The “L”, 2018
mixed media collage (colored paper, pencil, pen, photographs)
“The L” is a collage representing a snapshot of the view one would see from Chicago’s famous elevated train (known as the “L” train, short for elevated). Growing up in Chicago, I used this train daily and it became a cherished moment in my routine. Riding trains is my favorite method of transportation, and I can say that in part thanks to my experience riding the L. Having an elevated train is something I took for granted; I had not realized that trains in most big cities, are subways, meaning they are, indeed, underground. I prefer elevated trains to subways as they allow for observation of the environment - the view, the buildings, the landscape. It is truly a feast for the eyes.
The choice to reference the train in this collage also makes sense as it was created in response to an exploration on the idea of movement. While the final piece is very static and represents a scene that is fixed, movement is still suggested in the details - cars passing underneath the platform and the view parading out the window as the train moves. I also took into consideration the iconic aspect of the “L” train and Chicago’s skyline which are important components of the city’s identity.
I used images of some of Chicago’s famous buildings which I cut from magazines, and geometric shapes which I made out of colored paper to represent the elements composing the train. What results is a piece rooted in contrast : reality versus representation, old versus new, dark versus color, movement versus immobility. Finally, The simplicity of the title also references the simplicity of the composition, in both the shape of the letter and the straightforward meaning of the word.
I have also included a pencil drawing of the interior of the train, which continues this exploration of the cityscape as seen through windows.
