Asia Education Foundation

Visual Haiku

cover image: Arts/Media Unit: Visual Haiku

Students will discover, adapt and present elements of traditional Japanese haiku poetry in non-traditional ways. They will develop ‘visual haiku’ – incorporating imagery and text to interpret and represent a haiku poem. In developing this visual haiku, students may use digital cameras (moving and/or still), electronic imaging software and traditional art-making techniques to construct a series of images. Sounds may also be used. Discussions about how art forms convey beliefs and values form an important part of this unit.

 


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Resource sheet 3: Student task sheet

The unit will focus on researching, developing and resolving visual haiku, which will be an artwork or series of artworks using new media approaches including digital photography and electronic imaging software (eg Photoshop).

  1. Write or select haiku that you wish to use as the starting point for your artwork and document this in your visual journal.
  2. In your journal, brainstorm possible imagery (and possible text) that could be incorporated into your artwork. Ensure that the brainstorm includes options for imagery and considers media that may be used.
  3. Include in your brainstorm a list of possible objects/places/people that could be sketched or photographed as a starting point.
  4. Find examples of artworks that incorporate text and document these in your journal.
  5. Find an example of a traditional Japanese artwork (print, painting, tattoo, etc) and comment on how the imagery used may relate to a traditional Japanese haiku.
  6. Find examples of 'new media' artworks and describe how they were made (not just what they are made of) and why you believe these to be effective artworks. Justify your claims by analysing their formal qualities with reference to the artists' intent. In your critique, refer to the effective use of art elements and principles.
  7. Document and annotate in your journal, your photographic and Photoshop experiments.
    How you approach the development of imagery is your decision. Carefully consider the sensory information that is presented in your haiku. What imagery or text does it imply? Do you want to use obvious or subtle imagery to present the haiku? You may wish to start by drawing or photographing objects/people/places and manipulate these using Photoshop. Let the experimentation and process lead you and don't be afraid to change direction.
    Your finished artwork may be:
    • a photograph or series of photos
    • staged or candid photos
    • printed on paper
    • a projection
    • a series presented on PowerPoint
    • an electronic collage or montage
    • abstract or realistic
    • a photograph that you draw and paint over, and contains text, sound and/or music.

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