#1 - An interesting minimalist approach has been taken here. The use of black and white, along with a stretched canvas size, really conveys a sense of isolation and loneliness. I get the feeling that this princess is all-too-familiar with the meaning of the word "despair". Trapped high in her tower, she looks out upon a bleak world, daring to hope that one day she will be able to leave, yet also fearing the crushing emptiness that ultimately awaits her.
#2. Again, this interpretation seemed to play with the themes of loneliness and isolation. The artist does a good job of connecting with the audience by incorporating elements of the famed fairytale Rapunzel. The text included within the picture captures the conflicted situation in which our princess finds herself.
#3. This picture presents us with a message that is slightly more open to interpretation. Wearing her crown, our princess looks out towards the viewer with a look of determination. Perhaps she is staring at her people, or maybe she is gazing upon the vast lands of the country. Her composed posture, as well as her position within the piece (high and centred), cast her as a woman of power and priviledge. She surrounds herself with only those she trusts most - the birds, uniform in their composition, which represent the aristocracy and the social elite of our society.
#4. The princess, trapped here in her castle in the sky, is drawn in a way that shows us she is invisible to the people of her world. A forgotten relic of the past, she is trapped within the confines of her castle elevated in the clouds - forced to play the political figurehead regardless of her objections. No matter how wildy she waves her arms, or no matter how loud she screams, the world will be unable to see her (represented by the glaring harsh lighting that does more to hide her than to make her visible).
#5. This abstract piece is both humorous and frightening in its execution. The playful, child-like colouring makes the picture appear harmless, warm, cuddly and approachable. However, if one spends too long looking at the the disjointed lines, scraggly and disconnected, one begins to sense an atmosphere of panic hidden in behind the picture. The world in which this princess finds herself is decaying. Colours bleed from their confines and the dimension rips apart. Truly, this princess is trapped in a nightmare with a smiling face.
#6. The world is most definitely magnificent. Being able to convey such emotion on such a small canvas is an incredible feat. Our princess, looking out as she waves to her subjects and proclaims her worldly wisdom (en français), radiates happiness and joy. I am able to connect with her character, her optimism. I believe that even when the monstrous T-Rex approaches, she will be able to deal with it in a calm and rational manner. The princess will discover that the T-Rex did not intend to scare everyone with his growls and roars - he was simply overcome with emotion by her passionate speech. There will be a glorious alliance forged between the human and dinosaur kingdoms. Everything will be alright. That's just how the world is.
#7. One of the more challenging pieces to analyze was this one, due to its complexity. Our central character is neither princess nor politician - she is simply a girl. The entire picture has a very modern, urban feel to it - this castle is one of those high-end clubs in a big city, where the rooms above it are apartments to let. The sepia colour scheme makes this feel as if it's some lost memory I've only just remembered - a photograph hidden in my mind from years ago. Why did I remember now? Was it perhaps because I was staring out the window, lost in thought as the world turned around me? As the sun moves in the sky, this piece is able to tell a story - a beginning, middle and end - all in one phrase.
#8. A rather conservative and traditional wizard princess sits at the balcony of her castle in the sky. She looks out to the kingdom, her eyes focused but unseeing. Today, she has put away her magic. Today, she has left her hair unbrushed. Today, she hasn't put on slippers. She is caught in the moment. Her hands feel the cool texture of the worn stone beneath her fingers. Her ears listen to the wind as it rushes through her hair and whispers in her ears. She smells the fresh, biting nip of the dawn, as the sun peaks above the clouds. She wonders, how do I fit in to this picture? She realises she doesn't care. She does. She can feel it. It feels right. Yes. This is right.
#9. One morning, as Princess Beatrice was waking up from anxious dreams, she discovered that in her bed she had been changed into a most peculiar creature. She lay on a strange, hairless body and saw, as she lifted her head up a little, long, meaty arms with fingered hands, and short blunt nails at the tips of each finger. From this height the blanket, just about ready to slide off completely, could hardly stay in place. Her fleshy legs, lacking in fur in comparison to their earlier appearance, kicked helplessly before her eyes. Princess Beatrice, daughter of the Dog King, had found herself turning into a human.
#10. No-one noticed when the castle fell, partly because its descent was so gentle that it barely made the grass stir, and partly because there was no-one around to notice. The castle had simply chosen to lower itself gently to the ground, like a half-inflated balloon the morning after a cocktail party. It had grown tired of the sky. The princess, however, had not. This strange new world in which the castle had deposited her was unfamiliar and frightening. She wished she could return to the skies above, wished so desperately she cried. The castle ignored her - it was quite happy where it was. She will never walk through the door. She will never have her feet touch the ground. She still wants to believe. Day and night, she stays perched on the balcony, lost and confused at this apparent betrayal. A tragic end to a tragic tale.Thanks to everyone who participated!
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