Camberwell Graphics Degree Show -Illustration

INNOCENT SAKALA
My greatest skill has always been in manufacturing. One of my tutors said "You have excellent drafts skills ..."
For the past two years I have to a deeper appreciation and comprehension of the impact and power of "Visual" communication.
No one thinks without employing imagery -we depend on visual sensory and even auditory imagery .It floods our consciousness when we dream and colours our fantasies when we wake. Memory is primarily a matter of imagery.
I've come to an understanding that in order to communicate visually, my images must satisfy the criteria of being memorable, interesting, witty and powerful, with a sense of reckless energy.
Because of my strong drawings I came to a place where i was branded an "Illustrator" - which i hate. In my thinking that is a dangerous curve, a place where everything can be predicted and nothing unusual is expected. A place of easy fix, no thinking. A place where what has been determined, determines what will be.
Its aggravating , but now l think my work requires the on -looker to engage, to think and to work. In order to breach the brand 'Illustrator' and bridge the gap between illustrator and designer I came up with a new 'concept' - "Personal Hybrid Images". Thus creating a single visual by double exposed photographs, strong drawings (basic language).
To create the "Hybrid Images" I manipulate the images by pulling bits from double exposures which conveys a message, thought, interpretation or concept. This process and concept captures the witty aphorism, reckless energy and the naturalness of a personal language, it also creates images crushing into other which makes them visually interesting and ambiguous. I like things ambiguous it makes makes people think and brings the best out of them.
I dislike the idea of leaving things to 'maybe' and 'chance', I get much of my inspiration, stir and challenge from writers, modern thinkers and also visuals around me. I do let creativity and ideas unfold, I also bump into things sometimes. Then i'm amazed when I step back from what I've just done and realise that I fully understand intellectually. There is rationale in my "Personal Hybrids".
Before I had an assumption that images need to be created and manipulated on a computer without giving any option to other alternatives and ways. I also realise that it's a dangerous curve - because spontaneity, originality, humour, strength, character and charm will dissolve.
I use computers as a conceptual tool - to refine my "Hybrids" and define purpose, be it poster, book jackets etc. I let text intercept according to the objective. I also enjoy manipulating type into images, superimposing them to produce a visual.
The concept of "Personal Hybrids" triggered conceptual thinking which in turn inspired interest in words, descriptive words, thoughtful commentary and typography.
I'm currently working on an Organic" typeface. Which is a reaction to the work on "personal Hybrids"....

INNOCENT SAKALA My greatest skill has always been in manufacturing. One of my tutors said "You have excellent drafts skills ..." For the past two years I have to a deeper appreciation and comprehension of the impact and power of "Visual" communication. No one thinks without employing imagery -we depend on visual sensory and even auditory imagery .It floods our consciousness when we dream and colours our fantasies when we wake. Memory is primarily a matter of imagery. I've come to an understanding that in order to communicate visually, my images must satisfy the criteria of being memorable, interesting, witty and powerful, with a sense of reckless energy. Because of my strong drawings I came to a place where i was branded an "Illustrator" - which i hate. In my thinking that is a dangerous curve, a place where everything can be predicted and nothing unusual is expected. A place of easy fix, no thinking. A place where what has been determined, determines what will be. Its aggravating , but now l think my work requires the on -looker to engage, to think and to work. In order to breach the brand 'Illustrator' and bridge the gap between illustrator and designer I came up with a new 'concept' - "Personal Hybrid Images". Thus creating a single visual by double exposed photographs, strong drawings (basic language). To create the "Hybrid Images" I manipulate the images by pulling bits from double exposures which conveys a message, thought, interpretation or concept. This process and concept captures the witty aphorism, reckless energy and the naturalness of a personal language, it also creates images crushing into other which makes them visually interesting and ambiguous. I like things ambiguous it makes makes people think and brings the best out of them. I dislike the idea of leaving things to 'maybe' and 'chance', I get much of my inspiration, stir and challenge from writers, modern thinkers and also visuals around me. I do let creativity and ideas unfold, I also bump into things sometimes. Then i'm amazed when I step back from what I've just done and realise that I fully understand intellectually. There is rationale in my "Personal Hybrids". Before I had an assumption that images need to be created and manipulated on a computer without giving any option to other alternatives and ways. I also realise that it's a dangerous curve - because spontaneity, originality, humour, strength, character and charm will dissolve. I use computers as a conceptual tool - to refine my "Hybrids" and define purpose, be it poster, book jackets etc. I let text intercept according to the objective. I also enjoy manipulating type into images, superimposing them to produce a visual. The concept of "Personal Hybrids" triggered conceptual thinking which in turn inspired interest in words, descriptive words, thoughtful commentary and typography. I'm currently working on an Organic" typeface. Which is a reaction to the work on "personal Hybrids"....