APD Week 8: Play and Abstraction

Theme: Play & Abstraction

Video Link：https://vimeo.com/545056149  

Context:

The theme of this week is Abstraction. I struggled for a long time with how I could do to better express this concept. After that, I saw Pamela Turner’s idea: abstract animation more related to the intention of an artist and the resultant content. (2003) His words remind me that maybe what I want to explore is the previous question rather than thinking about what I should do. I remember we appreciated some creative projects in class, and the majority of them designed their pieces regarding the different combinations of abstract patterns and color matching. Moreover, when I listened to the presentation, Paul Fletcher’s viewpoint impressed me greatly.

“The power of abstract animation is to capture the moment between breaths, to create direct emotional

expressions without words or texts, to explore the interconnection and vibration (resonances) of all things,

thoughts and energy, the beautiful simplicity underlying any perceived complexity and perhaps even some

small reclaiming of childhood wonderment, imagination, curiosity energy and fun.”

I am on the line of Mandala pattern since I was a child, especially the complex association of color and lines. I think it is also an attractive concept to explore this week’s theme.

Method:

Randomly draw a part of the mandala pattern, then copy and paste into a complete circle.

Response:

This project is the one that I have had the most fun with so far. I am obsessed with trying various patterns and superimposing them. Every stroke I unconsciously draw can be turned into a beautiful pattern, which fascinates me very much. At the same time, I forced myself not to delete or modify any lines and colors during the drawing process ，creating a mandala pattern more casually.

Finally, I also used these patterns to create a two-dimensional animation to explore the practical usage of these abstract patterns. Due to the complexity of the designs, they are very suitable for use as shading or background.

Reflection:

This week's theme started to confuse me, but the final work is indeed my favorite. Creating a mandala pattern is an excellent way to relax my spirit. Even after uploading my design, I will draw a few similar patterns while resting. The cases I admired in class and the works shared by classmates gave me a lot of inspiration and made me want to add an abstract animation to my studio project.

Reference：

Turner, P. 2003, “Content and Meaning in Abstract Animation”, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia, viewed on 28 April 2021.