Final Collage, artist and philosophical statement, and process sheet

Artists statement
This collage depicts different ways of the balance between the good and the bad both physically and metaphorically. Through symbols it shows how anything can happen to anyone. This collage also illustrates how out of a positive can come out of a negative situation.
The multiple hotels on the Boardwalk, the most expensive property, along with the burnt mortgaged card represents that even though you have a lot of money doesn’t mean that it is a good thing. Yes, you have all of that property, but what do you do with it when you cant use it; the unnecessary hotels waste your money and ultimately lower your position in the game. Like in life, what is the point in having big houses and a lavish life style if you cannot keep up with the responsibilities that go along with it. Money, a good thing when spent in moderation, turns into a disadvantage. The wheelbarrow on top of the “advance to Boardwalk” card represents a low-income worker who has escaped debt to the rich owner of the hotels. Since the hotels are under mortgage, the farmer doesn’t need to pay “rent” on the properties. The farmer ultimately avoided a potentially terrible thing. This scene shows how anything can happen to anyone.
The spaces where the “railroads” usually occupy are now various drawn symbols of “karma” in different cultures. The unfinished “karma” in the center of the board represents how karma is not always seen or obvious, sometimes it takes a while to realize when it is occurring or where it is. It might take a while for something good to come, or fortune might come right away. Karma does not always show in the most obvious way, sometimes it’s the subtle things in life that make up your karma. The various characters on the game board mean “karma” in Hindu, Korean, and Chinese. The multiple languages symbolize how karma is a universal belief and occurs over the world.
When I think of karma, I think of old traditional Asian beliefs. I think mostly of the past and traditions of India China and the different Gods. The paper cutout in the center of the board is a Chinese pavilion and the cutout of a person in lotus position is used to show part of my personal thoughts of karma.
The automobile and steamboat in “jail” represent the wealthy; in the old days, one usually only owned a car or rode on a boat if they had money. The wealthy are in jail to show that status and money cannot buy you everything and that you will eventually pay for your actions no matter who you are or what your status is. Granted some people get off easy given the trouble they have caused; this is shown through the “get out of jail free” card. The scene in the adjacent corner near “free parking” shows the opposite situation. The thimble and boot represent a homeless person; they must fix the clothes they have the best they can and wear the same worn out shoes. They are sitting on multiple 500-monopoly bills because they have won the lottery. The curly “tree” symbolizes the growth from poverty to a civilized life and the opportunities that are now available in the future; how they can grow because of one incident. These two situations show again how anything can happen to anyone at any given time.
The “go back three spaces” chance card stands demonstrates that even though you might see “going back” as a bad thing, it could be a positive, as you might land on a property you want to purchase in the game. The rolled dice show that in some games snake eyes is good and in others it is bad. The $1 monopoly bill under “free parking” shows that a positive can also turn into a negative.
The two men balancing on each other over the “go to jail” and “get out of jail free” cards show how the two cards balance each other out. Without one, the other is not possible. Without a negative a positive is not feasible. What is one without the other?
Chance also plays a big part in karma. If you don’t take a chance on something, you will never know what could have been… perhaps you missed something great or avoided something terrible. The question marks stand for the chance cards of monopoly and the chances you have to take in order to solve the mysteries in life. The curly design coming out of the chance cards and around “chance” on the board symbolize how by taking chances can lead you into many more adventures; the more chances you take the more possibilities there are. The branches show how doing different things creates more new paths.
Finally, the band-aid covering the “blood” illustrates how when something bad happens, you have to get back up and go again. The wound will heal and you will be back to doing what you did before the incident. The band-aid is on the “community chest” card because it reads “you inherit $100.” The ashes on the card represent someone’s death since “inherit” means to receive or be left with money, situations, or possessions from a predecessor or someone who has died. Out of a sad and terrible occasion, something good has come from it. This section of the collage conveys that out of every bad incident comes a positive.
These portions of the board show my philosophical statement and beliefs in a metaphorical way but through physical objects to help convey the message. The footprints and dotted lines between portions of the board show how each ‘scene’ connects with each other and to karma overall.

Philosophical statement

I believe in the universal law of Karma. Karma refers to the nature and intent of every action being echoed back to the actor. Anyone and everyone are subject to the consequences of their actions. The world is dynamic and we must not loose ourselves to it. Good actions perpetuate good consequences.
Potentially from every negative comes a positive. A bad incident must occur in order for something good to come. If there is no bad in the world, what is then good. When there is nothing to compare our actions too, everything will be the same and feelings will loose meaning. The universe maintains a degree of homeostasis by maintaining good with the bad and vice-versa.

Brainstorming/process sheet