Gottfried Helnwein Cont.

Image 2

Image 3

How does this change in viewpoint change your interpretation of the image?

Image #3 shows the actual work by Helnwein after being installed in Waterford, Ireland. The name of the photograph is "The Last Girl". From this viewpoint you can see the size and location of the work. The first image you saw (Image #1) was a photograph documenting the installation of this large-scale image.  

With that in mind, describe Helnwein's image in as much detail as you can and in a separate post, record your answers on your Blog. Look at the image closely (Click on it to enlarge). What do you see? Describe it as if you were recounting it in detail to someone who had never seen it. Think about the scale--how could the size affect the meaning?  Think about the material, the logistics and engineering of mounting it.  Is it one contiguous image or is it spliced together or can't you tell? 

Think about the location--is it urban? Rural? Residential? Industrial? Given the image's location, who do you think will see the it? Who is the intended audience? Describe the mood of the image. What is the expression on the girl's face? Is it blase? Is it engaged? Is it optimistic? Wondering? Melancholy? 

Finally, consider the title "The Last Girl". What do you think the title suggests?

As one of my predictions was that the image was of a billboard-like display, my interpretations change only slightly.

Otherwise, my adapted description of the image does change. A face shot of a young girl spans the entirety of the side of a incomplete building. A car and a person at the bottom of the image shows the difference in scale to be at least 13x that of normal size. The girl herself appears to have less concentrated tones, and the right side of the photo is the side that light hits the most. The size could affect the meaning by making a simple statement with large proportions. The material could be a range of things; such as, paper, wood, canvas, cardboard. By referencing the 2nd picture, I can infer that in order to mount it to the building, repelling equipment and personnel were utilized. As far as I can tell, it is one contiguous image.

I predict that the location is industrial or urban; the working class are the most likely audience to this work.

The mood of the image is a calm but solid feeling of natural curiosity. It almost holds the viewer in place. The expression on the girl's face is inquisitive, curious, and engaged. 

The title, "The Last Girl", suggests that the subject is an ordinary child. simply a 'girl', who perhaps represents the limitations of youth in a society that constantly broadcasts content and influences perception.