Deconstructed plants

After my plants as animals post, I wanted to look at the separate shapes that the plans were constructed from and why they collectively evoke certain emotions or responses.

One thing that plays a major role in the plantain is the textures, as you can see I have separated them out just as I have the other shapes. This is because they in themselves contain shapes. The almost scale like texture at the top left of the page has a curved point. This curved edge is slightly more friendly than that of a straight point. This is because we interpret the curve as a forgiving shape, sow ethnic soft that won't hurt us.

The gener shape of the plantain head looks a lot like that of a bullet. Although this would obviously be a negative and violent association, the imperfectness of the shape makes this association harder to make and the whole thing a lot softer.

This theme of the 'perfect imperfect' is one that reappeared throughout botany. For example, in the stamen, the way that they cross over one another and are varying different lengths, they still look right and the eye accepts them for what they are. 

Although both the vipers bugloss and the plantain have parts that are pointed and curvey the pointed curve of the bugloss are decidedly unpleasant in comparison. I think this could be because of the way they curve around to the side like a crash claw, as if they have an intent to hurt. This could simply be because of the introduction of a direction which suggests something is deciding that it will point in that direction. This suggestion of sentience in the shape is instantly interpreted as posing more of a threat than something with no sign of sentience. This suggests that we judge and interpret shapes with quite a primaries and instinctive part of the brain. For something to think for its self is instantly dangerous.

As suggested by the animal I chose to represent this plant (a fish) the droplet shape of the seeds have a definite directional component. As previously mentioned this should make the plant seem unsettling and unpleasant and indeed the animal version of the plant was. Could This be down to the way the shapes interlock, creating a repeat pattern that is quite pleasing to the eye. Only after talking to a friend about did I discover why barley seems so friendly; the colour. Nothing that is that beautiful gold colour could ever be unpleasant. This combined with the existing connotations of prosperity that barley has makes it a friendly and happy plant.

There are very few shapes in this plant and funnily enough the most dominant one is really no more than a directionless blob. The way the petals are shaped brings to mind a spreading pool of viscous substance on a flat surface. However, this doesn't seem to make it unfriendly or unpleasant in any way. This could be down to the theory that is slowly revealing its self as my research continues; that a shapes directional intent and level of suggested movement relates directly to how unsettled we are by it. This shape is just an object, no suggestion of sentience can be inferred, therefore it is unthreatening and friendly.

In my next stage of research I want to look into what role colour plays in our interpretation of shapes and how this could relate to branding and design and how I could draw these plants to evoke certain emotions or ideas. 

-