5th Feb - 19th Feb 2024 (Week 1- 3)
Sin Jun Ming 0364638
Intercultural Design / Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Task 1 / Proposal
INSTRUCTIONS
LECTURES
Week 1 - Introduction
Module information was clearly introduced by Mr. Asrizal and Ms. Noranis in
the first week. Lectures about culture and design had been carried out
online to let us have better understanding towards this particular
module.
Week 2 - Group Discussion
In week 2, we have our physical class in lecture hall and lectures about research for cultural design were conducted. After that, all students were distributed to form groups for assignments. Hence, I formed a group with Caiyi, Liwen, Guanmei, Yukguan and Enyu and we are the Group 30. We then started discussing our topic for our first assignment.
Task 1 - Proposal
In Task 1, we were assigned to select a culture related to the general
theme - "Cultural Sensitivity in Design" as our topic.
The culture that we have chosen is Dia de los Muertos, in English - Day
of the Dead. It's a culture from Mexico that honors the deceased and accepts death as a natural part of life by
approaching it amiably and without terror or anxiety.
Research
We worked on research to gather information about this culture through online resources in a way of answering questions.
What is the name of the Day of the Dead in Spanish?
In Spanish the Day of the Dead is known as Día de los Muertos.
What Is the Day of the Dead?
A private family custom, Día de Muertos is an opportunity to respect and remember our deceased loved ones and welcome them back into our homes, even if only for a single evening.
Día de Muertos, which has origins that stretch back thousands of years—long before the arrival of Spanish settlers. It has evolved into a fusion of Mexican mysticism and Catholic tradition, honoring and remembering loved ones while acknowledging death as a part of life.
Fig 1.1 Celebration of Dia de los Muertos
When is Day of the Dead?
On November 2, all deceased people's souls are said to reincarnate into the living world. However, the festival usually starts on October 28 and honors a different type of death each day, such as those who passed away in accidents or as infants who passed away before being baptized. Nov. 1st, All Saints Day, is a day to remember those who have lived virtuous lives, especially children.
Who does the Day of the Dead honour?
The purpose of the Day of the Dead is to pay tribute to departed loved ones and accept death as a natural part of life by approaching it with familiarity and without fear or anxiety. The pre-Hispanic peoples of Mexico are the source of the holiday's customs. The month-long ceremony was headed by the deity Mictecacihuatl, also referred to as the "Lady of the Dead."
Fig 1.2 Culture to pay tribute to departed loved ones
Who celebrates Day of the Dead?
Although it is mostly a Mexican custom, other Catholic nations also remember the departed. In the Philippines, family members pay respects at the deceased's grave by bringing flowers and burning candles. It's called Dia de Finados in Brazil. Additionally, November 2 is observed as All Souls' Day, a day on which Catholics remember and offer prayers for the deceased, in many other nations, including the United States.
Where is the Day of the Dead celebrated?
Mexico is the home of the Day of the Dead celebration, however it is also somewhat observed in other parts of Latin America and the United States.
What is Day of the Dead face paint called?
Dia de los Muertos face painting often draws inspiration from La Catrina or Catrin, which portrays a sophisticated rendition of a skull.
Fig 1.3 Dia de los Muertos face paint
What is the origin of Day of the Dead face paint?
One element of Dia de los Muertos is a calavera de azucar, which is growing in popularity. A sugar skull is called a calavera de azucar. These sugar-moulded skulls are embellished with rhinestones, feathers, foils, frosting, glitter, and a variety of other beads and decorations.
On the skull's forehead, those who commemorate Dia de los Muertos will write the name of their departed loved one. This skull will then be placed on an ofrenda, which is akin to an altar, along with marigolds, candles, tamales, fruits, salt, and any drinks their loved one likes.
Comparable to the Celtic notion that the dead would reappear on Halloween, the belief surrounding Dia de los Muertos is that the skies open for a brief period of time, allowing the deceased to roam the earth. The purpose of the ofrendo was to allow them to savour the sweets they enjoyed while they were alive. The idea of Dia de los Muertos is to commemorate rather than grieve the lives of loved ones.
Sugar skulls have grown in popularity recently, and many people even paint large, vibrant swathes on their faces to mimic the skulls for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. The purpose of these masks, as well as some face paint, is to allow wearers to temporarily forget about their concerns of dying and connect with their playful side. Face Painting with sugar skulls has cultural beauty, deep symbolic importance, and serves as a means of honouring the lives of the deceased.
What does the Day of the Dead face paint symbolise?
Applying face paint for the Day of the Dead is a way to pay homage to departed loved ones and to craft vibrant and intricate tributes. Face paint is commonly paired with traditional Mexican clothing during Dia de los Muertos festivities, which may feature colourful embroidered skirts, adorned jackets, pants, and sombreros.
Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada conceived La Catrina in the early 20th century as a satirical depiction of a skeleton dressed in fashionable attire, intended to ridicule the upper class. Over time, La Catrina (with Catrin as the male counterpart) has been embraced as a significant symbol of Mexican culture, symbolising the acceptance of death as a natural aspect of life and a cause for celebration.
Why do people paint their faces for Dia de los Muertos?
The Mexican Day of the Dead celebration is frequently mistaken for Halloween in the United States, but its distinctive face-painting tradition is unmistakable.
The annual observance of the Day of the Dead, known as Dia de los Muertos, originated thousands of years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and Nahua civilizations. In contrast to mourning, these pre-Hispanic cultures viewed death as a natural part of life's cycle and considered it disrespectful to mourn the departed.
Instead, they regarded the deceased as eternal members of the community, keeping their spirits alive. According to tradition, during Dia de los Muertos, the spirits of deceased loved ones return temporarily to Earth.
Fig 1.4 Face paint design
How to Choose Your Dia de los Muertos Face Paint Design?
Selecting a design with great personal meaning is one of the most crucial parts of face painting for Dia de los Muertos. The design you choose becomes an original method to commemorate their lives, a creative way to share your memories, and an emotional homage to your loved ones.
During Dia de los Muertos, painting your face is not only a beautiful display of art but also a meaningful way to acknowledge the ongoing bond between the living and the dead and to connect with the past. You're honouring your loved ones in a very meaningful and heartfelt way by selecting a design that speaks to your memories and history.
How do you paint your face for Day of the Dead?
Ayala-Antonsen initiates her face painting routine by ensuring she has all the necessary colours and sanitised materials. Typically, she keeps a selection of designs available for easy selection by her clients.
Most of the time, Ayala-Antonsen applies her Dia de los Muertos face paint freehand, occasionally utilising stencils.
"Each artist has their own unique style, so no two designs are identical," Ayala-Antonsen noted. "Since we're painting on skin and every face shape differs, each result may resemble one another but won't always be identical."
Ensure to select hypoallergenic paints as acrylic paints are unsuitable for use on skin. Ayala-Antonsen emphasised the significance of finding a photo for inspiration and crafting your design based on it. The time required for face painting can range from 10 minutes to an hour. Commence by applying a base layer of white paint to the face and then develop the design from there. You have the freedom to incorporate your preferred colours or opt for a black and white scheme.
What colour is best for Day of the Dead?
Feel free to utilise any colour of your choice for Day of the Dead face painting. Ayala-Antonsen incorporates various designs into her work, including monarch butterflies, spider webs, flowers, and embellishments/jewels.
When creating monarch butterflies, she employs shades of orange, yellow, and black. Otherwise, Ayala-Antonsen endeavours to incorporate individuals' favourite colours into the design.
Fig 1.5 Colorful face painting
Primary colours to use
There are five primary colours used to symbolise this celebration of the dead. The colour of purple signifies pain, suffering, grief, and mourning and is used to acknowledge the loss of loved ones. One can see purple used in this fashion in the Catholic Church, especially during the season of Lent when it is used to show sorrow and suffering. While white is associated with purity and hope—white being associated with new beginnings for the souls that have passed on to the next life—pink is the colour of celebration, symbolising a tribute to the deceased. Orange or yellow, when used with marigolds, represents the path the departed's souls will take—the colour of the bright sun that illuminates their path and allows them to be freed from their ties to their families. Red is symbolic of blood, a connection that the deceased once shared with the living.
Symbols in Day of the Dead Face Painting
Skulls
While face painting may not be an ancient practice, the calavera design holds deep historical roots. Skulls, known as calaveras or calacas in Mexico, play a central role in the symbolism of Dia de los Muertos. They serve as the inspiration for face painting, as well as the shape for candies like sugar skulls and various skeleton-themed decorations.
In Mexico, individuals wear traditional skull masks, and the practice of painting faces to resemble skulls has evolved as a variation of this tradition. Masks have historically held significant symbolism in various cultures, often serving as a means for the wearer to connect with their darker, more chaotic aspects. Skull face painting offers an opportunity to confront the fear of death, indulge in reckless behaviour, and engage in mischief that may be frowned upon during other times of the year.
Fig 1.6 Día de los Muertos face-painting often mixes skulls with flowers
Flowers
Flowers hold significant symbolic importance in Dia de los Muertos celebrations, with many skull designs featuring floral elements. Among these, the marigold, or cempazúchitl, stands out as the flower most closely associated with the occasion, known as the "flower of the dead." According to Aztec belief, the marigold was sacred to Mictlantecuhtli, the god of the dead. It is believed that the strong scent of marigolds aids in guiding the souls of departed family and friends back to Earth when they return.
Flowers are commonly integrated into face-painted skull designs (and tattoos) which may appear unusual to some, but their significance lies in overcoming the fear of death and embracing life's celebration.
When was face painting incorporated into Dia de los Muertos celebrations?
During Dia de los Muertos festivities across much of Latin America, the sugar skull, known as "la calavera de azucar," is a prevalent feature. These face masks are traditionally crafted from sugar and adorned with glitter, feathers, and various embellishments.
Over time, this tradition has evolved to include face painting, aiming to replicate the calaveras. This practice often blends traditional Aztec elements with European symbolism. Additionally, the shared Catholic faith prevalent in many Latin American and Hispanic cultures contributes to the religious influence often observed in face painting.
Fig 1.7 One of the more recognized symbols associated with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations are the calavera de azúcar (sugar skulls) that decorate ceremonial ofrenda (altars) and tombstones during the festivities.
The iconic representation of a calavera closely linked with Dia de los Muertos is La Calavera Catrina, depicting a skeletal portrayal of an upper-class lady. This image is believed to have originated from a sketch created in 1910 by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada. Originally conceived as a satire of the privileged elite of the early 20th century, the underlying message conveyed is one of equality in death, emphasising the notion that all individuals are equal in the end.
Face Painting Supplies
Face Paints
Your Dia de los Muertos face paint design revolves around premium, non-toxic face paints. To make your chosen design come to life, you'll need a range of colours.
Brushes
The use of fine and medium brushes is essential when designing delicate details. While medium brushes are useful for wider strokes and color filling, fine-tipped brushes are ideal for delicate lines and fine work.
Sponges
Makeup sponges come in helpful when applying foundation and creating a flawless, uniform finish. Larger facial regions benefit greatly from them.
Makeup Remover
Keep wipes or makeup remover handy. They're necessary for fixing errors and washing your face when you're done.
Reference Images
It is quite beneficial to have reference photos or images of your selected Dia de los Muertos face paint design. With the help of these pictures, you will be able to replicate the fine features and patterns with precision and authenticity in your design.
References
Day of the Dead face painting ideas, from La Catrina to butterflies to spider webs. (n.d.). The Arizona Republic.
Eagle, J. H., The Berkshire. (2022, November 1). Remember your loved ones by making your own calavera de azúcar (sugar skulls). The Berkshire Eagle. https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/food/calavera-de-azcar-sugar-skulls-day-of-the-dead/article_b533badc-334a-11ec-a5ce-fbbd43445813.html?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1635729194
Gittins, W. (2021, November 1). Why do people paint their face for Dia de los Muertos? AS.com. https://en.as.com/en/2021/11/02/latest_news/1635809019_203219.html
Ashley Y. Garcia (2022, Feb). The Color and the Meaning: The Palette of Día de Los Muertos.
FiestaConnect Blog (2023, October 31). Unleash Your Creativity with Our Day of the Dead Face-Painting Guide.
Stephanie Bachman (2017, Sep 22). The Origins of Sugar Skull Facepaint: Day of the Dead.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024, Feb 3). Day of the Dead.
Oscar Lopez (2023, Oct 31). What Is Day of the Dead, the Mexican Holiday?
Presentation Slides
We then started to work on our presentation slides for proposal, we discussed our ideas and listed them in the slides below.
Presentation Video
After finishing on our slides, we recorded a presentation video to explain our ideas effectively. We provided three primary ideas to elaborate the culture we have chosen - Dia de los Muertos, lecturers will give suggestions and feedback in the following week to finalize the choice on our final design.
FEEDBACK
In week 3, we received feedback from our group supervisor - Dr. Charles, that we should choose the first idea which is face painting. In this case, our final design will be presented through physical presentation with face painting on our faces.
Comments
Post a Comment