APD week 11 Play and Stillness

Play and Stillness

Present X Relationship X Colour

Prototype: https://youtu.be/XlWm1odtBME

This week, the topic is play and stillness. Inspired by the work “The Artist is Present” from Marina Abramovic (2010).

 “And this was the beginning of my performance art. And the first time I put my body in front of [an] audience, I understood: this is my media” - Marina Abramovic (2010)

It is not hard to find an artist using the body as the media to present artwork, but what Marina(2010) do is connecting concepts with the body. By attending her experiment, participants can engage in a deep and individual relationship with her without verbal communication. In all of the silence, connections are often be developed among the participants. The present is all of the matter. This concept has helped me develop an experimental work that requires participants to connect without using sound, music but only body touch.

Method

This week, I use Makey Makey to help develop a prototype for the device. I use scratch for codding. Participants can hold the opposite end of the device respectively. When they hold hands, the circuit is formed, and the timer started to count. After a period, the screen will generate a colour that can present their relationship during the participation.

Response

The weekly interactive work is hoped to introduce social connection through stillness. Nowadays, it is hard for people to develop a consistent and deep relationship with different obstacles.  This interactive experiment is designed for icebreaking and trust-building among the community. During the test, I have developed an idea that not only two participants can join, but a group of people can also form the circuit with Makey Makey if they are touching and holding hands.

The screen display is designed with less distracting objects but only a timer that counting the time to reduce the distraction. Participants may find it embarrassing to gazing each other for a long period of time. However, this is a normal reaction in this design as the present feeling matters.  Therefore, I have tried to extend the time before any colour pops out.

When it comes to colour, this is reflective of the term Colour perception. People have perceptions of colour due to the differences in culture, age, gender and experience. Little research and evidence on the fact that colour influent behaviour. However, people’s feelings or thoughts can be affected by the colour they have seen. For example, red means dangerous or passionate, green can be mysterious, while yellow can be refreshing and uplifting. I am wondering if people would be interested in creating colour for relationships. Even though the prototype did not show a direct connection between the colour and the participants specifically, it is interesting to have a guess on the colour after a long waiting. The interpretation of the colour of the relationship is also an experience for participants to engage in the play as people do have their own instinct on colour. Bonding is hoped to be created after the whole experience.

Marina Abramovic (2010). “The Artist is Present”MoMA | Marina Abramović. The Artist Is Present. 2010

Regina Bailey(2019). How Colors Affect Human Behavior. Color Psychology and Human Behavior (thoughtco.com)

Kristine Fellizar. (2019) 7 Ways To Use Color Psychology In Your RelationshipHow To Use Color Psychology In Your Relationship (bustle.com)