Diplomprosjekt
Høst 2024
Institutt for arkitektur
How far can I go from the original painting and it still being recognizable? Is converting the way the painter painted into architecture possible? Can the brushstrokes and textures on the canvas become an inhabitable structure? How close to the original painting can the architecture become? How would one make an architecture through a
VAMPIRE BY EDVARD MUNCH
Vampire is one of Munch’s most iconic works. It revolves around themes such as love, lust, mortality and loneliness. The painting is not only a depiction of the vampire as a mythical being, but also a psychological and emotional reflection on human conditions.
Vampire shows an intimate moment between a man and a woman. The woman is depicted in a position reminiscent of a vampire, with her face close to the man’s neck, as if she is about to bite him. Her face is calm, while his expression is more marked by suffering or discomfort.
The colors in the painting are typical of Munch’s style, strong, contrasting shades that emphasize the emotional undertones. The dark background and deep red tones of the women’s hair evoke a sense of danger. His face looks pale, almost lifeless. Their bodies seemingly merge. Vampire and victim become one.
Munch also uses a distinct symbolic language. The vampire in the painting is not just a mythical creature, but a symbol of destructive forces in human relationships, where love and lust can be exhausting. The vampire literally sucks the life force out of the man, which can be interpreted as an allegory of emotional exhaustion and the destructive power love in some cases can have over the individual.
It seems like love wasn’t a source of happiness for Edvard Munch, but rather a source of conflict.
