Zelda games are intricate creations fused together. From the often innovative gameplay, to the complex and occasionally confounding dungeons, to the memorable stories, each piece adds to what makes a great Zelda game. Artistically-DE creates a work of similar intricacy in their piece of art titled “What’s Gonna Happen…” by marrying together multiple types of paper and fabric in a way that creates an illustration that invites and rewards close inspection.
In this crafted creation, there are two important figures to pay attention to: Link and Zelda. Starting from the left, we have the older version of Princess Zelda from Ocarina of Time. Zelda’s elaborate gown is made up of multiple pieces of fabric in royal whites and purples. My favorite feature of her dress is the sequined ribbon that embellishes the bottom hem. It adds an extra flourish and sense of regalness to the princess. A small detail of note is that there is a small chunk of calligraphy text near Zelda’s hands and diagonally left of her mouth. At first, this small chunk of paper seems randomly placed as it’s the only time this particular type of paper is used. Upon closer analysis, the audience sees that in an extremely clever twist, this is meant to represent the text boxes characters use to speak within the game.
Link is made up of many different types of paper, showing the familiar hero and his Fairy Ocarina. Link is hidden behind a tree near the middle of the art. The use of paper and the division in the middle of the art almost makes it seem as if he’s hiding just beyond the next page of a book. It’s like his story is just about to be told. This ties into the older version of Princess Zelda mentioned before. While Zelda is the regal ruler from the time after Ganondorf’s rise to power, Young Link is shown here. The placement of Link and his separation into a different frame from Zelda is meant to show that this is her thinking of him. After defeating the Demon King and sending Link home across the barrier of time, she’s remembering the Hero of Time, her friendship with him, and all he did for Hyrule. Combining this with the title “What’s gonna happen…” only adds to the sense of melancholy because it seems like Zelda’s also wondering what Hyrule’s future will be now that the Hero of Time has been returned to his childhood.
While Link and Zelda are the most notable elements of the piece, we would be doing this art a disservice if we didn’t speak about the background. Hour after hour must have been spent on the countless leaves that make up the border framing both the princess and the hero. These leaves have been punched out from crafting paper with various leafy and forestry patterns. Three different selections have been used which just adds to the intricate look of the forest frame. Artistically-DE uses a similar pattern to create the leaves of the tree near Link and the multitude of butterflies that flutter around. The most clever and beautiful part of the background has to be the lacy doily that is used to simulate the bark of the tree. The pattern of the lace creates a really cool effect that really looks, and I would imagine also feels, rough like the bark of a tree.
The variety of prints and textures used by Artistically-DE creates a mesmerizing scene of Princess Zelda remembering her friend who’s been lost to time. The extraordinary variety allows us to get as lost in the art as the princess must be lost in her thoughts.
