My Lonely (2023) is an immersive digital animation artwork utilising both visual and sound mediums to create a unique environment. The usage of four screens, each displaying a different scene, gives the impression of a crossroads, of standing still with multiple choices of which way to go. This piece was created using a combination of photography, digital painting, animation and audio editing in order to achieve landscapes that are both believable but unique and somewhat fantastical. The animation was done primarily through Adobe After Effects, utilising tools such as keyframing and puppet pinning, while the audio was developed through Ableton, with some sections recorded myself and others borrowed from resources online.
The artwork was heavily inspired by my current standing in my personal life - unfortunately, my mother who lives overseas has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and the prognosis is still unclear. When I received this news, I was in the middle of this degree and felt as though I was at my own personal crossroads with weighing my options going forward. When conceptualising this work, I started sketching out broad, empty landscapes without putting much thought into why, until I realised that this was how I would respond to my dilemma, by channeling my emotions through my art so that I can be a stronger support for my mother, even if we cannot physically be together right now.
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Alex Shields is an emerging artist practicing in the realms of combining animation and installation artworks. Having grown up in Central West NSW, they are familiar with the idea of liminal spaces, areas that should feel as if they’re full of life and have none, and attempt to recreate this in their art. They are heavily inspired by landscapes and humanity’s effects (and lack of) on the environment, especially in regards to how these areas feel to a viewer once you remove the human element.