K H U R D A H
K H U R D A H
“KUHRDAH” Project by: Fida Alsaif Supervised by: Ms. Eman Alwohaibi
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Index
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Subject
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Cover page
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Index
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Project Introduction
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Proposal
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Description of artefact
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Goals of the project
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Survey
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Analysing Data
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Low Prototype
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Medium Prototype
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High Prototype
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Evaluation of prototype and preparations
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Tasks list
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Analysing User reaction
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Results from final evaluation
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Conclusion and lesson learned
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Future work
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Appendix: List of Figures
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References
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Chapter 1: Introduction
- Introduction: Arabic calligraphy was originally a tool for communication, but with time, it began to be used in architecture, decoration and coin design. Its evolution into these major roles was a reflection of the early Muslims’ need to avoid, as their beliefs required, figures and pictures that were used as idols before Islam was established in the Arabian Peninsula. Arabic Calligraphy has beauty in it whenever you add it to something it makes it instantly beautiful and good looking and whatever you use to make it it will still look good. In this project, my classmates and I were asked to design an exhibition. Not only it should be about Arabic Calligraphy, but it also has to be interactive, which is the challenging part! We have to show the aesthetic side of the Arabic calligraphy yet we must show educational content to the viewer which is challenging too.
- Proposal: I’m using shadow sculpture art and arabic calligraphy to make a piece of art that the visitor will interact with by using either external lights that he could use trying to find the perfect spot that will show the whole calligraphy. I will use scraps to make the sculpture where every debris is precisely set in place, taking into consideration its distance from the wall, and its angle with the spotlight to surprising and powerful results as it redefines how abstract forms can transform into figurative calligraphy. - Description of artefact: From discarded wood, welded scrap metal, broken tools, cigarette packets, soda cans and piles of trash, I will make sculptures and then let the visitor point external light to create projected shadows of Arabic calligraphy that is easily recognisable once the visitor find the perfect spot.
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- Goals of the project: The goals I want to deliver from “Khurdah” are: 1- let the visitor understands the power of shadow and light. 2- let the visitor realises the Importance of everything around him/her even the scrap and trash could make a piece of art. 3- Let the visitor know how the arabic calligraphy is properly written by discovering that by him/her self. 4- show the aesthetic side of arabic calligraphy.
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Chapter 2: Data collecting and requirements -Survey
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- Analysing data In a survey done on a bunch of designers and calligraphers to know their opinions over interactive exhibitions and mainly focusing on Arabic calligraphy as a subject, We noticed that: 1- The percentage of designers and calligraphers that have visited an interactive exhibition is 23% only, while the percentage of those who haven't is 72% which is very high and it shows that they’re is a lack of interactive exhibitions in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 2- The percentage of those who are interested in Arabic calligraphy 70% while those who are no is 29.5% 3- When we asked about how these designers and calligraphers know details and techniques about arabic calligraphy, 41% of them know a decent amount of information about it and 47% don’t know anything about it. 4- The percentage of those who have visited an arabic calligraphy is 17% only while 82% haven’t. This proves that it’s necessary to make more calligraphy exhibitions. 5- The percentage of those who agree on making an interactive calligraphy exhibition is 100% which is very incentive for the artists to care more about calligraphy. 6- When we asked about whether they agree on making interactive arabic calligraphy or not, the agreement percentage reached 82% while only 17% disagree. ( check page 8 for the detailed charts) 7- The percentage of those agreeing on the exhibition to be educational and pretty is 100% and none wants it to be educational only or shows the beauty of the calligraphy. 8-When we asked about whether if they know the scales of arabic calligraphy the percentage of those who know is 23% and those who don’t is 76%. In conclusion, we asked them about their expectations about the outcomes of the exhibition they all agreed on wanting to know more about arabic calligraphy and see incredible beautiful results to inspire them after visiting the exhibition. ( check figure 1 )
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Chapter 3: Prototype
- Low Fidelity prototype  
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- Medium Fidelity prototype
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- High prototype Scan this QR code to see a video of the High prototype or use this link https://www.dropbox.com/s/6548nl7h35anhpl/Final%20video.mp4?dl=0 
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Chapter 4: Evaluation
- Evaluation of prototype and preparations I did a little experiment on 4 people ( artists, calligraphers, and normal people) and wrote notes on their reaction on the prototype: 1- I want to let them in a dim room and once they get close to the prototype, the motion sensor light light up. 2- the motion sensor lights should get their attention and make them come closer to the prototype. 3- they should start observing the prototype and them read the labels. 4- they should be interested to try it themselves. 5- they’re supposed to get excited enough to hold the flash light and start experimenting with scraps to know the hidden message behind the prototype. 6- I will right notes on their reaction to analyse it later.
- Tasks lits: 1- visitor entering the exhibition 2- passing by the prototype and notice it light up 3- reading the labels and getting excited to try it and see the hidden message. 4- interacting with the prototype.
- Analysing user reaction User 1: she entered the room and instantly notices the light under the prototype ( she explained it as dramatic light), she came closer and started reading the labels and wandered around the prototype, she later grabbed the flash light and lit it up and started pointing it on the scraps until she discovered the hidden word. she was amused. User 2: He entered the room, noticed the lights, came closer, started reading the labels, started asking questions about what would be the hidden word. held the flash light and pointed it out to the scraps. he immediately found out and said ( I knew it was going to be Beauty, because it is!)
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User 3: entered the room, noticed the light, asked how it lit up by itself, read the labels, commented on how they likes the graphics and the stand, then noticed the flash light, held it and pointed it to the scraps, the word showed up, she said “I didn’t expect the word Jamal to show up, it’s amazing how the arabic calligraphy is flexible and it can look beautiful with the least materials you use” this shows a good interaction between the prototype and the user.
User 4: two people entered the room, noticed the light and started wondering what is the technique used, came closer, one started reading the labels and the other held the flash light instantly and started asking questions on how to use it, the second person tells him to read the labels, they started pointing it out, saw the word, once said “ I expected the word jamal, I felt it’s related to the arabic calligraphy” the other didn’t expect anything.
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Chapter 5: Results and Future work
- Result from final evaluation I noticed that the users found the idea behind the prototype interesting and reacting with the prototype let them know more about the history of the square kufi and let them realise how beautiful no matter what the arabic calligraphy is.
- Conclusion and lesson learned I Enjoyed making this project to the max because I got the chance to dig deeper in the history of Arabic calligraphy. I also got to know a lot of new scripts. how and when they originated. And now that I know how authentic and beautiful the arabic calligraphy is I’ll make sure to include it in most of my designs from now on since it represent my identity as a muslim first and an Arab next.
- Future work I’ll defiantly make sure to use heavier materials and play with the perspective more to make it even more interesting and challenging to the viewer. I would also love to include riddles and mystery that would let the user think and try to solve them in order to figure out the purpose of this installation.
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Appendix
- List of Figures
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- Refrences: 1- Wikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.org/ 2- Qous Qazah: http://www.qousqazah.com/19-calligraphy-portfolio.php? matchtype=p&keyword=arabic %20calligrapher&gclid=CN6v3ueszckCFRFmGwody-4FrA 3- Emashq: https://www.emashq.com/login.php?ret_link=%2Fmyartworks.php %3Fret_link%3D%252F%26type%3DnotLogged&type=notLogged 4- Calligraphy Qalam: http://calligraphyqalam.com/ 5- Tarek Atrissi personal website: http://www.atrissi.com/category/arabiccalligraphy/ 6- Al bab: http://www.al-bab.com/arab/visual/calligraphy.htm
(Figure 1)
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