PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET POSTER


(Credits:  Pinterest)

Above is the artwork that I have chosen to critique for this week. It is a poster advertising Pacific Northwest Ballet Company located in Seattle. It features a ballerina in the center who poses in several different dance moves, some of which are out of focus and form silhouettes in the background.  The effect is an illusion that the dancer is shifting from one movement to another, thus being in motion. This effect is further enhanced as the artist cleverly uses body curves and diagonal lines to convey the feeling of energy in the motion. Soft, shallow curves of the dancer also provides a sensual and pleasing quality while a softening effect on the composition. A part of the emphasis is also placed on the vertical lines accentuated by the long, tall legs in the foreground. Perhaps, there is an intention to communicate a sense of height and the notion of an extension upwards to the sky, thus suggesting spirituality in ballet. Through the dance poses, the dancer also takes on organic shapes which are typically irregular or asymmetrical which expresses the notion of being flexible and out of the ordinary. What's interesting are the letters that are being placed along the curves of the dancer in a vertical manner. The letters are being embraced wholeheartedly by the dancer and became a part of the entire motion. Perhaps, it is to signify the concepts of freedom and openness portrayed in ballet.

The artist chooses to centralize the dancer who occupies at least two-third of the positive space in this picture, while the surrounding space, known as the negative space, accentuates the figure's solitude and control. Shades of violet and white were used to evoke a sense of calmness in this poster. The lighter shades of violet here convey the feelings of gentle softness and romance which is perfect in describing the genre of Ballet. From the philosophical perspective, purple or violet also represents the future and imagination which is a color appropriate for the arts scene as arts performances always seek to inspire and imagine new possibilities. We can observe that the softer tones of violet in the negative space also gently lead the eye to the dancer's bright violet/dark maroon leotard situated at the center of the piece where the focus should be at. It was a thoughtful use of colors to foreground what's important and generate the dreamy and romanticized effects of the piece.

As this is an advertising poster, its main goal is to attract talented individuals to sign up for classes at the academy. I believe the statement that the artist is trying to make is that ballet is not just a form of beauty. It constitutes much more than that, it is spiritual. It helps individuals to fulfill their self-esteem needs and attain self-actualization through gaining freedom, love, power, control, and solitude when performing the art, and that is ballet.  Hence, I do think that there is an intrinsic value in this piece as it conveys such an important message to all dance enthusiasts and those who may eventually be. However, as this is an abstract piece, individuals might not be able to understand the underlying message of this poster which is that there is something more than just beauty in this art form. It might be a pity if that's the case for most people, but I personally value this work and find it inspiring and motivational.