Gottfried Helnwein Image Response Follow Up


The images on the class blog showed us two images that were related to the image from the last post.
After seeing these two new photos, I can be confident in saying that my view on the image has definitely moved my interpretation in a way, like gaining new knowledge that helps you finally understand a subject.

The two new images are the same as the first one from the last post. The difference is that we now have a wider field of view, letting us see what was around us. And what we see is that this image wasn't at all what I originally thought is was.

My interpretation of the last picture was that it was photoshopped and made to send a message about life. Now, what that message was, I couldn't entirely find out, but I thought is was there somewhere.
Now that I can see around the image, I now know that what I was seeing was a close-up of a giant image that was physically painted on the side of a building in Waterford, Ireland.

The image's name is "The Last Girl", and it was painted and installed by Gottfried Helnwein.
The image is on the side of a (maybe) ten story concrete building in what looks like an isolated area of Waterford. The second image shows us that there is another building the the right of the image, so we can assume that this area isn't exactly 'rural'. However, the place still isn't fully developed or highly populated either.
As for the giant painting itself, well it's just the same as the one from my previous response. Although now we can see the girls whole face. He expression still seems to be neutral, with it not really saying much. Her expression can give a slight feeling of melancholy, as it could be interpreted that she is calling for help or a similar meaning. Or it could be that the girl is trying to make us think about the purpose of the image.

The paint used and the method used to paint the image results in a painting with an immense amount of detail. The image almost looks real, as if it were a photograph taken and scaled to the size of a building. And the methods used to mount the image upon that wall must have been at least somewhat impressive. Unfortunately, we never see any images of the people putting the image up, so I can't say to much on that. Still, from what I can see, the image isn't in separate pieces. So while it might've been stupidly impractical, it looks like they just put the whole thing up. But then again, I could always be wrong in that observation, so don't take my words as fact.

Like a stated previously, the area that the image was placed in looks like it's either an industrial zone or the most ghetto residential district I've ever seen. But whichever one it is, the target audience for The Last Girl would be roughly the same. And those people would be low-medium class citizens.
The image, while it doesn't seem to have a clear image inside it, might be that way because the meaning is more external. Now, what does that awkwardly structured sentence mean?
What it means is that I think that the painting, while not the best art I've ever seen is still a beautifully painted image, was made so that people living or working in this area have something nice to look at.

When we look at the buildings seen in the images, it's obvious to tell from the buildings and infrastructure that this place isn't exactly "High Class". In fact, it looks like a place were lower class citizens live. And while the do have things that are valuable to them, you just have to admit that the area the live or work in looks kind of ugly.
So I believe that the purpose of The Last Girl is not entirely to convey some sort of meaning out of it, but to spruce up this area of Waterford Ireland.

That is what I believe is the reason that Gottfried Helnwein put his work of art here.




Images. Credit to Gottfried Helnwein.






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