a series of unfortunate events
UCLA M.F.A.
PAPER PROJECT
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
The world of Lemony Snicket’s is under-laid with a feeling of abstract shackle: the bond between the children and their lost parents, Olaf’s obsession with Baudelaire’s financial heritage and the absurd rigidity of the heritage law. All the other characters in the story are blind to the obvious cruelty of how Count Olaf treats the Baudelaire’s children.
The fact that the story is told by three mature children’s perspectives initiated my design process with pastel colors. Thus, I cautiously grounded my visual settings in 1910s Helsinki, Finland not only because I was inspired by traditional Finnish colors and architecture, but also because of the tone of the landscape and the overall aesthetic of the culture.
The metafictional nature of the narrative also allows me to reference Surrealism, tonally. In addition to the literal research of National Romantic Style which was a Nordic architectural style often considered to be a form of Art Nouveau influenced in Finland. Architects such as Eliel Saarinen (1873 - 1950) and Selim Lindqvist (1867 - 1939) inspired me the most, especially the Villa Johanna (1906) designed by Mr. Lindqvist is the prototype of my interpretation of Count Olaf’s mansion.
RESEARCH
Among three legal guardians, Uncle Monty is the only one who actually cares for the children so I designed the front gate of his premises to be a little frightening but also give it a sense of protection for the Baudelaires. I was inspired by an eccentric set of photographs from a Finnish photographer, Riitta Ikonen along with Finnish indigenous culture.
THE REPTILE ROOM ORIGINAL SKETCH
