BEST BEFORE

• Main Author: Ramadhani, Anggitta
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/79443
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Best Before is a series of artworks about the passage of time which underlies forgotten mundane processes. This idea is exhibited by the visual concept that depicts the rotting process of bananas. The making of this series started off as an interest that the writer had in labor intensive techniques as a way to incorporate mindfulness in the art making process. To deepen the understanding of this interest, the writer formed the concept of elaborating the idea of ‘process’ into two elements which are the passage of time and human presence. In the process of giving meaning to ‘process’, the writer chose to explore mundane processes that includes objects that are needed to fulfill the primary needs, which in this case are comestibles. As a way to highlight the lapse of time, the writer decided to give meaning to the rotting process of bananas. The visual concept of this series depicts the aftermath of not being aware of the comestibles and so having it rot away while losing its initial value of function. The chosen comestible to represent the concept of rotting food are bananas as its inherent uniqueness that is found in the way bananas indicate aging, which is through the formation of brownspots. By this visual concept, the passage of time is recorded through the formation of brownspots that by time will add up. The concept that underlies this series is implemented through the visual concept, the art making techniques, and the artwork display. In the process of forming the visual concept that represents the stages of bananas rotting, the writer did a live observation of said rotting process. The documentation from this observation is used as the sketch reference. Afterwards, the techniques that are chosen in the image-making process refers to the elements of process. The first technique that is reductive printmaking refers to the passage of time element, and the second drawing technique that is stippling refers to human presence. Each artwork in this series represents the stages of bananas rotting that is summarized into five representational stages. To emphasize the linear aspect that underlies the physical changes of a rotting object, the artworks are displayed sequentially. The visual concept that contains the five representational stages of bananas rotting, is the visualization of the passage of time that is indicated by the physical changes of the object. The linear aspect of the passage of time in everyday processes, underlies the sequence of physical changes that are visually perceived and refers to the initial and final condition of the rotting object. Within the process of bananas rotting, shortening the of shelf life is indicated by brown spots that in time will cover the bananas surface in its entirety. In the art making process, reductive printmaking is used to print the artworks that represents the stages of bananas rotting, which will then be finalized with the marking of brown spots through the stippling technique. By referring to each element, the techniques as mentioned before is differentiated by immediacy. This difference is first seen by the use of the matrix in the reductive printmaking stage that acts as the mediator where the image-making process is made on. While in the stippling stage, the image-making process happens immediately through the gestural act of marking the dots. Through the visual concept, art making techniques, and displaying format, the Best Before series is a representation of the rotting of bananas in stages as a way to highlight awareness regarding the passage of time that flows without meaning. This concept is further emphasized by the subject matter that is based on the rotting of bananas as the mundane process that has passed and is forgotten. The title of this series, Best Before, is an adaptation from the label that is found on packaged goods to inform the expiration date. Best Before is intended to describe the condition in which the bananas are supposed to be consumed.