Object Reflection

Object Biography
Rationale
The object I have chosen is an unfinished painting of mine. A couple days before I started painting it, I found out that I was accepted into the University of Washington. For me, I think the overall purpose it holds is that it’s supposed to decorate my dining room. Furthermore, the primary reason for my choice is the creative representation of myself that it holds. The flowers are brightly colored to Immediately introduce the ambience of it; joyous. Many artists can agree that botanical paintings usually contains a symbolic message or is associated with the subject of the painting. (Meagher, 2007). In addition, I chose to paint flowers because they are quite sophisticated for their realistic and graceful appearance-
I painted these flowers from memory of various colors such as purple, blue, pink, and white. It is a white canvas supported by wood, which all together is 24” x 36”. When it is placed horizontally, on the top left of the canvas are four flowers that are pink and bunched close together. Each petal of those pink flowers ombré into a cream color on the outer part of the petals. Then next to that cluster, to the right, are two purple flowers that are also next to a golden fern. Then next to those two flowers are a blue-white ombré flower and an enormous ombré purple-white flower; both with pointed petals unlike the other ones mentioned previously. The blue and purple flower overlap the golden fern, one side has leaves painted on the right side, while the left side of the fern has no leaves pained yet. Moreover, below those are another cluster of flowers. There are another four pink flowers, however, the cream color is more prominent in this cluster. Right above those are a small version of the blue-white ombré and purple-white ombré flowers. Not only that, each flower was made carefully because not only was I unaware of which breed of flower I was painting, I was practicing a new technique specifically to paint those objects on the
In the case of the materials given to me by my grandparents, I do believe, in part, that this painting is a gift. The canvas and the paint set are not only examples of how gifts may serve to create social bonds between people but are also examples of the principle of reciprocity. The principle of reciprocity holds significance to my object because since my grandparents gave me the materials during a ceremonial event, there is an underlying obligation for me to pay them back somehow. This relates strongly toward the concept of generalized reciprocity for the fact that in giving those materials, I have become indebted to them while they gained this status of great generosity (Yunxiang). In my perspective, since I didn’t give anything back to them that equates the value of the gifts they gave me, the principle of reciprocity is an important aspect that I am glad I have come to