Literal interpretation VS. Abstract interpretation

Assignment 3: Create two images or a diptych that offer different interpretations of one of the selected texts at the bottom of this page. Note: You must use the same vignette for both pieces. The first image will be a literal visual representation of the text, and the second image will be an abstract interpretation. Consider your images in terms of metaphor, sensation, emotion and so on. It is important that these pieces communicate first and foremost as a visual medium. Do not use the text in the piece, although you can use typography if it is necessary to your concept.

A spruce is standing lonely
in the North on a barren height.

He drowses; ice and snowflakes
wrap him in a blanket of white.

He dreams about a palm tree
in a distant, eastern land,

that languishes lonely and silent
upon the scorching sand.

—Heinrich Heine

Literal

For the literal illustration of the poem, I opted to make it more artistic than photorealistic. I created and photographed a still life of a tree (found from the Christmas Village collection at Michael's Arts and Crafts) sitting in snow (sugar - with nice clumping action) with a backdrop of a winter storm (found from JoAnn's Fabrics). The palm tree dream cloud was made from scrapbook paper and a palm tree sticker that was scanned. Everything was digitally combined in Photoshop.

Abstract

For the abstract interpretation of this poem, I considered the meaning that I received from this poem. To me, this piece talks of the desire to be someone and somewhere else. This is a feeling that I am very familiar with throughout my life. From childhood onward, whenever a situation became too stressful, I would close my eyes and count to ten and imagine being somewhere else that wasn't so unpleasant or imagine what it would be like to be in the future and how things would be better. The numbers in the image represent counting to 10. They start out larger and brighter and get smaller and fainter to indicate the change from stressful to peaceful. The warmth of the image on the left contrasts with the tranquility of the blue water that represents the same change.