Final Major Project

Final Major Project. 8^th December 2010

Kim Jong – il’s North Korea.

My intension for this project was to give the viewer more of an understanding of what it is actually like to live in North Korea under a brutal dictatorship in a totalitarian state. To do this I had to focus on Kim Jong-il as he has controlled North Korea for 20 years, and is very much responsible for the atrocities opposed on his people and the current state of the economy. An estimated two million people have died since the mid 90’s due to major food shortages, economic disasters and terrible mismanagement. With the country now relying on food aid to feed millions of its people… mean while Kim Jong-il continues to live a life of luxury.

(Photo images)

The images of him are printed on cheap paper that has a subtle soft pastel blue surface to it with a stone white marble effect. This gives of a sense of coldness and cheap wealth, and relate to the iconic sculptures of old and new leaders made with only the best materials, and placed throughout the state to further impose the Working Men’s Party regime. So you now get the feeling of wealth, poverty and hierarchy with Kim Jong – il, printed on this cheap paper with a standard laser jet printer

(The last image)

The last image is just text with the famous slogan “Feeding people with rice and meat soup”, this I found appropriate in the piece as it was a slogan that was created by the regimes founder Kim Il-sung, and inherited by Kim Jong-il. As this seems to be a family tradition now Kim Jong-il has started to take a back seat from power and has handed over power to his 26 year old son “Kim Jong-un”. This slogan seems to play purely as a propaganda tool to again give the North Korean People false hope, that an economic reconstruction will take place. Now his son is in power he has stressed improvements to people’s lives. "In the past, it was fine if we didn't have food as long as we had bullets. But now we must have food, but not necessarily bullets," he has been quoted as saying.

(Black) The black ink represents positive and negative meanings that include: power, supremacy, seriousness, authority, fear, evil and secrecy. Kim Jong - il also dresses in grey uniforms that to me represent a coldness and blandness of his character, and is what North Korea has now become under his dictatorship. Each image starts to pixelate and becomes less obvious and unclear to look at. This then starts to create the effect of a more prominent black, with the pixilation indicating a deteriation of his health, and most importantly the crumbling economy, with an old dictator still hanging onto power, and using propaganda tools to make people believe he is still strong and well.

(Red)

The red throw over I managed to source seemed a very appropriate element to the piece as the red symbolises the communist philosophy of the country and conjures up feelings of aggression, anger, battles, revolution, cruelty and power. It also has an Asian feel to it with the patterning and padding. I also wanted to give of a feeling of a market stool that is linked with the underground screen grab footage at Onsong market that is repeated as a slide show at the end of the table on the laptop.

(Rare footage of botched N.Korean reform)

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/04/22/2010042200391.html

(Rice + white)

The rice represents the gradual crumbling of the country’s economy with rice being the main source of food. The regime had set control policies one after the other, including a ban on all grain transactions in the markets in October 2005. In 2007 they cracked down on illegal markets, and attempted to turn general markets into farmers markets in 2008… but failed. In 2009 the regime banned the sale of any industrial goods and the use of foreign currency. Due to protests and violent attacks on market officials this rule has now been relaxed. In terms of colour, the white rice has sacredness to it, and represents hope to all the North Korean people with its simplicity communicating how simple a life these people live, with all their basic needs being met with enough rice and water to feed themselves and their families.

(Blue)

The blue is a contradiction with its meaning being sovereignty, peace and friendship based on the flag. With negative meanings of depression, repression, coldness and detachment, based on the realities of the North Korean state.

With the white rice placed on the vibrant blue creating a sharp contrast that represents these contradictions in the form of lies and be trails the people have experienced throughout.

Mark-Making with Natural and Man Made Materials

This was an excellent workshop were each member of the group brought in natural materials like saffron, bamboo leaves, charcoal, mustard, ketchup, beets etc... this was in combination of more conventional materials such as acrylic paints and black ink. Working with natural materials made the work created start to become more organic and real. This is some thing I will try experimenting more with when the right idea comes to mind /or brief. Below are images of the fun...

Journal Exercise 9 - Colour and History

Colour and History
A friend of mine has a house just off of Mountain View Cemetery at 38th and Main. This is where my studio is so I spend at least a couple of days a week there. They call me the “Artist in Residence”. My mate Paul found a photograph in the Vancouver Archives of a group of brewery workers from Main Street Brewery taking a well-deserved break. This photo has really burned itself into my mind as it amazes me how much the area has changed in just over 100 years, and how much photography has advanced. The added impression of the image was enhanced by the hours I spent retouching and reconstructing areas of the photo that where missing. The photo itself is in various tones of sepia and off white while some of the images are blurred due to the technology and that the subjects could not sit still long enough for clarity. These affects make the photo slightly eerie and definitely unmistakable as a snap in history. The clothing, kegs, and guns add to its location in time. The eagle in the background almost makes it feel patriotic, as though the photo was taken in the US. Lastly the dog in the foreground adds a subtle sympathetic side to the men in the group.

Shot taken at the Mountain View Cemetery


Original: Workers from Main Street Brewery


Final Piece




The fact that the cemetery is so prominent within this neighbourhood compelled me to place the images together, to place the past within the present. I included some of the housing around the cemetery to further impact the changes that time has brought. The lush green and the fact that the trees & bushes are crystal clear reflect the use of modern photographic technology. To add further impact and perspective I selectively masked in some of the gravestones, that again add a modern day setting with sharper vibrant colour selections of various shades of greens, greys and beiges. The head stones also add to the narrative of these men no longer being here, and touch on the complexities of trying to understand death, and how we try to engage with pictures of people that are no longer with us. BOO!

Journal Exercise 8 - Colour and Consumer Culture

Initial notes and sketches made at Oakridge... NO cameras please!



Specific Retail Outlet (Swatch Palette)
Purdy's Chocolates is a classic historical brand that dates back as early as 1907. Throughout the decades the Purdy's logo has been adapted, but has still kept it classic decorative script that gives of a real sense of old fashioned handwriting, with the use of digital. This adds to the historical element, and makes it more appealing to a younger generation. The idea of old fashioned chocolates, with some made with their original recipes with the utmost care is appealing to anybody who loves chocolate. During the early 1990's Purdy's introduced the hazelnut hedgehog that was soon to become a huge hit in Vancouver. It also represented a symbol of good luck in Belgium.



Initial Observations
My first observation was the attempt to display their chocolates in the front windows with all the classic Christmas trimmings such as: fake Christmas trees, fairy lights (white), ribbon (red), metal boxes (silver), tinsel (red), glitter, yellow beige items (magnolia), gold wrapping paper, white italic scripts for card ad's (cut out) and snow flakes. What I found confusing was the use of a cheap treasure chest, was this to help entice the children... if so where's the Christmas pirate, better still a father Christmas dressed as one!? That could have been interesting and confusing for the customers. Upon entering the shop I saw its identity as a symbol of the English monarchy, especially once I saw the draped curtains in the store. This made me feel very uncomfortable about the shops decor, while trying to get to grips with what they are really trying to say /or be. There are modern fixtures and fittings that consist of cheap laminate flooring, purple shaped ads, purple doors, purple walls, purple curtains, cheap tables with surfaces covered in purple, clear plastic holders for candy (not purple)... need I go on.
The shops themselves have a very defined style that contains a lot of purple that becomes the identity of the space. The purple represents events, whether its for a birthday, wedding or Christmas etc... And with this comes the customers within an age range of 35 - 75. I would need to do more observing, and even interview several members of staff to clarify this. The brief spell I was there observing and taking notes of the space, with all but one of the customers were outside the age range of over 40. However this could have been coincidence. The use of the purple reflects a hierarchy amongst it competitors that airs a sophistication for the products they produce. Even though Purdy's has evolved as a brand the fact that they still use purple and have a long lasting reputation, also helps to embed the brand and create loyalty amongst some of its customers. Much like the royal family in England with some Canadian's accepting them for what they represent through history, some loving them, and some just thinking there a waste of time.

I feel the Purdy's brand and shop interiors need to be re-designed, but still use the classic purple in moderation and scripts without the drop shadows and strokes. They just need to not be so reliant on the purple as a selling point, why not start to introduce a black very subtlely to help balance and enhance that psychological feeling of sophistication and imagination. The better use of white would also help to replicate the illusion of space. Display the chocolates in a way that lets the packaging and design breath, rather than trying to clutter the shop with any old crap. Get rid of the drapes and keep the walls and doors white. The space could then become more of an exhibition space where people could focus on the quality of the product. Why not give some of them a very short blurb on the more historical chocolates displayed next to the product. Would an image of the founder 'Richard Carmon Purdy’, with a short blurb about him that could help to educate and gather interest, to a broader clientele. Again all these ideas I have are interesting, but would have to be done well with reactions and feedback from the current loyal customer base. I did ask my wife and several older family members about how they see Purdy's and its identity. The response was that they shouldn't change, as it is a historical product of Vancouver, Canada. Could this be the West Coast Canadians holding onto their precious heritage?

What I have produced
I struggled with an idea initially for my colour swatch, and how I would design it. This was mainly due to the over powering use of purple. Initially I thought of all the tacky Christmas decorations filled with glitter, gold and candy... and of cause purple. I didn't take any pictures, so I only had my notes and a few thumb nail sketches to go on. I felt this benefited me more, with not being over loaded with digital photo's and just going on my own reflections, thoughts and gut feelings. My idea was to embed the swatches inside an ad-vent calendar (AC), not just because it’s nearing Christmas, but because, to me its what Purdy's represents, keeping it safe within the constraints of tradition. The AC also says packaging, and lots of it, keeping the outside of it a gloss white helps the textures and colours to stand out, and represents the interior of the mall. I decided to keep the plastic chocolate molds and place various relevant materials including chocolates and candy inside. The section of laminate flooring behind helps to ground the swatches, and identify them with the colours, textures and environment of Purdy's. The materials and colours I have used are all relevant and include: an ad-vent calendar, card, glitter (red + blue + silver + gold), spray paint (gloss), chocolates (brown), candy (orange), material (purple), paint swatches (purple), candy wrappers (red), drawing pins (silver + metal). I could have used more, e.g., part of a Christmas tree etc. But I feel I have sold the retail outlet effectively enough, with the whole thing becoming a piece of funny shaped obscure packaging that tries to live its past, and lacks an evolving idea and identity in this ever changing society.




Architectural Space of the Mall (Swatch Palette)
Oakridge Mall is a terrifying experience, especially if you go in the evening when less people are around (some times), frantically searching to shop for some thing they don’t really need. After much walking around I finally found a secluded spot behind the escalators on the first floor. It was also home to some random advertising and there was an entrance on the far wall to the car park. This space interested me because of its dynamics in-terms of its architectural structure. And also by the fact that the security guard came up to me for the second time to ask what the hell was I doing. To which I responded by trying to explain the task in hand, to which he then decided to leave me alone. That scenario sold the space to me and I then started to observe and take notes and make small sketches. The identity of the space was very clinical and almost baron, except for the attempt to advertise products with bad lighting and cheap materials in the form of man made metals, vinyl, boxes lit with ad’s you could only glance at due to the strength of the lighting, that almost blinded you. I remember the walls as being a vibrant white (illusion of more space) with a ceiling made up of weird metal stripped panels, maybe used to help reflect the light, or just to give of a modernist feel. Based on my notes I mention creamy beige tiles on the walls and floor with a white grout. I don’t recall the tiles on the wall, but do remember being almost blinded by the Gap’s brightly lit ads. The charcoal and beige (green + yellow bits inside) floor tiles help to neutralise and earth the mass of white space around you, making it slightly less of an artificial environment. Now the charcoal tiles I liked, as they work well as a contrast to the white - whether they would work throughout the mall is another question, but in moderation… for sure. The random ads consisted of metal san’s serif type on the wall, with a purple serif brand identity that was lit from behind. To me this gives off a feeling of a cheap gallery that’s trying to hard because the work is so bad, but to a less observant sole, I am sure would be more effective. The tuna snacks ad in it luxurious metal/plastic box seemed lost with all its bright colours that consisted of red, gold, purple (dark + light), finished of with a heavy black frame. What was it doing there? I suppose having it near the exit could help to gain it some new custom… maybe.

In-terms of the palette being designed to affect and influence cultures, I feel that the mall generally gives of the affect that you are in a brightly lit large open space, and every body that enters should at least purchase a hamburger. A lot of cultures now are educated and established in the art of consumerism, and having all this FREE wasted space to move around in is a way of keeping the consumer there longer, getting lost, and wanting to explore the weird bad lighting, reflective objects (generally ads), and colours that sell the brand effectively. I felt the black and off white beige floor tiles played an interesting role, that helped you to realise that there may well be some natural material embedded in them. The red I noticed was an obvious choice for exit sign, as it stands out and gives importance to the word, and would help to direct people to the exit in an event of an evacuation. A pretty limited palette used for the space if you take away the advertising, but effective for a mall and every thing that comes and goes in it!

What I have produced
This colour palette evolved into a modernist piece of art that starts to become an abstracted piece of architecture with all its subtle and extreme colour changes, made up of horizontal and vertical lines, much like the work of ‘Mondrian’. I had an idea of what materials I wanted to use, and finding them wasn’t too much of a problem. Based on my notes and sketches and personal reflections I tried to match the colours and materials as best I could. I sourced a variety of ceramic tiles that included the charcoal black, the off white with colour changes in it, the beige and the green that where also subtly embedded inside the main floor tile. I layered them on top of white card that varied in tone, which created more depth and contrast. I then added the subtle textures and extreme changes in colour by using coloured matt and coated card, and red plastic to replicate the exit sign. The last thing I did was to add a foil tape to represent the cheap reflective ceiling. Over all I am happy with what I produced, and working without photographs was a refreshing experience that I will practice again.

In House Session - Sound + Taste + Colour

Quick mark-making responses to various genres on music.

This quick responsive workshop to music and taste was very simulating and theraputic for me. This was due to a combination of things, one being the time frame of each piece, which I recall being around 30 seconds... and also the extreme changes in the types of music played, with some (classical) not being my normal choice of music. Interestingly I found when responding to the different tastes I felt I had to focus more on what colours I connected with that particular flavour. My answer to this is because I am used to listing to various genres of music as I work on creative projects, and just generally hanging out, when the mood fits.

Hip Hop... you don't stop !


African regee music


Country music


Classical


Creating colour swatches after being blind folded and chewing various flavoured gums.

Journal Excercise 7 - The Politics of Colour

The Politics Surrounding Colour



Early Reflections:
My fascination with dictatorships started at a early age. Around the age of nineteen I was studying for my A - levels in the UK. One of my graphics projects was to design a book cover. This period was during the early stages of the first Iraq war during (1990-1991). After some research into Saddam and the previous atrocities he had already inflicted on the Kurds and his own people, I felt that showing him on the book with a close up to his eyes, was appropriate. The title in bold RED said it all, "Through the Eyes of a Dictator". The face was made up of thousands of stipple dotes that were placed more heavily in areas of greater tone, to give the effect of an old broken photograph, and some how gave it more of a military feel. The piece was a success, just wish I could share it with you all, as its in storage way back in England.

This interest in politics and dictators continued throughout my illustration career, as the style I created catered well for the newspaper and their supplements. This led me to go on to work for most of the major newspapers in the UK, not always on a regular bases, but when the right article fitted with my approach and style I would some times get an email for a job that needed to be done before 5pm the same day /or by tomorrow morning, such is the nature of the newspapers and fast turn around. (I WILL SHARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MY WORK ON MY BLOG, WITH COMMENTS)

Steven Heller - "IRON FISTS"
With reference to "Steven Heller" whom I am a Big fan of with the writings, opportunities and support he has given Illustrators in the past. The article on "IRON FIST" really rocked my boat with how he describes the regimes and dictators that founded them, with all the propaganda and attention to detail in all forms of advertising, used to get their message(s) across. The regimented colours that go with advertising Hitler with the use of a b&w photo centred on a page with a solid black background symbolizing power, and reminded me of the the idea of controlling societies through a totalitarian state, with reference to the books by George Orwell, 1984 and Animal Farm, with that whole idea of BIG BROTHER WATCHING YOU!. The text being a sans serif, with reference to the square dot above the I, as an indicator to the Hitler moustache. I made a similar reference in a self initiated portrait I painted of "Robert Mugabe" to whom I felt very strongly about at the time… and still do. The reference was linked to Hitlers moustache, as Mugabe has one that's very much the same. Found this interesting with an African that was educated in England, and granted power to his own country by the ex-colonial empire, England.



The colours I used were referenced to the colours of Zimbabwe, with the flag embedded into the tie, which also reflected his skin tones. The blue suite gives of a sense of power and royalty, with the purple background used to project a sense of tranquil calm and healing for propaganda purposes. Notice the Hitler style moustache with the feather like paint strokes that decorate his glasses. This was a reference to Zimbabwe, and how rich they once were in wildlife and nature, with one of the strongest economies in Africa. You crazy Afro Hitler, what have you done!

The quote below is taken from the "INTO THE PINK" website by Jessica Helfand.
http://www.designobserver.com/observatory/entry.html?entry=4907

I love the way Oscar writes, even I have never any of his books from start to finish. This piece of text, with the descriptive and creative use of words inspired me to want to know more about the colours red and pink… I will pursue more of Oscars readings, and also investigate the colours pink and red further, and how they are used in every day society and contemporary art.

Quote by Oscar wild
Which makes (Red) and (Pink) all the more remarkable. "Mere colour," wrote Oscar Wilde, "unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways." Unallied with form it may be, but when color connects to an institution, a purpose or a cause, something extraordinary takes place. It goes far beyond branding, because it hints at the emotional degree to which we respond to something that transcends language. To speak to the soul may seem a lofty goal, but it is by no means an impossible one.

Proposal:
My idea will be designed for the purpose of a public are piece. It will bring attention to a particular issue that has always baffled me since my arrival here in Vancouver, Canada - that Asians make bad drivers. I envision the piece to consist only of selected type, with the emphasis on limited colour, size, bold, italic, leading and kerning etc… The type will be designed within a banner format, much like the ones you see situated around the city of Vancouver. I feel that initially I would focus the public art piece in the heart of China Town, and then in Richmond, where the Asian population is 59%, with the highest immigrant population in the whole of Canada. The slogan initially was "NOT ALL ASIANS ARE BAD DRIVERS" - but after asking several friends they felt that "NOT ALL ASIANS MAKE BAD DRIVERS" worked better. I think the "MAKE" is more subtle and less possessive, and subtly more considerate. I don't want to pigeon myself in a hole by trying to justify the use of words, as both slogans contain racial stereo typical beliefs, that imply that white people are more superior and make better drivers. From my findings and gaining knowledge first hand in a variety of situations from kids birthday parties, to adult house parties and working on a construction sites in Richmond, were racial tensions seem to run high, I have learnt to disregard this term as a myth that has a cultural stigma attached to it, meaning that Asian culture whether Chinese or Japanese have strong cultural beliefs that the average Canadian doesn't really understand, apart from what they initially see first hand, on TV, festivals and the food they enjoy to eat. For example, if you enjoy eating Chinese food, why not accept the people and culture more, and the contributions they have made through generations to help make Canada what it is today. Vancouver is a growing metropolis where its citizens should embrace the growing diversities of its growing multi cultural society.

Chosen colour palette based on the pretty dolls below.

The fonts I chose to use are standard fonts you get with In design. The first is a sans serif font ‘Skia’ for the word(s) ‘NOT’ and the ‘MAKE’, the reason for this is that it has a serious yet comical feel to it, with the N,M,A and K looking like they could be based on bamboo that’s been twinned together. The line below the ‘MAKE’ also helps to control the viewer to red it, even though it is reasonably low in the hierarchy of the design. Now the choice of font for the ‘ALL ASIANS’ is Papyrus that could be considered a bad choice to a designer /typographer, but my decision to use it was based on the need to communicate the essence of Asian culture to the public, with most not really understanding what it means to be Asian. I used IMPACT as an obvious and appropriate font to use - this is due to how it can start to dominate the page as the pt size is increased. I tried to create a feeling of animation by angling the word BAD 3 degrees to the left – with the word DRIVERS 10 degrees to the right, with some over lap, kind of like some thing you would see in a bad PowerPoint presentation… death by PowerPoint.

Design variants for banner to be used as a public art piece placed in and around China Town.



Chosen design below:



Banner in context.


Conclusion:
I feel reasonably happy with the outcome of the banner, based on the time research I have committed to this project. The colour combination was based on the Mao dolls, with him depicting himself in a child like regimented authoritarian manner - “The Father of all Children of the Republic”. This is where the Mao brand starts to create momentum and loyalty among its followers, and in this instance the new youth of the China republic. I found the colours a cliché to what we still see today, especially in China Town. Is it that these colours are embedded now as part of Asian culture? The reference to yellow as the colour of Asian’s skin /or to be more specific Chinese skin. The association of yellow is a way of colour coding ethnic cultures, much in the way Afro Caribbean’s, Africans and Jamaicans etc… are referred to sometimes as having black skin. The bright red, orange and yellow become more grounded/balanced by the use of the neutral safe grey.

I want to pursue this project more thoroughly, and spend more time in and around China Town and Richmond gathering sketches, photos, colour studies with collected materials such as: packaging, food etc… oh and must not forget the dried bats on sticks.

Thanks for reading!

Journal Excercise 6 - Colour and Culture

Personal experience

VANCOUVER
Over view:
Fact - According to recent surveys Vancouver is the most desirable place to live and 4th for for the quality of life that one gets living here. The government uses this to its advantage by selling the perfect image of Vancouver as a picture postcard (Europeans generally have this perception of Canada being the perfect place to live). Vancouver seems to be interpreted as a separate land that is unique to B.C, and the rest of Canada. In some respects this is true, but put the natural harmony's of the landscape and trees aside and you are left with a consumer industry that is very much government controlled with heavy taxes, generally high living costs and housing that is way over priced, with people suffering and trying to live the Vancouver dream. Outsiders almost never hear about the struggles of addiction, alcoholism and homeless on the streets. They never hear about the almost weekly killings of 'targeted murders." This may just be the price we have to pay to stay in a place that is referred to as "The Best Place on Earth". What a load of un-awesomness!

Questions
• Imagine a Vancouver without the mountains and sea, would you still be here?

• Imagine having a cell phone that charges you for ONLY the calls you make?

• Imagine a divide of water between Canada and the States?





Colour's:
Blue
Positive associations = Sea, Fresh Water, Sky, Peace, Knowledge, Coolness
Vancouver is surrounded by sea, with the mountains defining the sky and clouds, making the whole experience for the viewer and active person more enlightening.

Negative associations= Detachment, Coldness, Depression, Apathy

Vancouver is very rich in natural resources e.g., fresh water & wood. Since the Liberal government has been making unruly decisions without always consulting/informing the people, before draining lakes and transporting fresh water into the States for a fee. The high costs of living means that people spend more of their earnings on housing than anywhere else in Canada. Perhaps they are working so hard they don't get to enjoy the things Vancouver has to offer.

Green
Positive associations= Nature, Growth, Healing, Success, Youth, Harmony
Vancouver portrays itself as a hub of nature and healthy living. Encouraging recycling, buying organic, fair trade, making your home energy efficient etc. You see more people out running, cycling, skiing and rock climbing that many other places in Canada and yoga studios are everywhere!

Negative associations= Greed, Envy, Corrosion
OK, buying organic is great, but the justification for the price some times just doesn't make any sense. Why would the same product/brand in one store be more expensive than another? In some cases I have found the bigger stores to charge more, especially for organics. Are they captalising on the ethos people have created in order to 'be' a Vancouverite? De-forestation is a BIG problem, with the Goverment selling off wood to the states for a cheaper cost. The states however sells its own logging off for a higher fee.

White
Positive associations= Purity, Simplicity, Truth, Cleanliness
Canada generally has a very good reputation when it comes to democracy and diplomacy. Canadians are renowned for their politeness, are considered peacekeepers internationally and are perceived to welcome immigration.

Negative associations= Fragility, Isolation
Immigrants that I have met (I am one too) as well as Canadians new to Vancouver, have found it very difficult to settle here and find the quality of life that Vancouver 'promises' and that we had at home. Employment opportunities are few, they seem to be based on certificates and education, rather than experience and opportunities to prove yourself (equal opportunities). Workers generally only get 2 wks holiday plus 11 statutory holiday (England offers 5 weeks), and the national minimum wage hasn't grown with inflation for the last ten years. Is Vancouver becoming a slave driven society while offering the incentive to come here with open arms, to be comforted with a A&W cheese burger and fries contemplating why?

Red
Positive associations= Energy, Passion, Excitement, Power, Love
The obvious choice of red is based on the national flag - with the use of red complemented by the maple leaf. Again representing Canada as a natural resource that is unique to the rest of the world.

Negative associations= Aggression, Anger, Revolution
I was surprised, and still am, by the number of targeted shootings that you hear about in news. then there is the downtown/east side problems with drugs and prostitution that has been such a part of Vancouver for so long that they have a community that takes care of each other, that is continuously trying to get their voices heard and validity within society increased.

Describe content, materials and display - connections between colour and culture?

Car number plates - Blue, Green & White with Mountains in the background. "Beautiful British Columbia - The Best Place on Earth". This arrogance even annoys British Columbians.

BC Hydro - Blue, Green & White. Uses slogans like "Power Smart" to give the impression of ethics and the environment. (They have the consumer over a barrel as there is no competition and thus no real drive to increase productivity, cleaner energies and reduce prices. while the English Conservative government of the early 90's encouraged privatisation.)

Food - Well known for its Sushi with reds, greens, oranges, yellows (primary, complimentary, warm colours) - cultural links with Japan, immigration and further emphasis healthy living. This is a hard one to knock as the food here is pretty healthy but also very expensive. I have seen a red pepper selling for $3.00! Is that affordable when the minimum wage is $8.00.

Nature's Path - A Richmond based organic cereal company recently chosen as one of Canada's greenest employers. It's logos shows a river running through a tree laden bank, flowing into a distant sunset with birds flying in the sky. The surrounding frame is green.

Urban Environment - Small city low density. Has taken advantage of the natural environment by building sky rises with lots of space between other buildings (corridors) and the use of glass and mirrors, to provide people with that sense of nature and calmness.
Lots of new buildings being decorated with glass to help give the illusion of space and reflect natural colour and light. This helps to create more of an interesting space, even though people are in a ever growing metropolis that will inevitably grow in density and mass. picture an illusionist that general uses mirrors as a tool for inspiration. The reality is that there is very little low income, affordable housing.

Rex (Toy Story) - This relates to the boldness of visual graphics and heavy use of colours, and for Vancouver being a strong hub for the creation of computer games and animation. Vancouver FIlm School (VFS) students pay $50.000 for a years training in animation. Students are given the hard sell, shown statistics that they are garuentude to get a TOP job at the end of it and encouraged to apply.

Killer Whale - Again reference to the above, but the whale is also a symbol of nature and wildlife. People come from around the world to watch the whales.

Yoga girl - Vancouver is saturated with yoga studios that give add to the impression of the city being place of sanctuary and spirituality. You can't go anywhere without tripping over someone in Lulu Lemon Yoga gear or another carrying a yoga mat! But again, the stress of having to work long hours or simply find the money to pay the highest mortgage levels in Canada leave most people I know wanting to go to yoga instead of doing it.

Sports Teams - The Canucks use a blue and white Orca whale, need I say more. The Grizzlies use, well...a Grizzly on a teal (blue/green) background. These help to sell the idea of Vancouver.

Plastic lego trees - Trees line the streets, can be seen along the mountains, cover huge areas within the city in places like Pacific Spirit Park and Stanley Park. While trees are being cut down at an alarming rate, and in some cases clear cut strategically to give the illusion of mass growth a justification of this is that at least a percentage of trees are replanted.

Rainbow - A children's story book. Is there gold at the end of this rainbow?

Bill Read and The Inukshuk - Vancouver prides itself and markets itself on it Native Culture. Once you live here and get to know more about the real struggles of the natives you realise how far we still have to go to create healthy traditional communities.

Lego blocks - Condos, sky rises residential homes go up like lego.

Salmon crossing - Salmon is bright red at the peak of spawning, the yellow symbol represents the over fishing and pollution causing the slow decline in numbers. This is a constant concern. Will we always have salmon to stock the shelves at duty free in the airport?

Little Girl (my daughter): Every body wearing Canadian branded outfits (consumerism and patriotic).

BC Flag - Red, blue, yellow and white. The four wavy white and three wavy blue lines symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. The setting sun represents that fact that BC is Canada's most western province. It was created in 1960.

Intrawest - Itself is a "Leader in Destination Resorts' was chosen because: 1. Vancouver markets itself and depends so much on tourism and 2. Uses the images of mountains and blue. The reality is that Whistler is virtually entirely foreign owned and at that sponsors are pulling out as we speak. Not to mention that it cost a phenomenal fee of $93. Can many families afford that?

Starbucks - Vancouver is a coffee culture! Everyone loves their coffee but not everyone drinks Starbucks as there is a real movement here for ethical coffee and 'good/stong' coffe. Starbucks continues to be a spreading francise that is like a parasite entering the ears of Canadians. Why the hell is there a Starbucks at Langara? Would it be nice to give a independent business idea a chance, where the concept, brand, interior has been designed by students?

Everyone is getting high on yoga, mountains and coffee in a sea of blue, green and white logos! Or are they?