Smaller Book

Being clearer with intent

After letting some people read my book, they don't really understand what I'm driving at. That makes sense, because this book holds a very abstract concept. I tried to make a book (some kind of insert), as suggested by Cindy, to make my intentions clearer. Also, to explain how my (bigger) book applies to people who are homesick. 

However, after making the smaller book, I felt that it wasn't really aesthetically pleasing. It's a good thing the content is out already. I'll be continuing to play around with the layout now.

Publication 1: Watercolour

Experimenting with watercolour for Publication 1

I experimented with watercolour because Shirakawago Publication was inspired by the Water element in the Wu Xing. While reading up on the classical elements - which is also related to the Zen Buddhism too - I chanced upon the characteristics of this element.

Water is represented by the following attributes:

Matter's hiding stage

Download, Inward energy

Stillness

Conservation

And the following colours:

Black, Grey, Blue

Watercolour was incorporated in the publication.

Publication blueprint

Concept - The Home away from Home

Problem-

Many travel or relocating agencies tend to only tell you how to prepare yourself for extended holidays or trips overseas.There is a severe short of companies or organization that help one adapt to their new surroundings.

This problem was inspired but personal experience. When I was abroad overseas for exchange, I experienced Homesickness. And thus, resulting in a term, I soon became familiar with- seasonal depression. Which made me realise the need for countering Homesickness.

Solution:

To brand a travel agency that helps one to adapt to his new surroundings rather than just prepare.

*ask Lyn Lee for examples of how she helps people relocate?

Project:

A Travel Agency that helps you adapt and settle into your surroundings, thus making you feel at home, rather than just prepare for your time abroad (like giving your a packing list and telling you what to expect)

How:

The key is to follow a manifesto that suggests Inner Sanctification and Peac/ A home away from home. For one to experience a balance of emotions and free from negative thoughts anywhere he or she goes - Wu Xing, Meditation. 

Who:

People who travel for long distances and periods. Are away from Home for long periods of time.

Specially for those in Singapore and the equator.

Deliverables:

1. Publications:

Publication/Pamphlet introducing Best Winter Sites to visit. At the same time, explaining how to feel “at home” despite the cold.

This month’s theme: Featuring Wintery Mountains- from experience, Winter is the toughest season to adapt to if you come from a cold country.

2. Travel Pack:

That may include things that help one feel “at home”

- Comfort, Family, Food

Publication 1:

Finds a slightly spiritual and calming aspect to it. The purpose of the book is to allow the viewer to feel a sense of peace and "home" while reading it. The publication talks about Shirakawa-go - from the terrain to the houses adorning the mountains. The book challenges the viewer to look beyond the beauty of the ground, but to find inner-peace through the undulating forms of the mountains of Shirakawa.  

This book will be clad in a a openable box of wood. Wood is used because it is part of nature, which is calming and encourages one to reflect on his or herself. As the reader opens the book package, he is faced with the literal form of the logo for Publication 1 (~).

Inside the book, one will be able to find peekaboo pages with cut outs from page to page. Firstly, this highlights versatility in the layouts while playing with rhythmic and interchangeable white spaces.  Secondly, as a reader flips the page, the cut outs help to bring focus on a technique of meditation that is explained in the book - which is breaking down a complex image and focus on its form.

This is the least experimental book in the series. It is the most content heavy.

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Publication 2:

Is about connection and contours. The purpose of this book is to highlight the connection between Mount Pilatus and its neighbouring countries. It is connected through the longest cable car system.

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My 100 page madness

I haven't updated my process blog in a while because I've been a lost sheep for the longest time. Thus far, I've been churning out my first publication for my project. I've named it "The Call of Winter" and it's a series of 3 books. The first, being this, is the most content heavy - hence it was tough to get this book rolling. 

This book includes small inserts and openable pages (see last photo). On to the next book we go!

lllustration

Rejected illustrations.

Contours

Starting on my production.

Drawing Mountains in contours for one of the chapters of my publication

Artist Research: Movement/Motion

Heather Hansen (Interview with the Raw Book) 

How did you come to adopt ‘Kinetic Drawing’ as your primary style?‘Kinetic Drawing’ is just lack of a better word, any drawing is kinetic, it could be ‘Body Drawing’ but I just stick with ‘Kinetic’. I discovered it through a series of events, the first one being when I moved here from France. I was in a year of transition. I really didn’t want to move back to the States, I came back kicking and screaming. There was a boy involved. I was just having a really hard time so I decided I needed some daily practice that would help me transition. I started to keep a journal and everyday I would dance or do yoga and draw. I decided to commit to it for a year, so I made it public and sooner or later I started winding the two together. Instead of doing one and then the other the just kind of came together. I was doing a lot of drawing in my sketchbooks to music, like dancing but just with my hands on small scale. Then I went to the beach with my son and we were playing in the sand and I was drawing with my toes. That’s kind of when I realised I should go bigger and do this with my whole body. It’s been a long process of discovery finding out what I think looks good and what just looks messy. There’s still a lot left to explore too. 

Images from here 

Interview with lululemon: 

We’re designed to move and move a lot, all the time, and I feel better when I do.
A lot of times when you’re in a difficult transition, it’s because you’re hanging on to the past. This practice was a way to centre me now and move forward.
Drawing is a way to journal the feelings and experiences that I’m having without being too linear – it’s an expressive way to get it out of my body.
She was inspired by playing in the sand on the beach. She feels that more artist are exploring themes towards movement of embodied arts.

Bruce Shapiro:

THE ART OF MOTION CONTROL

"Motion Control" is an industry term for computer-controlled movement in applications like robotics and CNC.  This technology has revolutionized  industrial  production and design,  but until recently was extremely expensive and complex.

Inspiration

Shylights: Beautiful Unfolding Kinetic Lights That Bloom like Flowers

 

Edison’s Cradle? A Kinetic Toy Reinvented with Light