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2.1 Golden Cage

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Objective

Create an artwork that communicates a story through the metaphor of the Golden Cage. You may interpret this literally, symbolically, or abstractly. Your work must use balance and contrast as the primary tools to shape narrative and mood.

Research possible meanings to the common phrase “golden cage” and start preparing ideas. Choose one type of balance and contrast to use together in your artwork to tell a story.

Create a mood board with 10+ reference images. Copy and paste the link to our WordPress.com website.

Environmental Ideas

  • Depict the cage as a place: a grand, ornate structure (palace, room, garden, or literal gilded cage).

  • Emphasize balance through the architecture or composition.

  • Use contrast to highlight tension (luxury vs. confinement, light vs. shadow, beauty vs. decay).

Character Ideas

  • Depict a figure or creature inside or associated with the Golden Cage.

  • Balance: placement of figure vs. cage, symmetrical vs. off-balance poses.

  • Contrast: opulence vs. suffering, gold vs. dull tones, delicate vs. overwhelming.

read: Balance IN ART
read: CONTRAST IN ART
Loosely sketch 3+ thumbnails of your ideas. Your composition must hinge on the chosen contrast and balance.
Choose the best thumbnail and complete 1 digital artwork within the provided template.
Photoshop: click on File > Export > Export As and select the JPG format.
Upload your JPG into a gallery block on your WordPress.com website. Describe the objective of the project and how you approached it:

  • What does the “Golden Cage” represent in your piece?

  • How did you apply balance and contrast to tell the story?

  • Why did you settle on your final version?
  • Submit your URL to Veracross
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