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Ask Why
The main focal point of this mural is the phrase “ASK WHY.” Scale wise, it takes up a majority of the wall and is positioned directly in the center. Integrated throughout the mural and surrounding the text are elements of nature, Hmong culture, gender identity and various other icons. For example, there are larger more visible images of flowers, leaves, and plants as well as smaller details such as rain drops, flames, gender pictograms and Xs that border the phrase. Overall, the mural is not perfectly symmetrical, but it feels balanced both space and design wise. The only uses of color in the mural are in the words “ASK WHY” and the solid yellow shadowing that starts at the top of the letters and ends on the ground. The words themselves are white with a hint of blue (slim line of each letter) and then outlined in pink which are colors often associated with the transgender flag while the rest of the mural is black and white. The use of color forces the eye to gravitate towards the overall purpose of asking why. The rest of the mural being black and white in a way serves as an afterthought, nonetheless equally as important. The smaller and less apparent details cause the observer to further analyze and find hidden meanings and themes. The letters are designed using straight lines, making the message very straight forward and easily legible. The curvature in the images breaks up the straight lines to provide a nice visual and contrast to the linear lines. The foreground is yellow for a majority of the mural with the sides depicting nature (flowers and plants). The middle ground includes the large phrase “ASK WHY” to grab the viewers' attention. Two eyeballs are also included within the middle ground and the background is full of smaller images/icons such as flowers, raindrops/flames, and gender pictograms. The background creates the illusion of outer space with little symbols floating around.