2. Introduction
I intent to explore artists that use the colour red within the photographic image to portray a specific
feeling or emotion. In particular I will be looking at the western culture, with countries such as America
and the United Kingdom who view red as both lustful and anger/hatred in comparison to oriental
cultures, such as India and China who perceive red as positive or lucky.
Some theories suggest the emotional spectrum is divided into the seven colors of the rainbow, with each
color corresponding to a different emotion: rage (red), greed (orange), fear (yellow), willpower
(green), hope (blue), compassion (indigo), and love (violet). However, it also represents the absence of
color (black), which is death, and the combination of colors (white) which is life. It is also claimed that
the two emotions on the far ends of the emotional spectrum red and violet (rage and love), have a
much stronger influence over the viewer when used within art or photography.
Red, corresponding with fire, symbolizes good fortune and joy. Red is found everywhere during Chinese New
Year and other holidays and family gatherings. A red envelope is a monetary gift, which is given, in
Chinese society during holiday or special occasions. The red colour of the packet symbolizes good luck.
Red is strictly forbidden at funerals as it is a traditionally symbolic colour of happiness; however, as the
names of the dead were previously written in red, it may be considered offensive to use red ink for
Chinese names in contexts other than official seals.
In modern China, red remains a very popular colour and is affiliated with and used by the Communist
government.
Modern surveys in the United States and Europe show red as the colour most commonly associated with
heat, activity, passion, sexuality, anger, love, and joy but similarly to China plays a big part in the
holiday season predominantly Christmas. In China and many other Asian cultures, it is the colour of
happiness and luck. Red was the first colour, after black and white, to have a name, and the first colour
known to be used in prehistoric art and decoration.
4. William Eggleston
The first photographer I will investigate is William Eggleston, Eggleston is an American artist from Memphis
and raised in Mississippi. In the mid-1960s Eggleston created his first successful colour photographs and
in 1972 came up with his piece ‘Red ceiling’ Eggleston photographed the blood-red room inside the
home of his best friend, a dentist, also from Mississippi. He created this by a technique called dye
transfer print. He could have done this because the prints have a richness, depth, and fidelity
unmatched by any other kind of photographic print.
The reason I want to investigate his work is because:
It has a different technique in achieving the photographic image (dye transfer).
It has a western view of the colour red.
I want to take the technique
of the dye transfer on with
me on my project, I want to
do this because it gives the
image a deeper colour end
emphasizes this.
How it links in with my project:
It links in with my project because this
artists looks at a more western view of the
colour red, this involves countries such as
the US, Uk…
5. Barbara Kruger
Much of her work consists of black and white photographs overlaid with declarative captions in white-on-
red, which have bold and italic, making them very outstanding to the viewer. The phrases in her works
often include pronouns such as "you", "your", "I", "we", and "they", addressing cultural constructions of
power, identity, and sexuality. The main subject of the image is mainly the caption, which at first
glance captures the viewers’ attention. The technique used in her images is the same that’s used in
propaganda, with bold captions, in bright colours, used to capture the attention of the public to
address a specific message.
I like this photograph….
I want to copy….How it links in with my project ….
6. How my Project will develop
Firstly I want to look into different cultures such as Oriental and
Asian.
Then I would like to move on and look into the different feelings and
emotions that these cultures present.
