MMA3003
Media Arts Design Project 1
Islamic art: the art of Healing Dania binti Mohd Radzi 1171103199
INTRODUCTION ISSUE Despite the fact that urban areas have superior infrastructure, socioeconomic conditions, nutrition, and health care facilities compared to rural areas, the persistent exposure to social stress of living in an urban environment can have harmful effects on the physical and emotional well-being of city dwellers. Without intervention, issues such as impaired spatial learning, panic attacks, the inability to complete daily tasks, and an increased risk of mental health disorders i.e depression and anxiety may occur. E.g. of social stressors: lack of control, social threats pollution noise ambiguous visual complexity high rate criminality
Major factors of urban stress: cities' high population density lack of exposure to nature
BACKGROUND Nature inspired geometric patterns is known to be a natural stress reliever. The human body reacts positively to fractal shapes as the different body systems are constructed geometrically. One research shows that nature can provide stress-relieving and healing properties. Studies in environmental psychology also demonstrate that people are drawn to natural features, such as trees and flowers, as well as to landscapes with vegetation.
PROPOSAL The ultimate goal of this project is to explore Islamic art as a therapeutic tool of reducing stress in the urban environment. In relevance with the aim, Islamic concepts and teachings are to be uphold.
Islamic Geometric Patterns as a practice of mindfulness & meditation in Islam *mindfulness: the state of being present and conscious with one's awareness acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations used as a therapeutic technique
https://www.hisour.com/girih-32159/
https://kidworldcitizen.org/islamic-art-lesson-for-kids/
REFERENCES
https://youtu.be/mrK8XeE0vB0?t=101
https://youtu.be/B1GDJ-PvxZ8?t=352
Aniconic - abstains from depiction of sentient beings
Cosmological - relating to the creation of the universe
Parallels between Islamic art and New Media Technolgy - digital algorithm
Islamic Art & Design
Symbolism - series of shapes and complexities in the Islamic geometric pattern reflect God's infinite creations, sense of unity and divine oneness (Tawhid).
Geometric patterns dominated Islamic art https://imgur.com/gallery/b6DPm/comment/1198420491
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436215913898324378/
Induces relaxation & reduce stress levels
Guided imagery - self-soothing method
Complete surrender: a feeling of association/relationship with God
Elements of Islamic Geometric Patterns
Aesthetic appeal of iterations in pattern
Increase positive emotional state Remembrance of God (Dhikr)
Repetition
Symmetry
Biophilia
Therapeutic Elements of Islamic Geometric Patterns
Vibrance
Tessellation An arrangement of shapes closely fitted together (especially polygons) in a repeated pattern without gaps or overlapping.
Basic formation and combination formula of a tessellation - total internal angle is 360° https://www.hindawi.com/journals/amse/2015/950232/
Equilateral polygon combinations
Girih Arrays of tessellating polygons of multiple shapes, and are often overlaid with a zigzag network of lines.
Islamic strapwork https://www.hindawi.com/journals/amse/2015/950232/
Deep breathing one of the best ways to lower stress in the body it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax.
connects you more deeply with your body
shifts energy
calms nervous system & lowers stress hormone (cortisol) Box breathing technique to control breath and reduce stress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF_1ZiFta-E
ISLAMIC breathing TECHNIQUE
Breathing exercises to help relax https://www.facebook.com/Deenwithdunia/videos/958178868163932/
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
PRECEDENCE STUDY
"Infinity Wall", 2008 Lee Bull - mirrors as spatial concept of infinity - desire for immortality - cast polyurethane, paint, two-way mirror, fluorescent lamp, wood frame
PRECEDENCE STUDY
"Infinity Mirror Art", 2017
Infinity Mirrored Room "Love Forever", 1966
Peter Gronquist
Yayoi Kusama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG0qBaoc6k0
REFERENCES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tkTCz3wdRg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grFMyGv5NpE&t=276s
REFERENCES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg1NpMmPv48&t=82s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5PG7BDXRtc
REFERENCES
Infinity Mirror: How It Works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SswNEEhVm2E&t=101s
PHYSICAL COMPUTING & TECHINCAL SPECS
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS Partially reflective mirror (one-way or two-way mirror) reflects some light and allows the rest to pass through. The infinity effect comes from the light reflecting between the two mirrors and the partial mirror allowing some of the light to pass through each time. LED lights are arranged in a pattern that showcases the basic form of Islamic geometry.
Materials Wooden frame (black) Mirror tile Partially reflective mirror (glass + reflective window film)
PVC foam board LED light strips Motion sensor
PROTOTYPES
INSTALL & ASSEMBLE PLAN
"Infinite" Prototype Sketches
choice of Islamic geometric pattern
TESTING LED Light Strip with Motion Sensor
battery powered auto sensing mode adjustable 'light on' time delay (8s 5min)
LED ON in sufficient lighting
TESTING LED Light Strip with Motion Sensor
motion sensor in sufficient light (8s)
motion + light sensor in darkness (8s)
TESTING Reflective Mirror
Black tint
Silver tint
attaching reflective film onto clear glass
TESTING
"Infinity" Effect
FAILED EXPERIMENTS
Islamic Geometric Pattern Mold measurements - miscalculation PVC board was flimsy and not sturdy enough to hold the LED light strip
Reflective mirror attaching reflective film onto glass - air bubbles and scratches, does not stick well glass was too thick and heavy
DOCUMENTATION Frame Assemble Black wooden frame Reflective mirror (glass + window film) Ikea mirror tile Plywood backing Wall hook
*custommade frame L: 30cm W: 30cm H: 7.5cm Front view
Back view
DOCUMENTATION Islamic Geometric Pattern Mold
pattern traced onto PVC board and cut out - lines in second picture were cut half-way through
pattern joints taped together
DOCUMENTATION Islamic Geometric Pattern Mold
assembling joints and inserting pattern mold into the frame
attaching LED lights onto the mold
DOCUMENTATION Finished Product
FINAL ARTWORK Artist statement I've always been intrigued with repetitive patterns and geometric shapes. Whenever I enter into a mosque, the first thing I would do is to gaze upon the domes above. I find tranquility within the reiterations and symmetry of the design. For this piece, I explored the concept of 'Infinity', one of the attributes of Allah s.w.t. Islamic geometry have found to have therapeutic qualities as fractal shapes are a natural stress reliever. This artwork suggests that Islamic art, aside from being a creative outlet for Muslim artists, can be a potential tool for combating daily stress.
OBSERVATION Problems Reflective window films are not smooth. They're covered with scratches and bubbles that causes the reflection to distort PVC board does not provide enough support for the LED light strip Accurate measurements of the geometric pattern are hard to achieve manually
To keep LED light with motion sensor Wooden frame The concept of infinity and Islamic geometric patterns
Solutions Tinted glass
Wires/thicker board 3D modelling, laser cutting
To improve Measurements of the pattern Reinforcement of pattern mold Double checking the materials bought or custom made Plan ahead and don't be afraid to make mistakes
PROJECT BLUEPRINT (FYP 2)
PRECEDENCE STUDY
https://youtu.be/T26biE7cRC8?t=45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXFFvIo7R3g
PRECEDENCE STUDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UocGg-prbA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLwSGFsTzUQ
FINALISED TECHNICAL PLANNING Interactive "breathing lights" wall art Arduino LED light strips Motion Sensor Mirror panels The LED lights will be programmed to a timely "breathing" effect using Arduino. Motion sensors will allow each mirror panel to light up every time a viewer passes by or interacts with the artwork.
REFERENCES 1. https://imgur.com/gallery/b6DPm/comment/1198420491 2. https://kidworldcitizen.org/islamic-art-lesson-for-kids/ 3. https://www.facebook.com/Deenwithdunia/videos/958178868163932/ 4. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/amse/2015/950232/ 5. https://www.hisour.com/girih-32159/ 6. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436215913898324378/ 7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tkTCz3wdRg 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF_1ZiFta-E 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grFMyGv5NpE&t=276s 10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG0qBaoc6k0 11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5PG7BDXRtc 12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg1NpMmPv48&t=82s 13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SswNEEhVm2E&t=101s 14. https://youtu.be/B1GDJ-PvxZ8?t=352 15. https://youtu.be/mrK8XeE0vB0?t=101 16. https://youtu.be/T26biE7cRC8?t=45 17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXFFvIo7R3g 18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UocGg-prbA 19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLwSGFsTzUQ
THANK YOU