Hum

Each collage I create seems to carry hidden stories, waiting to be found in the details.

New patterns and images emerge within the works. Out of one story comes other narratives. Sometimes supplementary, other times standalone.

The above piece is called Hum, which is very much standalone. The origin doesn't matter, because its relationship is merely coincidental.

The two patterns below are related to Hum, but I didn't isolate them as named works. I love how they look, but not as standalone—or even supplementary—artworks. All a subjective decision though. The only thing making Hum a piece of its own accord, while the two patterns below aren't even graced with a supplementary nod, is my personal choice.

Untitled Pattern

What's weird is that I keep looking at this pattern, appreciating it almost as if it's more than just a pattern. And yet...

I love that about designs and illustrations and creative work. Boundaries help make sense of things while not making much sense of anything. It's a playful friction. And there's room for change, so I could use the above pattern as an asset, or use it to find new artworks within it, or I could decide further down the line to give this piece more recognition and assign it a title and further narrative.

Sounds arrogant and pretentious, to be honest. But it's part of the creative process. In a way, the boundaries are more for the artist than the artworks.

I've already hyped up the pattern above, yet denied it a title. I prefer it to the pattern below. What do you think?

Untitled Pattern

Maybe you're looking at this final pattern and you find it the most satisfying of the three images on show here. Or perhaps you agree with my order. It's all valid.

If any of these were, say, patterns on a carpet, that would be different to if the pattern was on clothing or up on a gallery wall. Placement matters too.

Maybe putting all this up on Dribbble seems out of place, or seems exactly the right place to be.

Whatever the case, I think this bottom pattern would probably make the best carpet design for me. I still wouldn't want it as a carpet design, but y'know!

Basically, context matters. Artists, audience, artwork... All things play their part. There is art within art and art beyond art too. Arrogant and pretentious, but also playful and curious.

Have fun, explore, and see how context matters ongoing.