Monkey King redux. My Vin project is to be a movie poster for the Journey to the West, an opera/ and also tv show about this marvelous creature the Monkey King. This fellow is part of the Chinese Opera and is woven into the chinese and buddhist cultures that this is a rich vein along with my fascination and delight with monkeys in general.There are some pretty established aspects of this being--along with some great traditions one can tap into. When one googlates this topic--there are a ton of images from ancient manuscripts to t.v. market tested imags. Even today when perusing the pages of Juxtapoz, there up front and center was a character toy (a la Kid Robot) of the very same god.
I plan on getting the color comp approved and then rendering it 3 ways: 1) A la Ivan Chermayeff's Mobile Masterpiece Theater posters/graphics; 2) inspired by the Provensens and their referencing a decorative style from which the tale is spun, a la Chinese cut paper decoration; 3) last but not least, a wild ride using line and flat color a la Marie Antoinette...and seeing how it goes. It will give me a chance to talk with Doug and Murray about the thesis...and who knows, as I do love monkeys, we could just blow this one out.
Monkeys in addition to being independent creatures that mimic man were court decorations, symbols and/or gods in mainly Asian and African cultures. They are tricksters who come to some understanding of truth. This could be really fun and at least 18 images could happen. Plus, they are stylish...and if my boyfriend Walton Ford can go to town with monkeys, why shouldn't I?
From International Hero.co.uk:
Powers/Abilities: The Monkey King was born out of rock, and hence is extremely strong and durable - in fact he is totally invulnerable. He is immortal, having gorged himself on the life-giving peaches of the Jade Emperor's sacred garden. He is also extremely smart - he learned all the magic tricks in the world from a master Taoist, so that he is now able to transform himself into seventy-two different images such as a tree, a bird, a beast of prey or a bug as small as a mosquito so as to sneak into an enemy's belly to fight him inside or out. He can employ clouds as vehicles allowing him to travel 180,000 miles in a single somersault. He uses a Wishing Staff he got from the Dragon Kings of the Oceans as his favorite weapon - it can expand or shrink at its owner's command (he normally stores it in his earlobe). He can turns clumps of his hair into any object he desires. His fiery eyes can see through most illusions. Being made of stone, he is uncomfortable underwater.
History: "The Nature of Monkey was Irrepressible!!" Monkey was hatched from a magical egg on a mountain top, which had been weathered and fertilised by the elements over many centuries. Made of stone and virtually indestructible (although he still feels pain), he was crowned the Monkey King after he proved to be the only monkey on the Mountain of Fruit and Flowers to dare go through the Water Curtain and set up a kingdom on Earth. Upon realising that he was destined to die like everyone else, he made it his new goal to become immortal. He located a Taoist who taught him magic and alchemy (and how to fly on clouds).