Mnemosyne’s Scent: Planes and Plastic Model

PLANES

A plane is an element that has surface direction and slant unaccompanied by mass. And there are two- and three-dimensional planes.

2D planes:

  • Straight axis plane
  • Bent axis plane
  • Curved axis plane
  • Complex axis planes

3D planes: 

  • Curved plane
  • Broken plane
  • Twisted plane
  • Grouped planes

The first part of this assignment requires us to make us of 3D and 2D planes to create an interesting visual composition. The planes are cut from art-board and each strips measure from 8 cm to 0.5 cm in width.

Things to note when doing the models:

  • DOMINANT, SUB-DOMINANT, SUBORDINATE relationships
  • PROPORTION & RHYTHM : Inherent, Comparative, Overall
  • VISUAL STRUCTURE: Tensional design of axes of surfaces
  • GROUP MOVEMENTS: Dependent, Independent, Precarious balance

Sketch Models

Sketch Model 1:

Front View
Side View
Top View

 

Sketch Model 2:

Front View
Top View
Side View

2D Sketch Analysis

Model 1

Improvements:

  • Conflicting SD and SO (Introduce another element: 1 D, 2 SD, 1 SO)
  • Apply tapering on strips
  • Reduce Size of SD via Tapering

Model 2

Improvements:

  • Extend the length of D (Make it obvious that it is the dominant)
  • Add in elements of 2D planes on both ends of D
  • Trim 1/3 width of SD
  • Taper ends of SD
  • Make SO thinner (Make it obvious that it is the Sub Ordinate)
  • Leave one end of SO dangling to create a sense of levitation

Revised Final Models

Model 1

Model 1 has 4 different elements – 1 Dominant, 2 Sub-dominant and 1 Sub-ordinate. Each planes have contrasting proportions and extends in different directions. When viewed, the dominant plane acts as a stationary while the 2 sub-dominant planes curl and warp around it creating voids between the 2 elements. The sub-ordinate is added to fill up the emptiness at the front making it look more visually interesting.

Model 2

Model 2 has 3 different elements – 1 Dominant, 1 Sub-dominant and 1 Sub-ordinate. Compared to model 1, the dominant plane in model 2 extends horizontally with both its ends touching the base. The ends of the dominant plane is folded to bent axis planes and broken planes. The sub-dominant extends vertically and creates a void between it and the dominant plane. The sub-ordinate wraps itself around the sub-dominant, like a free flowing form making the model look more interesting.

 

SCENT

Smell and memories

Smell belongs to one of the five senses that we humans have. We use our nose to smell and by definition it means the power to perceive odors or scents by using our nose. According to science, smell is relatively more capable of triggering certain emotions and memories than our other senses.

https://lifefitnessbydane.com/2016/10/12/how-do-you-smell/

Incoming smells are first processed by the olfactory bulb, which starts inside the nose and runs along the bottom of the brain. The olfactory bulb has direct connections to two brain areas that are strongly implicated in emotion and memory:  the amygdala and hippo-campus. And our visual, auditory and tactile information does not pass through these 2 brain areas hence explaining why smell is so capable of triggering certain emotions and memories.

From: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-babble/201501/smells-ring-bells-how-smell-triggers-memories-and-emotions

Mnemonic devices

According to https://psychcentral.com/lib/memory-and-mnemonic-devices/ , Mnemonic devices are techniques a person can use to help them improve their ability to remember something. In other words, it’s a memory technique to help your brain better encode and recall important information.

Some of the Mnemonic techniques include:

ACRONYMS

https://makerbox.wordpress.com/tag/retrospective/

VISUAL

http://2013.walkleyprimaryschool.org.uk/2017/03/15/maths-homework-17-3-17/

CHUNKING

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4290

Chunking is simply a way of breaking down larger pieces of information into smaller, organized “chunks” of more easily-managed information. 10 digits broken into 3 chunks, allowing almost everyone to remember an entire phone number with ease.

ORGANISATION

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/bc/7b/02/bc7b02ae81f844a5a1022ed737b081d6–study-skills.jpg

Organizing information into either objective or subjective categories also helps. If you can divide a list of items into a fewer number of categories, then all you have to remember is the categories (fewer items), which will serve as memory cues in the future.

THE METHOD OF LOCI

https://cdn.developinghumanbrain.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/how-to-remember-things-with-method-of-loci.jpg

It’s based on the assumption that you can best remember places that you are familiar with, so if you can link something you need to remember with a place that you know very well, the location will serve as a clue that will help you to remember. You go through a list of words or concepts needing memorization, and associate each word with one of your locations.

From: http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/how-to-improve-your-memory7.htm

Plastic bottle models (Reference)

http://www.instructables.com/id/make-an-art-bowl-from-pet-bottle/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/481181541406954711/
https://mayhemandmuse.com/aurora-obsons-recycled-art-sculptures/recycled-plastic-decor-sculpture-art-design/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57069120255763901/

SMELL

For this assignment, we were required to bring 2 smells that bring back both pleasant and unpleasant memories.

PLEASANT MEMORIES

https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/duelmasters/images/8/89/DM-10box_and_pack.gif/revision/latest?cb=20100506144021
http://arnold.speedattackers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/duel_masters_booster_pack.jpg

To me smell of trading cards brings back pleasant memories as it reminds me of the excitement of opening up new booster packs when I was young. Buying cards and collecting them were my childhood hobbies and hence the smell of these cards bring me back in time to the excitement I had when I was young.

UNPLEASANT MEMORIES

https://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/dd-xl-tarp-basha-4.5m-x-3m-guy-lines-green-hi-vis-550-paracord-neon-orange-1549-p.jpg

The smell of the groundsheet brings me back unpleasant memories. It has a very distinct “Plasticky” smell and the smell reminds me of my time back in the National Service. The smell of the groundsheet becomes a reminder for me to move out field and to sleep in the forest. It also reminds me of a time when I had to build a shelter with my team mate but we were unable to get it set up properly hence when it rained in the middle of the night, we were drenched and cold and were unable to sleep.

WORDS ASSOCIATION

Final Model

 

The model is first viewed from the bottom portion of the model. As the saying goes, “bad memories are easier to remember”, therefore I wanted to create something that is striking compared to the other parts of the model. The main idea that I was trying to bring out was the idea of irritation which was the unpleasant memory I had when I smell my groundsheet. To create this, I cut out sharp edges and poked many holes and used the heat gun to make it curl to an organic shape. Hence when viewed, the Aichmophobic edges and Trypophobic holes gives out a sense of irritation, the idea that you do not even want to touch or see it.

The “unpleasant memory” is then connected to a twisted form which was created by twisting and melting 2 different plastic parts together. It acts as a bridge fusing 2 of my smells and memories together. At the other end of the form comes a thin piece of planar plastic which protrudes out from the opening.

The thin planar plastic represents the “pleasant memory”. The “pleasant memory” is represented by the smooth surface and the wavy and curvy form it has. It extends diagonally and when gives the idea of a ‘flowy’ and calming feeling which was what my object reminds me of when I smell it. The length it has represents the nostalgic and lasting memories it belongs in my mind.

The “pleasant memory” then extends and hovers above the “unpleasant memory” creating a sense of void between the 2 elements.

Author: Teo Jun Ming

Jun Ming is my real name but you can call me Xiao Ming. Pursuing Film.

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