Tag Archives: doing

FYP Ideas | Seed Stage

There’s this wise line that goes something like “I’ve spent so much of my life regretting the past, and worrying about the future, that I forgot to live in the present”. This, coupled with an incapacitating indecisiveness and overthinking, pretty much sums up a large part of my life. However, after reaching a recent turning point, I try to live by this motto each day.

Regretting past mistakes, worrying about the unknown and indecision share a common trait — stagnation. Although I’m in the process of tweaking these habits through trial and error, the best counter measure I’ve developed to combat overthinking and inaction is simply, doing.

I’d like to continue this personal exploration and extend it to my work as an artist. Stemming from the Art of Doing, I’ve come up with 2 initial FYP possibilities. Despite having the same starting point, these take different directions which I hope to be able to reconnect after more research and exploration.

1. (working title)__

Final deliverable
A full body immersive installation

The work will play with ideas such as sensuousness, feeling, and engage the physical body over the thinking mind. It aims to create an environment for visitors to experience simple, physical pleasures; to concentrate more on the experience than themes and narrative. Some simple yet gratifying pleasures that come to mind:

Still from the movie ‘Amelie’ (2001), uncoiling a ribbon
Still from the movie ‘Amelie’ (2001), falling dominos
Still from the movie ‘Amelie’ (2001), peeling dried glue

The installation would alter aspects of experience possibly through suspension, instability, weightlessness, textures, tactile sensations and smell. It will also employ sound to enhance the environment.

On scale
The large scale of the installation will allow visitors to engage with the environment using many different faculties. More than just sight or hearing, when users put their whole body into action in something bigger than one’s self, they may feel small and even disembodied. User’s will also tend to test the limits of this large and unfamiliar space, not unlike how a child would explore the full potentials of a new toy.

 2. Emporium of the Ludicrous

A small emporium with varied offerings
Maywa Denki

On Form, Process and Medium
I’m looking for ways to move away from a single final installation and incorporate the process, performance, prototypes video and installation into an inclusive 12 month long project. I feel that Maywa Denki’s cohesive presentation methods is an excellent example of this.

Final deliverable(s)
Series of seemingly ridiculous inventions and prototypes + a final installation which would integrate these devices into an emporium space along with a final more developed kinetic and mechanical installation.

The final installation which will be shown alongside the interactive devices will primarily be a mechanical and kinetic interactive installation with a domino effect. Sound (either generated digitally or mechanically) will be an important element in creating mood.

Related research topics: Kinetic art, kinetic sculpture, mechanical art.

For both these potential ideas, I don’t wish for the viewers to engage in literal ‘doing’, which is more a personal aspiration and starting point for the works. Rather, it will prompt visitors to experience the space through instinct and sense, and let intellect take a back seat.