitality represented by the birds’ flight.