by Cheong Tong Pei
Iqnait Š 2014 Cheong Tong Pei Published by Teepee, Singaore All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Designed by Cheong Tong Pei Typeset by Cheong Tong Pei Printed and bounded in Singapore For Pattern, Art and Architecture a course in the School of Art, Design and Media of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Instructor: Professor Ina Conradi Chavez
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ince ancient times, humans have constantly seek reasons to understand and explain the natural forces around them. In order to create an understanding of the world around them, they created myths, legends and gods to explain the world. This series of motifs and patterns takes inspiration from that primal instinct to explain weather phenomenons by humans. Iqnait is the manifestation of my interpretations of weather referencing a primordial world and how ancient civilisations represent their weather as gods.
An inspiration board was generated based on existing images to determine the look and feel of the motifs. In general, the reference images were of weird weather conditions that took place around the world as well as common extreme weather conditions that the world faces. Other image references included how ancient weather gods were depicted in the hands of ancient civilizations.
Each motif of the gods were created with a core on it which is the eye (see left). The idea behind the eye comes from the inspiration of the eye of the hurricanes and the eye of the storms. Each god motif should have a customized eye that is related to the team. The common ‘eye’ between all the motifs links them up to be a collective of characters with a narrative behind them. This narrative acts as the myth behind the gods, explaining their behaviour which is linked to the explanation of weather conditions today using science.
3 The eye within each motif
The book is planned in such a way that there is an introduction to the motifs of the gods chapter by chapter. As the book progresses, there will be pattern swatches introduced gradually according to the types of the motifs that have been introduced. In between those pattern swatches there will be highlights on the practical applications of the pattern swatches such as fashion, architectural spaces as well as concert spaces in the case of the visualizers in electronic dance music festivals. Each pattern swatch will be coded with a ‘#’ followed by a number to streamline the process of choosing the best pattern for application easier.
The main technique to create the different motifs for the identity of the gods was a combination of traditional techniques (water colour and ink blotting) with digital techniques (vector drawing and digital manipulation). The initial stages as shown below were those drawn in pen and ink. Those on the right were the chosen prints of inkblot which were eventually further developed using the computer editing techniques.
Initial sketches in pen and ink
Water colour ink blots and trials
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Digital trials
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he first major god is Nuygnef, the one who controls the clouds and wind. All global wind systems are powered by Nuygnef and powers all the weather phenomenon around the world. Nuygnef also drives the movement of clouds around the world. Nuygnef is a playful yet fearsome god who likes to shapes clouds to whatever he could imagine but churn up the nastiest weather when it gets really angry.
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he next major god that channels its energy to fuel the weather systems and drives wind and clouds around is the sun god, Nus.
Nus is the god that gives our planet warmth, light and energy for crops to grow. Through the rainbow bridge, Nus channels energy to Nuygnef maintained by the rainbow gods Gnohiac that splits itself up in a million pieces to give its energy to Nuygnef.
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ys are gods that appeared right after Nuygnef appeared. They serve under Nuynef as rain gods. The rain gods are differentiated to three types, Uy, Uyy and Uuy. The difference between them is the type of rain they generate. Uys are the kindest of all and create drizzles and light rains. Uuy creates slightly heavier rain like showers that lasts no more than and hour. Uuy are the creators of harsh rains that lasts up to several hours and creates flood. They are aggressive and angry towards humans.
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12 A Detacher SS 2014 simulated with swatch #04 (2013, September 6). Spring/Summer 2014 [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/ spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/a-detacher/fulllength-photos/gallery/1025435
Alexander Wang SS2014 simulated with swatch #05 (2013, September 8). Spring/Summer 2014 [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/ spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/alexander-wang/ full-length-photos/gallery/1026411
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hese are the servants of the sun, Gnohiac was originally a single entity but for the greater good it split itself into a million parts to channel the energy of the sun to Nuygnef. Gnohiac is the rainbow god that is shaped a little bit like a flying creature. It carries with it the symbol of Nus that actually signifies a part of Nus’ energy. Each Gnohiac entity will fly in a spiral on the rainbow bridge to connect with Nuygnef to deliver power and channel the movement of the winds and clouds.
19 ALBINO simulated with swatch #07 (2013, September 25). ALBINO Ready to Wear [Photograph]. Retrieved from http:// www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2014/ready-towear/albino
10 Crosby Derek Lam SS2014 Pre simulated with swatch #8 and #09 (2013, June 3). Spring/Summer 2014 Ready to Wear [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.vogue.co.uk/ fashion/spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/10-crosby-derek-lam-pre/full-length-photos/gallery/983741
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uy is actually the god of the moon and night. Represented in darkness, Euy is belief to be the cause of major storms and bad weather. People believed so because skies turn dark almost as dark as night during bad storms. They feared Euy and conducted rituals to appease Euy as much as possible but storms continue to brew every now and then.
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nefiats appear when Euy rages. These are what we now know as hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones. When there are Gnefiats, Uys (gods of rain), Iel (god of thunder and Mrots (god of lightning), will appear and they will surround Gnefiats wrecking havoc where they pass.
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els are god of thunders. They buzz around and accumulate around places where there is an accumulation of electrical energy. They also like to appear at the order Euy to terrorize people. Iels are said to be an expression of rage of Euy. Sometimes, Iels will act on their own even in the presence of Nus to blast loud clap of thunder into people’s ears. They are very mischievous and love to dance and play.
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rots is the god of storm and lightning. Mrots is not the same as Iel although they create lighting. Mrots will create adverse weather conditions that are ideal play conditions for Iels. Fueled by the power of Euy, Mrots will separate itself into more entities to create powerful storms. They are the key to creating Gnefiats. It only takes a few Mrots to create a Gnefiat that is powerful enough to wipe out a whole village.
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31 ALEXANDER WANG SS2014 simulated with swatch #16 (2013, September 8). Alexander Wang SS2014 [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/alexander-wang/full-length-photos/gallery/1026410
Band of Outsiders SS2014 simulated with swatch #12 (2013, September 8). Band of Outsiders SS2014 [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/ spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/band-of-outsiders-/ full-length-photos/gallery/1027812
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nefiuc are harbingers of wind. They are the reason for global wind systems that exist around the world. Gnefiucs manifest in millions, and are a very peaceful bunch. They stand neutral meaning they do not side either god Nus or Euy. Gnefiuc just drift around free like the wind.
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bus are sub-gods. Eux is the servant of the Uys but considered to be just as powerful as the Uys. Eux has the power to create snow and blizzards. It is said that the sight of Eux instantly freezes your heart. Eux are usually with Gnohiacs and help create steps in the rainbow bridge to hasten the process of energy delivery. Eux is so beautiful that some people risk dying to a frozen heart to see it. Pi is the servant for both Mrots and Iel. Pi are actually formed from the residual energy of the parent gods. Pi have the ability to create and lightning and thunder, potentially killing people.
36 BLK DNM simulated with swatch #20 (2013, September 8). BLK DNM Sping Summer 2014 [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/ spring-summer-2014/mens/blk-dnm/full-length-photos/ gallery/1030705
ACNE SS2014 simulated with swatch #18 (2013, September 29). ACNE Spring Summer 2014 [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/acne/full-length-photos/gallery/1054376
Iqnait
- The motifs and pattern are put together in an animation that could be projected onto large scale architecture or simply function as a projection art piece. The motifs are arranged in a circular form in rotation and animates according to the music. The idea behind this formulates around the concept of the eye and the circle. The motifs rotates a central like how a hurricane moves. It could be seen as an elaborate dance of the weather gods Music: Ocean Death by Baths
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Screenshot from Iqnait - Using just Uys, they are arranged in a circular formation and rotate around a center point with subtle pulsations.
Screenshot from Iqnait - Composed from layering different motifs set in different compositions in a circular formation pulsating to the music.
Application - Using just Uys, they are arranged in a circular formation and rotate around a center point with subtle pulsations. Simulated projection in the ciruclar dome of the National Museum of Singapore
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Application - Simulation of projection on large scale building, in this case, Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California designed by Frank Gehry
Application - Simulation of projection on interior of building, in this case, Meditation Space designed by Tadao Ando located in UNESCO Paris, France.
The banner illustrates the weather system of the world. Nus channels thermal energy to the world to drive weather systems through the spiraling rainbow bridge. Nuygnef the god of wind and clouds powers the weather systems in the world and is fed energy by Nus through the rainbow bridge. Euy the moon god creates destructive weather systems such as gnefiats with thunder, lightning and rain around.
Background colour tests for the banner
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Motifs used in the banner
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Installation at the School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Iqnait (full view) 3594mm by 420mm
Iqnait (upclose)
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This piece explores the primal relationship that humans had with weather phenomena. Unable to explain the formidable forces of nature, humans conjured up various myths, legends, gods and other unworldly supernatural theories to create meaning for thunder, lighting, rain, and wind. The central motif of the painting is the mythological “God of Cloud and Wind”, Nuygnef based on my imagination and reference from the Navajo sky god Ahsonnutli.
Nuygnef powers and balances the weather system of the world, movements of winds and clouds. At the bottom of the composition is the “Sun God”, ‘Nus’, which drives weather movements. Right at the top is the “God of Moon”, ‘Euy’, which is believed to influence weather patterns. The gods has a central eye with the idea given by the term ‘eye of the storm’.
A pattern swatch book inspired by a primordial interpretation of weather conditions. T.P Cheong