Abstract/ Synopsis:

When abstraction, minimalism, and photo-videography are fused, they amazingly create phenomenal art forms in terms of simplicity, beauty, transcendence as well as endless imagination. 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 figurative/abstract 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 or New Zealander) 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 theme of experiential wellbeing.

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Objectives & Rationales:

1. 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.

2. To allow participants to creatively experiment with photo-video art forms as the interconnections between physical perception and mind awareness. 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.

3. To promote better mental health in an educational institution. TAM could be applied to instill creative mind-sets among students coping with anxiety, stress, COVID-19 pandemic impacts as well as stimulate creative capabilities among students on a regular basis after Post COVID:

• Thai teenagers are the main casualties of suicide (Mala & Wipatayotin, 2019).  Thailand experienced a 22% increase in suicidal rates last year (Bangkok Post, 2021; Thai PBS World, 2020) and was ranked number 1 in ASEAN and 32 in the world for suicide (The Thaiger & The Nation, 2020) with overall increasing suicidal rates within recent three years (Department of Health, Thailand, 2020) resonating critical 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, 2021, personal communication).  

• Similar to Thailand, British high school juveniles  also suffered from mental health symptoms due to the rigorous long-term lockdown based on the UK government report (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 2021). Nonetheless, art programs for teenagers have been proven to boost mental health in terms of stimulating motivation, self-esteem and positive thinking (Duncan, n.d.; Wright et al., 2013). 

• Therefore, TAM collaborated with TT could extend to the international impacts by leveraging art-based research to make a difference – re-examining, resolving or relieving – on the specific critical mental health issues in Thailand. Alternatively, TAM could be also beneficial to reinforce the new national policy of Health Promotion by enhancing mental health (Department of Health and Social Care, 2021) for healthy and sustainable lifestyles among British juveniles.

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Research Process & Methodology: 

The Transformative Abstract-Visual Meditation (TAM) project is composed of the following components:

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​1. Artistic Experimentation: Creating visual stimuli epitomising links between perception and mind

The creation of abstract phot-video art forms will be used as visual stimuli through the empirical study

 

Triptych Abstract Photography

As the main production techniques, the 360-degree macro photography will be utilised in search of composition as well as blurry effect for the aesthetic abstraction through several physical variables—ranging from distance (focal), time (exposure) and vibration (camera shakes).

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The study of a Fork:

Artistic Experimentation inspired to apply on TAM project, demonstrating on shot variation through different physical variables so that form became formless as link between perception and mind 

Title: Fork

Series: Transformative Abstraction

Photographer/ Researcher: Buddhaporn Srisupawat

 

To convey the 3 stages of perception, the triptych photographic abstraction will epitomise the interconnections between physical perception and mind awareness, possibly fusing with meditation, as the following analogy:

• The representation of Unconscious stage (Unaware of any particular thing) as Long Shot (LS) of figurative subjects .

• The representation of Conscious stage (Focusing on one thing) as Medium Shot (MS) of figurative subjects .

• The representation of Semi-Subconscious stage (Not thinking about anything, but deep into the subliminal mind) as Extreme Closeup (ECU) of (non-figurative) abstract forms in the same series. Seemingly submerged into the unrealistic or surrealistic realm, where only the mind can wander through.  

The artworks will serve as visual stimuli for the Art for Wellbeing Research

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​​​​​​​2. Art for Well-being Research : Searching for impacts of visual meditation on creativity

The use of abstract photo-video as visual meditation for creative stimulation regarded as

experiential wellbeing will be examined via an on-site photo-video art exhibition at a selected college.

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Research Methodology/ Design

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 via an onsite photo-video art exhibition.

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• Study 1 will use a quantitative approach to examine which visual stimuli (colour characteristics, blurry effects, or juxtaposition) will stimulate creativity using Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) on control group and test group.

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• Study 2 will use a qualitative approach using selected favourable Transformative Abstract Videos (converted from photos to video clips) in order to 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 and reflections generated from TAM Art for Wellbeing Project will be conveyed through a 50,000 words art thesis accompanied by art works as visual stimuli via an onsite exhibition. The ultimate outcome of this study is to explore if the utilisation of TAM will have a positive impact on creative capabilities. In addition, this artistic research will also identify which factor (colour styles, blurry effects or sequential juxtapositions) has the most and least impact on creativity as the main theme of the wellbeing experience.

 

Besides, the results could be disseminated via several journal publications.  Tentative Titles are: Psychedelic Colours as Creative Stimulation, Ambiguity as a Creative Stimulation, and Juxtaposition as a Creative Stimulation.

 

At least, the outcomes could introduce the abstract art meditation as a self-art therapy to practice on a daily basis like ‘a meditation

a day keeps the psychologist away’.