So this took me a while, my background is interactive media but I haven’t touched flash in as long as I can remember, then set with a brief to make a Christmas card that didn’t cost the earth and was innovative I thought, what the hell, lets use flash (and caused myself days of bloodshot eyes and roaring headaches!)
Anyway here’s the results…
So this is how it started…
I was in the car with my brother, both in a revolutionary mood . We were giving out about the state of this that and the other, the usual really and about how quiet we are as a people. “No matter how bad things get,” we said, “nobody seems to do anything about it.” (we included ourselves here). “Right,” we said in unison (because that sounds more dramatic) “we are not going to give out again unless we have done something about it.”
So I went home and gave out to my flatmates about it but nobody seemed to notice. Then my brother sent me a link to contact all TD’s, so I did and gave out to them about it, that too didn’t make much of an impact. In a giving out mood, I decided lets give out to the papers about it and I sent a letter to the Editors of the Sunday editions.
It was taken up by the Business Post and suddenly romantic ideas floated through my head…freedom of speech, marches through the streets, addressing the people from the steps of the GPO… my mind ran rampant as I thought about what I would say to Vincent Browne and should I curtsy when I met McAleese.
Alas my words were minced, the Post printed the meekest two or three lines of what I thought to be the start of my revolution. Here is my original letter…
Dear Editor,
I am writing to you as a young person who did not previously take great political interest in my country. I voted of course, and then I left the job up to those elected…that didn’t work out well!
I am totally appalled at the lack of courage shown by our representatives. Yes I agree, we did get ourselves into this mess, with the aid of European banks I might add, but we cannot lie down and let Europe rape us. Rape is a strong word I know, but that is exactly what they are doing.
Men and women of courage graced these lands and fought for our freedom not so long ago, now we have men and women in pin stripped suits who open every door to Europe and let them invade our fair Isle. Make no mistake, it is an invasion, a financial invasion. If they don’t get us on the battle field they’ll get us in the banks!
Just yesterday I heard that there is a move in Europe to make the corporate tax universal across all member states, something we were promised was sacred. Come on, open your eyes, this is not about what’s best for Ireland, this is about what’s best for the larger European members. We cannot let the bail out go through, we need to default and get ourselves out of this mess. We are our own people, we are a strong and brave people who have been brow beaten by those in power. We need to stand tall, we need to stand together.
Our elected representatives have the fate of a country in their hands. I ask them to take responsibility for it. Have some bloody balls!
Yours Forcefully,
Helena Duggan
Click HERE to see what the Post printed (third article)
The Tribune also took up the letter (I found out today), they didn’t print it complete but it’s a better rendition. Click HERE to have a look.
I think I’ll have to try another tact, anyone for a march?!!
I am currently working on a project for a festival, its a tender and I’d love to get the job. So the problem is I was trying to think of a way that everybody who picks up the design could get involved in the festival straight away. I also wanted elements of the festival to become part of the design, so I put my thinking cap on, it was a little tight (I think I’ll have to get a new one, maybe fleecy to combat our beautiful weather) and got under the table (I think best under the table) and this is what I came up with….JOIN THE DOTS.
Remember joining the dots sitting by the fire as you drew a line not fully sure what the picture would be, then you got out your pencils and coloured it in. Genius! So I put together an illustration, then took it apart and replaced the lines with dots. I can’t obviously show you the design (yet) but here’s a few join the dots games to play if you’re board (that should be bored, if you’re a board you prob won’t be able to play the game unless you’re a board with arms that is).
I’m working on a piece at the moment which is in a small way inspired by “The Son of Man” a painting by Magritte. The painting is a self portrait, which I think is great, I’d love to meet a man with an apple for a face. I think we’d become firm friends, he’d be great to have around if a little peekish. Anyway, so my work is inspired by the painting and by the idea behind it, it is based around a conflict between the present that is hidden and the present that is visible, also note his partly revealed right eye (just noticed my mistake it’s the left eye actually just looks like the right one), ummm more food for thought.
Anyway I have posted the painting above. I just noticed this bit of a blog makes me sound quite profound, a little deep and an expert in the field of arts, off course all of these things are completely true of my character, I’m extremely deep especially when asleep.
Here’s a little more of Magritte.
Can you draw the internet is a little site put together by UK based magazine Creative Review to face designers off against ten year olds to see who has a better grasp on what the internet is. My entry is above, to see it on the site click here and scroll about half way down the page!
This weekend in Kilkenny we have our own currency, The Marble. It’s part of Kilkenomics a strange mix of a festival where comedy and economics merge. I think it’s a great idea for a festival and fingers crossed The Marble will boost sales in the city for a few days. If it works I vote we keep it!
You can find out more here…
Here’s some images of a job I am currently working on…
I’ve been hanging around with scalpel, ruler, sugar paper, sticky squares and prit stick for the past few days now and they’re great craic.
The truth is we actually have a history together, go way back. I was good friends with them for a while in playschool (except for scalpel of course, he was part of the cool crew, way too grown up for us). We fell out for a bit, I’m not sure what happened, but made up again in college and had a good few years of fun and frollicks. Then I don’t know we just drifted apart, except for the ruler we’ve always kept close contact, then a while back we all met up on a whim for a few drinks (scalpel is a little dangerous when he’s full) and that was it.
We’ve come full circle and are really enjoying our time together, creating and having fun. Who knows what the future holds for us but for the time being the crew have taken up refuge in my office. Had a bit of a panic last week, thought we had lost prit stick, her cap fell off and she was drying quick fast, but thanks to the clever thinking of sugar paper, a new cap was fastened and prit stick is back to her usual self. Phew!
Sorry a little late on this post, but helds new design for the Elizabeth & Claire Fashion House went live a few weeks ago. Claire’s clothes are amazing and I hope the site compliments them. I posted the work to my portfolio but I think it also deserves a bit of blogging!
Visit the site here
My branding for Surfbox internet kiosks is now in Toulouse Airport and I’m delighted it looks great!
I know it’s supposed to be a recession but I don’t think anyone has told Tom and Declan from Surfbox, their kiosks are flying up all over the place. You can also get free printing from your laptop or mobile in Dublin airport with Surfbox for a limited period, have a look for the signs, it’s a handy option if you are venturing abroad.
Images of the area newly rolled out in Toulouse…
I came across a YouTube video today from The Hop Inn, Athenry, Galway and I have spent the rest of the morning trawling through everything they’ve uploaded as a way of keeping in touch with their customers. I have to say the videos are brilliant. Not only are they hilarious but they are also very informative, I picked up training tips on everything from running through to golf and also learned that there was an Irish man down the mine with those Chileans and not one news channel reported it!
Anyway have a look for yourself even Beyonce is a fan of The Hop Inn
