IRONY

'The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.'

My piece does exactly this. Using the words 'Rock Bottom' that usually signifies the worst time of someone's life or worst state of mind, it should be a sad, dark, gloomy piece. Instead it is bright and lit up like a shop sign inviting you in, asking you to 'stay a while' which has connotations of a good time. This irony should spark interest in the viewer.

Examples of signs with ironic messaging.

This driver has clearly NOT driven carefully.

Colourful Colorado is in fact, very beige and bleak.

When scrolling through instagram, I saw this reel that shows a door with a sign on it saying -

THIS IS OUR HAPPY PLACE - only for a hand to remove it to reveal a hole punched in the door behind.

This is sad of course, but funny due to the clear and blatant IRONY of the sign.

This made me think about the aspirational signs you see in people's houses, for example the famous 'Live Laugh Love' that has now being synonymous with 'HUN' culture (outdated, cheesy, embarassing)

This 'Live Laugh Love' t shirt is ironic. The colour pallette of red and black, with the death metal font, is the opposite of the 'Live Laugh Love' aesthetic, with death metal culture being related to violence, hard rock and horror.

CASTLE PROJECT

James Collinson, For Sale

Details of For Sale

Russian Doll inspiration

My initial sketches

Sketchbook

GOOGIE & MID-CENTURY MODERNISM

Mid-Century Modern is a movement of design, art, furniture.

Googie

Googie was an architecture and design era defined by its futuristic style and bright colours

Examples of Googie style in the 50's and 60's in USA

This style represented the need to push forward with new design ideas, rooted in futuristic 'space' style.

There are several iconic signs all over the USA. I found a website that shows the signs by state, there are hundreds. This Vintage Americana style seems to have had a resurgence recently.

https://www.roadarch.com/signs/1.html

Laundrette sign, Yuma, Arizona, USA

This laundrette sign is very stylized with the bright pastel colours, shapes and neon. Arizona seems to be largely populated by these Mid-Century Modern signs being redesigned and refurbished in the same style.

Vintage signs, Arizona, USA

I found these signs on an Etsy called Atomic Avocado Design, which is based in Arizona, USA. The signs have a Mid-Century Modern aesthetic and are laser cut from brightly coloured acrylic. I love the iconic starburst motif, which is reminiscent of the Las Vegas sign. These are best-sellers, which makes me even more keen to purchase my own laser, to create work of this standard making custom signs.

Custom Signs, Atomic Avocado Design, Arizona, USA