Why did you choose this space or object to photograph?
The picture above shows the entrance of the drawing room. I chose to photograph the drawing room as it reminded me of once when I snuck into it (oops I’m sorry) to film something, broke a glass bulb and reported it. When we went there, I found that the sign being not lit (indicating that a class is not going on) but the room being lit and the door being open (indicating the presence of somebody) reflected my experience with the drawing room. Hence, I chose this photo.
What are some of the characteristics of this alternative virtual space you had created collectively?
This alternative virtual space offers a glimpse at the minds/personality of others that we may not otherwise be able to see from one’s appearance or mere conversations. As we are all taking photos of a same place at a particular time, there is a sense of bonding and belonging when we see posts of things that are relatable or familiar. The comments and conversations that take place in this virtual space is then built upon our idea or experience of this physical space (e.g making a makeshift bed to sleep between lessons).
As not all experiences are narrated and the captions are more or less short or just a hashtag, there is space for interpretation (not just of the photos but a person’s traits can be inferred from the account name, tone of the comments, the likes etc. all reflects a certain personality). This leads also to space for misunderstanding and assumptions and reflects the distance between two persons in this virtual space. While in this space we can feel a certain sense of familiarity tying everybody together, there is also a sense of distance exemplified by the attempts to understand each other’s photos and experiences and the comments in an effort to reach out to another.
This virtual space is also sustained in real time as everybody posts and adds onto it in a same timeframe. The interactions happen across distances (e.g. one at the ADM BBQ, one in class etc.) yet is confined to the screens of our phones.
Under what circumstance will this alternative virtual space change?
I think that this virtual space itself is ever changing, ever transforming with every like and comment and photos posted.
However, if somebody completely unrelated to the class or ADM contributes to this virtual space, the sense of belonging tied to ADM that we’ve built up through the photos might be disrupted. If more joins in, this virtual space may shift and broaden from being a place of congregation for ADM Experimetal Interaction students to a virtual space for people in general.
How does this project relate to what we discussed in the lecture regarding co-creation, the concept of Do-It-Yourself (DIY), Do-It-With-Others (DIWO)?
This virtual space is built upon the memories of each student in the class who has had experienced life in ADM. The sense of belonging that is evoked would not be possible if it was an individual effort. While we view the artworks (every photo), we are also the artist (creators of photos), hence embodying the idea of doing it ourselves and doing it with others.
Instagram as a social media platform provides opportunities for people to share their lives and stories. It makes me wonder: when everybody does DIY, does it then become DIWO? When does something expand from DIY to DIWO? Sharing our lives in general would not have created this virtual space as this virtual space was created specifically by our memories and experiences regarding ADM and the spaces in it. I think that Do-It-With-Others requires some degree of similar experiences or interests between the artists/creators to bring them together to produce something cohesive and has a degree of completion.