Me, DFA, and TAM @
University of Hertfordshire

The artistic experimentation of TAM is art for the sake of art.
However, the results of artistic research are really for the betterment of humanity—stimulation of creative capabilities as experiential wellbeing.

Applicant: Buddhaporn Srisupawat

Application: DFA (Distance Learning) for Jan 2022 Intake

Topic/ Title: Transformative Abstract Visual Meditation (TAM): Stimulating Creativity with Art for Wellbeing

Research Centre/ Group: Contemporary Arts Practice

Theme: Art and Meditation for Wellbeing

Field: An interdisciplinary study combining Art, Aesthetic, Visual Communication, and Wellbeing

Potential Advisor:

Dr Hayley Berman: due to her role and expertise as an art psychotherapist, artist and social entrepreneur seeking to inform and develop methodologies for long-term psychosocial change.

Qualifications, Passion & Motivation:

Art is my soul,

Design is my breath,

and Media is my life.

The nexus of my academic background with three degrees in media fields, my 20 years of work experience in media production, together with my 16 years of academic profession at American universities, trigger an epiphany that art, design, and media have embedded, engaged, and extended my life’s experiences.

Reasons to choose University of Hertfordshire:

I endeavour to complete the Doctor of Fine Art in Contemporary Arts Practice specifically at University of Hertfordshire due to:

Prestigious university in Art & Design in UK and Europe
Perceptive Contemporary Art Practice Group challenging and extending the potential of art to change the world
Potential Distance Learning Module allowing art-based research on cases critical to a specific region, such as at hometown of researchers

Career Ambition:

The doctoral study in Art Research will provide me with the skills and insight to mentor others in creative and transformative experiences and thereby contribute further to the body of knowledge so critical to the understanding of the interconnections between Art and Human Wellbeing. The fulfillment of a DFA in Contemporary Arts Practice is not just for the sake of my own growth but for the greater good of others, as well.

Push Pin LS Motion_DSC0351_Aurora HDR Med.jpg

Abstract Photographic Artwork inspired to apply on TAM project, demonstrating on form became formless

Title: Semi-subconscious # 3

Series: Triplet: Mind Perception

Photographer: Buddhaporn Srisupawat

Frok CU Creative 2_DSC1486_Aurora HDR Med.jpg

Frok Motion 88_DSC1482_Aurora HDR Med.jpg

The study of Fork: Artistic Experimentation on TAM project,

demonstrating on form became formless

by using macro photography

with in-camera practice

Title: Fork

Series: Transformative Abstraction

Photographer: Buddhaporn Srisupawat

About TAM

Abstract/ Synopsis:

When abstraction, minimalism, and photo-videography are fused, they amazingly create phenomenal art forms in terms of simplicity, beauty, transcendence, and exquisite vision as well as ineffable inspiration. Inspired by abstract minimal art and motivated by art for wellbeing, this empirical study will use triplet series of abstract photo and video art as visual meditations in an attempt to experimentally boost wellbeing through a process coined Transformative Abstract Visual Meditation (TAM).

The main theme of the triptych visual abstraction will be epitomised as three stages of mind perception - unconsciousness (figurative long shot), consciousness (figurative close up), and semi subconsciousness (abstract extreme close up). The artistic research will investigate the stimulating impacts of these abstract/figurative transformations with different colour characteristics, blurry effects, along with sequential orders. The experiments will mainly rely on macro photography with in-camera practices and physical variables to achieve different kinds of formative shapes, from form to formless.

The outcome of TAM is to examine the positive impact of stimuli for creative capabilities through experimental wellbeing. Sixty (Thai) high school/ college students will be recruited to participate in this empirical study based on phenomenology and art-based expression. In addition, it will clarify whether colour styles, blurry effects, or sequential orders have the most and least impacts on creativity as the main experiential theme of wellbeing. At least, the outcome could introduce the abstract art meditation as the soft side of art therapy to practice on a daily basis for mental health promotion.

Objective & Rationality:

To extend the body of knowledge about abstract Art for Wellbeing, TAM will underpin the use of photographic abstract art form through meditational integration in a different setting, stimuli, and approach from the previous study by Nielsen et al. (2017) on visual art for wellbeing generator in the Denmark hospitals with 98 patients via mix-methods.
To allow participants to creatively experiment with photo-video art forms as aesthetic abstraction. Inspired by abstract paintings (Kandinsky, Mondrian, Rothko, and Pollock), abstract photos (Strand, Cunningham, and Leiter) and abstract video art (Rythmus 21, Baraka, Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi). TAM will contribute the transformative visualizations; not only from figurative to abstract, but from formalism (form) to expressionism (formless) in terms of simplicity, beauty, and transcendence.
To promote for the better mental health in an educational institution. TAM could be applied to instill creative mind-sets among students coping with anxiety, stress, and COVID-19 pandemic impacts. Thai teenagers were the main casualties of suicide (Mala & Wipatayotin, 2019). Thailand experienced a 22% increase in suicidal rates last year (Thai PBS World, 2020) and was ranked number 1 in ASEAN and 32 in the world (The Thaiger & The Nation, 2020) indicating serious mental health issues. Positive mental health and creative mind-set are key factors to avoid committing suicide, as divergent thinking could reduce mental health symptoms (A. Beckstein, Sept, 15, 2020, personal communication).

Research Methodology :

Two experimental case studies will be used to investigate on students’ wellbeing in relation to their artistic experiences along with visual art as meditation from art expression and phenomenology using mixed-methods.

Research Design:

Study 1 will use a quantitative approach to examine which visual stimuli (colour characteristics, blurry effects, or juxtaposition) will stimulate creativity.

Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT), as a popular creativity test with respectable reliability and validity (Ball, 1980), will be used to assess creative capabilities.

Study 2 will use a qualitative approach using selected favourable Transformative Abstract Videos (converted from photos to be photo slide shows as video clips) in order to re-examine how effective the aforementioned factors will be on creative capabilities.

The artistic experiences gained from TAM could unveil further insight into the creative capabilities which cannot be measured by the TTCT from Study 1. The qualitative approach therefore will be employed by the following:

In-depth interviews
Viewing visual stimuli with or without Visual Meditation
Art intervention as art-based expression

Research Ethic:

IRB approval will be mandatory as the study uses human participant.

Goal & Expectation:

The body knowledge from TAM could be delivered via serial publications: Psychedelic Colour as Creative Stimulation, Ambiguity as Creative Stimulation, and Juxtaposition as Creative Stimulation. In addition, the artwork of TAM served as the visual stimuli could be presented through exhibitions.

At least, the outcomes could introduce the abstract art meditation as a self-art therapy to practice on a daily basis like ‘a (visual) meditation a day keeps the psychologist away’.