APD Folio2 Reflection

What we thought about when talking about "play"? Something interesting and pleasant? I’ve enjoyed coming up with the weekly responses, especially using ‘play’ as the lens to record that approach to our practice. I found that play was “magic” for me to be playful and permission to explore the fun and surprise, I learned a lot from that and gained a lot from it. I used to think that play was simply a game, such as a computer, a controller, a game console, or a toy, etc., but after several WIP responses, I realized that play could be an interaction, a performance, playing Musical Instruments, etc. This undoubtedly greatly broadens my understanding of the play.

From the first week of the experiment, we know that observation is fundamental to ways of knowing. I did my best to explore myself, I just found my personality from a childhood memory. Looking back on past experiences is like playing a show that never stops. In “Play & Time”, we learned that one method employed by animators to minimise the amount of effort is the usage of loops for production problem-solving. As an animator, the concept of time is best described in animated loop form. Inspired by the motion loop, the combination of animation and play is achieved.

Throughout the eleven weeks' theme of work, although there are many vague themes, in general, I have gained a lot from the work experience. Of course, in the theme “Play & Object ”, we found that materials that can be put back together in various ways are referred to as "loose parts". I gradually changed my way of thinking, and my work was to connect plastic toys that I was very interested in. Also, play design exploration spirit and get inspiration from daily life. The theme of the "Place” is also wonderful. It is the first time that I know about “land art”, our place has been encountered and experienced in unique, fun, and expressive ways for a very long time. I can think and make interactions in a broader spatial dimension like the park. Take the wheel as an example, the object can be placed in any formation at any time, space and occasion.

In addition, WIP responses also greatly improved my practical ability. In the fifth week’s work about the "Force" theme, we have got that the force can be considered as a form of input, once we have an external "input", we even have the “trigger” for the play. I experienced how solar energy produces the power of motion to drive the boat. In the week's theme about "sound", I found the idea of homemade DIY Musical Instruments. Nicolas Bras is a musical genius, able to make such different and unique sounds from different recycled materials. Since I'm not very good at blowing and pulling, maybe hitting is much better. So I made instruments for presenting original sounds, using materials such as glass bottles, pipes and Tin Cans that are common in everyday life, from daily necessities to recycled materials.

In the theme of "Body", I hope to make a toy so that children can relax their bodies away from the electronic screen. Our bodies are actual living, feeling beings. We experience and interact in a physical space that is home to tangible items and our bodies. So I came up with the idea of using cardboard boxes to make a toy that can interact and play with body parts, creating a claw through cardboard like a weapon that retracts on arm. Also the same as the theme ”Nature”, it is a good idea to feel the vitality of nature and try to have fun. I was inspired by the liquid rainbow from Edwin Deen's experience. I picked some leaves and try to make art with plants and liquid. According to their different floating effects in the water, I put ink on the stem of the leaves to make them float naturally and would split in the water, it became a unique visual effect.

Play is not just interactive objects, games, etc. It can also exist as an art form, such as performance. The theme “Abstract”, intrigued me, conveying feelings without specific explicit instructions and I found that particle effect animation can be more abstract. So I made a short clip to convey the feeling of cosmic effects and hope that can arouse deeper thinking about the meaning of the universe and life. The final theme “Stillness” has the same meaning, to get a moment of peace. It is a calm, quiet, motionless state. Through inspired by many works and Zen games like “Journey”, I came up with the idea of presenting the dynamic scene or environment in a kind of animation. Fixed cameras and environmental things make small movements, like wind blowing, floating clouds and flying geese.

Overall, I'm appreciative of everything I've learned from APD, including play theories, fresh methods, software skills, and new insights into my personality and practice. In the coming weeks, I intend to develop further and have fun.

Reflective Video Link: https://youtu.be/DvlhSNVmATU

Downloads:

Download File: apd-folio2.pdf