Look similar, under microscope, but different structures spores gills and reaction to stains
The potential, behind the scenes, not just on the surface and looming beyond smaller people
Fungi represent urgency, currently hot topic
Film on Netflix, Fantastic Fungi, propelled to general common awareness / interest
background in patent
Appeared on Facebook, mushroom coffin, to return to world as natural way as possible
Not deter people from joining or showing interest in mycology
Some counties on trying out using mushrooms to treat depression
Patients are able to get out of thought process by taking the mushrooms
Education for bio solutions
Use of plastics, with bio solution alternatives
Plants use of chemical fertiliser (obtain from rocks or chemical processes) not sustainable, but use of fungi as fertiliser can be useful but quality not consistent
Sustainable packaging, break down at correct time, reach customer at correct time
Durability, understanding of it
Where humidity plays a part
Not allowed to collect specimens without permit from parks and nature reserves, foraging not able to make it in Singapore
Field Trip to SAM
I feel the curated tour was very useful and I would have been lost as to how concepts and ideas for certain artworks came to be and why they were showcased as such. How could fungi affect and be in play with media to create something new and organic.
I also learnt more on the use of space and how having living organisms as part of the art:
Differs from time to time
Sound does or does not play
Changes over time
Fungi continues growing
Have to be properly prepared for exhibition space
Grown to certain extent before showcasing
Have to be contained due to spores, may spread in space and to other artworks
After the webinar and curated tour I now have a different perspective on fungi having learn their potentials.
My initial thought were fungi being a not so good counterpart to plants. Them growing at damp dark conditions and having once in primary school homework was to create bread mold which I found kind of gross.
I could somewhat perceived the feels of walking in a forest, which a more man-made aspect with the deliberate implementation of fungi and wooden planks, but also the use of the lighting creating a dim atmosphere with spots of light shining through as if bigger plants/trees in the forest were in the emergent layer and we were on the forest floor.
While scrolling through the list of exhibitions, Joystick and Rage Quits! caught my eye with the relation to games.
Description Online
Entering the Space
Comparing to the other exhibitions I have visited (e.g Happy House, Bad Imitation, Permission to Dream), the space used for this exhibit was relatively smaller. But at first glance, you can see a lot of movement and sound such as the changing of the screens, the games showcased through the arcade machines, and the videos of raging players.
Space
With the main entrance, and having works displayed in the middle, the route to walk around the exhibitions seems one-way or linear. Starting from either sides and going one roundabout.
Mixed Media
Works were display in the middle of the room and the one that caught my eye and recognised were small sculptures by Qimmyshimmy (as I have seen her works through Instagram). She has showcase the Tamagochi’s gameplay in which you have to take care (in this case the feeding aspect) of your virtual pet in the literal sense with the use of the realistic mouth coming out of the device.
Sides of the room
Using the walls of the space, 5 Screens are used to display works digitally. The works constantly change, relaying from one screen to the other. Right below the screens are QR codes that lead to the artists’ websites/showing the further information of the work displayed. I feel this allows easier access to the description or more information without the displaying of big blocks of text. However, this may be confusing as to figure out which QR code corresponds to which work.
With placing electronics/consoles and using television sets (to feature other works) on the ground, visitor’s eyes can travel in a zig-zag like pattern (from the works on screens on the wall to the works on the floor)
Rage Quit Display’
This display shows various videos of players rage quitting through a television set, being frustrated of the game and possible leading to them throwing or wrecking their game consoles. The display showcased as if were a crime scene, the use of number labels on each broken electronic and striped tape, possibly hinting something horrible has happened.
Interactive Works
AR Graves
You were able to lift the small tombstones to reveal a QR which you can scan. It brings you to the respective AR filters, showing zombie Minecraft characters.
Arcade Machines
There were two arcade machines near the entrance featuring two games we could play, Turbo and TimeOut (which was an fyp by Christopher Lee from ADM)
VR Art
Guided by the staff there the VR headset was situated in front of the work (by Eric Foenander) showcased on the wall. Through the VR headset we were able to see the work come to life with music (by CTRL:UNIT). I feel it would be more interactive if we were able to walk around with the headset and view the work from different perspective, but due to the work still being 2D, it was best viewed from the front. The floor is also marked with tape to show the area that is safe to use the headset.
Partition
Next to the arcade machine, there seemed to be a wall partition, with the other side showcasing a collection of consoles and a NES (Nintendo Entertainment system) with straps as a backpack.
However, with a closer view of the partition, it was actually a door being used as a partition to separate the arcade machines from the VR display and visual art. I felt this was an interesting use of the space they had to control how the visitor’s eye would and would not go.
Lighting
Over the entire exhibition, a bright blue purple light is shone across, this gives a colour filter over the entire exhibition. I feel the use of coloured lighting can be further played around as it helps enhance the mood of the exhibition. With the use of blue purple lighting, it enhances the overall of game, cyberpunk or arcade theme. Specifics spot lighting can be seen focused on the printed visual art hanging on the walls, to accurately showcase the colours of the works.
Permission to Dream
Use of coloured lighting as a filter. Green and pink lighting rapidly change across the space.
Aspiring designer and artist currently studying in Nanyang Technological University, from School of Art Design and Media, specialising in Interactive Media. Passionate in 3D modelling, and using programming languages to further showcase immersive interactive design.
For website portfolio (able to showcase work with bio)
Yuki is an aspiring designer and artist interested in performative playful interaction design. With a background in game art, she has expertise in creation of 3D assets from realistic models for Virtual Reality simulations, to stylised models to enhance creation of colourful worlds. She has also ventured outside the digital screen, to create projects with the physical and explore the relationship and interaction between them. With hobbies such as music and handicrafts, she has implemented these passions into her projects and has done collaborative works with translating the performing arts to 2D/3D visuals. She aims to play with the barrier between reality and the likely whimsical, imaginative worlds created through her works.
2. Sample of work and short description
Digital 3D works
Stylised- Zen Fantasy theme and painted textures
Realism -Sci Fi theme
Physical works
Use of multiple servo motors – communication between software to hardware
Collaborative performing art work
3D visuals – dancing to traditional art
2D visuals – learning after effects to animate a software generated like documentation of the whole process , 4:26 for final
4. Select a work/artist/designer that inspires you or that has made an impact and describe what you find impactful and engaging
Tokyo Disneysea Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage
This boat ride is from Tokyo’s Disneysea and it presents Sinbad’s journey through 7 rooms aka 7 points on his map shown when queuing for the ride.
I find this inspiring as how it immersive it was. From the creation of these animatronic figures, how their overall movement were so fluid as if they were really alive. With the surround environment and music, the experience was really as if you were riding the boat across the map, accompanying Sinbad on his adventures. The ride moves across the 7 points/rooms almost seamlessly along with the story.
Belle Film by Mamoru Hosada (Retell of Beauty and the Beast but METAVERSE)
This film showcased a digital fantasy world called U, metaverse-like virtual world. It shows that the creation of the person’s persona in the virtual world is based on their biometric information and the use of body sharing technology.
I find this inspiring towards the portrayal of this virtual world and how reality of the physical being and the human mess of it all is connected to it.
Mamoru has also done other works that portray the fantasy aspect into a more realism scene through an older but well-known film known as Wolf Children, which shows a single mother raising two half werewolf children, showing the interaction of harsh reality how people may react upon them.
I initially had trouble downloading the package needed for python, dlib. And nothing was working for me, be it reinstalling python and pycharm, downloading the package online and compiling it using the setup.py given, from command prompt, and even installing through a .whl file. Finally, what worked for me was using Visual Studio’s Developer Command Prompt to install it.
As the use of Wekinator with communication with Python was new to me, I played around with wekinator, with the different models it has. I compile both given python scripts into one and felt that the all continuous model worked well in displaying and giving the output.
Video Demo
I then decide to further test out the other gestures (head turning) in wekinator as well as making use of the output given onto processing. Depending on the state (1 or 2), the small ball will move either direction along the x-axis. Wekinator’s classifier model worked well for this.
Providing information, or learning of Hillview place. I saw the Hillview Community Club and thought it would be interesting to have an interactive directory there that could provide information about the area.
Aiming for public interactive, perhaps even the people living in the area.
2. The space that your project will explore
Neighbourhood area/Not well known part of Hillview Avenue
The use of maps and idea of navigation.
3. The form that your project will take (what form will the interactive narrative be…a game, website, visualisation, something else?)
Unity – Educational game <aiming towards younger audience, possibly children
Small 2D platform game, maybe accessing parts/levels through point system, levels are more side-scroller
Illustrations of past and current buildings represented with different colour themes.
Including of ambience sound from the area, giving a sense of space
Rough Idea of how it would look like interacting
Twine – Branching narrative <as more text-based, aiming for an older audience
Photos taken how present how Hillview looks like, for navigation
Including of ambience sound from the area, giving a sense of space
How it would look like in the making
Rough Idea of how it would look like interacting
Questions for guest lecture by Toh Hun Ping
1. Films in relation to the locations. Providing a sense of spatial narrative and a certain first image to the location. An example could be giving the location an eerie horror feel. Was that one of your aims/intentions for this database narrative?
2. Loop-like photos, looks like it moving, why did you decided to implement such photos (and what impression/feel were you aiming to express from them)?
Response of reading by Guy Debord
I had some difficulty wrapping my head around the concept of the spectacle. It took some further research to get a clearer mind of it. The explanation of the spectacle being seems unreal, as it seems perfect superficiality in our world, but still considered a part of our society, such as celebrity culture, or consumerism. Though unrealistic, it consists of a social relationship between people. It is considered positive and powerful, as it can affect the economy due to the desire to fit in or achieve the spectacle and feel of necessity. The spectacle being contradicting as it affects the economy through celebrities or influencers, driven by what mass media consider as commodities, leading to how it has overcome or rule the consumers instead of the other way round.
Research A PLACE IN SINGAPORE (on the ground) and discover something you didn’t know about it.
I continued my research of Hillview on ground. As Hillview is more well known for the rail-way bridge, railway mall and salvation army, I decide to head to the area my parents lived as I have never set foot at there before. We started from Hillview MRT and my mother already noticed the changes around such as the highway tracks.
We walked on foot, heading to Hillview avenue. I decided to map out the pics I have taken onto the map of 1993 I found through research by former Hillview resident (specifically the Princess Elizabeth Estate), Lam Chun See, as well as the 2008 archival map from NAS for easier reference.
My mother’s first reaction on our way to Hillview Avenue was saying these two bus stops and the nearby condo Hillview Heights (though some renovations have been done) are still here.
The first thing we noticed was the roundabout road my father talked about when he saw the map. It’s still one of the iconic or memorable things he remembers about the place he lived.
The old food centre and market was demolished and over it the HillV2 mall stands as shown. I was excited to see what took over the land where my father once lived, to only see it still in construction for the Midwood Condo. Beside that is the Hillview Community Centre, which seems to be rather new as my mother did not remember it being there back then.
Clearer pics
I expected the place to be more desert as it was more isolated, but it gave a sense of peacefulness and the area was more occupied by condoes and semi-detached houses.
Most of the condos were new and there were one or two of the factories (such as the Malayan Guttas, Union Carbide and Hong Kong Rope Factory) are no longer around/moved out, and builded over the land is Hillington Green( and Summerhill Condos), Hillview Heights and Glendale Park respectively.
One of the buildings that still remains is the Lam Soon Industrial Building, which previously was a factory my grandmother and grandaunt used to work at where they made soups and oil. Now it is for rent and sale, consisting of small shops.
My mother’s initial house was the one in white, since then it has been sold at least twice and another floor has been built.
The houses beside it both still remain the same.
It has quite a steep uphill to Hillview Mansion, and the area is blocked off by the iron gates.
Clearer pics
More pics on the journey along the Hillview Avenue road between where my parent’s lived
A dog running around Jalan Gumilang 🙂
Would have been a better idea to do a short sound recording of the place itself as well, as it was super serene you could get a better sense of the place on ground rather than online.
1. What did you learn from the URA tour of Singapore that you did not know already?
I got to learn the process and guide to Singapore development, like the use of the concept and master plan. Though the information that intrigued me the most was the central model and the history of the maps of Singapore and how they were used. The central model being a part of Singapore’s development and showing a different view of the cityscape. My initial thought of maps was they had to be accurate as they depict the area for navigation. Through the URA tour, I have learned the other possible uses of maps, especially the first navigation map mentioning Singapore by Admiral Zheng He. It was used to mark areas to avoid and navigate, also said to be 80% accurate.
Also the map that is inaccurate as it focus more on the seas/water around the islands.
2. What do you think is the purpose of the public exhibitions at the URA and what stories are being communicated about the city?
I think the purpose of the public exhibitions of the URA is to preserve and provide more history of the developments of Singapore, from how it was, how is it planned, how residents can play a part, and architects involved can affect the living situation or outlook of Singapore.
3. What do you think is missing or overlooked? What might be interesting to add or exhibit in the URA Galleries in order to interest your generation of Singaporeans?
I think the interactive spaces in the URA effectively provide the information the audience wishes to look at, and it would be interesting to have more of those in the URA galleries. Models showing other parts of Singapore (similar to the existing central model) would be interesting to look as my initial thought when I first saw the central model was to find where I lived (sadly I live more towards south west) in bird’s eye view. 🙂
More pics from the URA that may help upcoming project (focusing more on the place Hillview)
1946-1965 Map
1986-today Map
Reading response on the article by Stan Sesser
What points in the article stand out to you?
It did not occur to me how Singapore clears and renovated, aiming for effective tourism, it could lead to the possible removing of some of Singapore’s important history landmarks as well as leading to dull repetitions of high buildings/malls. There’s hence the debate on what old landmarks should Singapore conserve, as some may even be considered as historical or cultural sites, representing what Singapore is and being able to attract tourists as well. It’s also interesting how he describes Lee Kuan Yew and his style of government.
What do you agree or disagree with that the author states about his impressions of the city? Explain your critique thoughtfully.
I agree to the author’s impressions to a certain extent. Although not romanticising of the past could be considered a positive, as change resulted in the lifestyles most Singaporeans have and what others envy today. Example from the change of kampong/shophouses to HDBs. Though living standards are better, it is argued there’s the lost of the kampong culture (and spirit) along with the sense of familiarity. The city we have now being clean and safe is also resulting from the amount of restrictions and consequences we have, showing the seriousness of actions done. Also the compulsory amount of education we have to face which helps maintain the economy .
With the python scripts, the emulation’s brightness was not working well with my camera resolution, so I used this block of code to figure it out, and this is what it printed.
I experimented around with the width and height for the largest face, which affects the ratio influencing the brightness.
Attempted to create an emulation with Touch Designer. It KIND OF WORKS? But instead of relation towards distance, or the size of the faces, I tried out using the difference of movement in the screen. A simple wave of the hand from a distance away creates a smaller area of difference compared to doing it up closer.
With experimenting with the threshold and slight delay of images, it can capture a more accurate area of distance. Hence, when the area of difference is large enough, this affects the opacity of the colour on the screen. This, sadly said only works if the subject is moving.
After the reading, I had some takeaways from it. Through the different mediums (such as libraries and digital) databases can be managed and paired with different medias (such as film, games and virtual interactive 3d space) it can show how the information is effectively given, also the whether it is for work or play. As cultural content tends to lend more towards databases (such as virtual museums), is it possible to include present such database with a (leisure considered) narrative media like games, and fully immersing the user in the experience? Possibly with how educational games are created. And how does a database have a narrative and is not just filled with descriptions?
The difference between narrative and descriptions, this has helped me change my initial thought, in which descriptions could be considered as narrative (as the user still navigates the virtual space to find the descriptions). If it does not help the plot/story move forward, it is not a narrative but a description. Is there ultimately enough narrative to tie all the descriptions together? Also, with the example presented of films, with the database as the material accumulated during shooting, and arrange them in a sequence to be as a form of narrative. Could the collection of game assets and scenes be a database and their arrangement could be narrative? I feel this are important notes to consider for my final project.
Also, the reading has further allowed me to consider whether creating a game for my final project, would present or give the information effectively. From the algorithm of the game, to the sequence (be it linear, nonlinear, branching), language of the story, and how to present the information aesthetically.
This helped me have a deeper understanding towards the meaning of database and narrative, and their relationship between one another. And the possible mediums/ ways it can be used/applied. It also opened my eyes to the possibilities of using different or even new techniques to create a new form of database narrative.
Each of you will research the NAS Archives and Singapore Memory Project see what you can discover about a place of your choice in Singapore.
The place I have researched is Hillview, especially Jalan Gumilang and Hillview Avenue, as they were the places my parents lived during the late remaining parts of their childhood. And it also played a part in how they met. My mother lived at one of the land estates at uphill Jalan Gumilang, while my father lived downhill at one of the HDBs Block 7 (was demolished around 2005-mid 2006) at Hillview Avenue.
Despite living through a walkable distance from one another, they met coincidently from one hangout with a group of mutual friends (through my mother’s best friend’s boyfriend’s friend’s friend’s) on Saturday evening. They came found out they lived near each other when my father wanted to fetch her home and since then my father would walk uphill to meet my mother. 🙂
^remembering Princess Elizabeth Estate near Hillview Avenue by Lam Chun See (Author of book Good Morning Yesterday)
1 video
^Talk by Tan Chuan-Jin on the series of events to help increase awareness on the ongoing engagement on the use of the former railway land (centering on the bridges, including the KTM bridge at Hillview) and also with the aim to explore, encourage and develop creative ideas for incorporation into the future of the Rail Corridor.
^Development of the Hillview Avenue and Hillview Road by a resident who used to live in a small quiet estate off Hillview Avenue. As it held lots of memories for him, he records all of his own stories in this blog.
This oral history caught my attention as it showcased an interview of an artist Ho Chee Lick and in the later part of the interview he explained on how he moved to house in 2006 and started a new studio at Hillview. He explained and talked about ink brush painting of trees in his new studio and he moved towards calligraphy. He experimented with different ways of painting, from less oil paint to more water ink, abstraction, and also how ink painting was related to music.
Examples of projects that you think address the notion of database or interactive narrative in an innovative or thought-provoking way.
Before going through the reading by Marsha Kinder, I associated the thought of databases with choices and selecting. Choice games came into mind, such as Until Dawn.
However, after going through the reading, I understand that database narratives can be seen as combining selected items from the databases to create a story. Rather than just choices and selecting, elements from different database categories are defined and used. It may have an unclear beginning and ending to them as well. Another example could even be the simple activity, One Word Story.
Until Dawn
Until Dawn is an interactive drama horror game where the player has control over the 8 characters that have to survive on Blackwood Mountain. This is game is shown from a third person view when you control a character to explore the environment and first person view when you make choices for them. With a unique mechanic in the game, the Butterfly Effect. Even the simplest choices made or items/clues you find may end up saving or killing characters, affecting their relationships, resulting in being closer to one another or being further apart. As the databases are hidden, this game has an unclear ending, with a potential number of outcomes.
One Word Story
This is a simple activity where people takes turn to each say a word, with the goal to create a coherent story. We can consider the sources of their choice of words to be their database memories. Using their own choices of words, this results in the combining of words with an unclear beginning, ending with different outcomes.
Also the map that is inaccurate as it focus more on the seas/water around the islands.
