Most people know the mermaid fairy tale as a romantic tragedy of unrequited love, but this is far from the truth. Hans Christian Andersen’s original story touches upon many deeper themes. Therefore, I chose to reimagine the text as the main focus of my project—the protagonist’s existential choice between the sea and the land. For me, this story is not about divided love, but about the radicalization of choices and the consequences of certain actions.
My visual narrative will allow the reader to view the history from a different perspective, ask new questions, or aid in making complex life decisions.
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Foreword
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The mermaid’s underwater world should feel familiar and homely, yet it must present the viewer with a mystery. I use the juxtaposition of fine line hatching and stippling to convey the contrast of the world.
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The world on the surface should feel familiar to the viewer yet unfamiliar to the main character. I made it emptier and less saturated compared to the underwater world.
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By the end of the story, I was developing a more uneven, wavering line quality, conveying the heroine’s anxiety, uncertainty, and a touch of disappointment. With each page, she experiences a storm of emotions previously unknown to her.
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Back cover
The story ends with acceptance. No matter the choice the Mermaid made, she found peace of mind.