Abstract/ Synopsis:

 

When abstraction, minimalism, and photo-videography are fused, they amazingly create phenomenal art forms in terms of simplicity, beauty, 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 Italian) 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) .

2. To allow participants to creatively experiment with photo-video art forms as the interconnections between physical perception and mind awareness. TAM will contribute the transformative visualizations; not only from figurative to abstract, but from formalism (form) to expressionism (formless).

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, and stimulate creative capabilities among students on a regular basis.

 

The current suicidal rates and juvenile delinquency indicate critical mental health issues as the following:

• In Thailand, 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).

• In Italy, the suicide deaths in 2020 by WHO Report informed 147 deaths, age ranges of 10-24 years old.

• The last year shocking incident of juvenile delinquency – a 14-year-old gunner killing 2 deaths and 5 injured at Siam Paragon department store in Bangkok .

 

As teenagers are the main casualties, Art for Wellbeing project in school or campus like TAM would be one of the proactive procedures to prevent any future tragic, to a certain extent.

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Research Process & Methodology: 

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

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​1. Artistic Practice Research: Creating visual stimuli epitomising link between perception and mind

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

 

Research Methodology/ Design       

Two experiments will be used through phenomenology of abstract formation to envisage the interconnection between physical perception and mind awareness by the following:

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• Experiment 1: 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 LS of figurative subjects .

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

• The representation of Semi-Subconscious stage (Not thinking about anything, but deep into the subliminal mind) as 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.

 

• Experiment 2: Concoction of Opacity and Transparency Projection

Each series of triptych will be experimented on the fusing output between opaque and

transparent material as well as the projection technique.

 

The utilization of printing on transparent materials will be experimented — printing each image in the same series on different transparent sheets and stacking them up—through the final image overlays based on hierarchy and unity of aesthetic perceptions.

 

The application of 3 projectors will be also utilized to project each photo from the same series simultaneously as the following setup:

• Projector A: project the photo/video backward to the opaque screen

• Projector B: project the photo/video backward to the same opaque screen as an

       overlayed image

• Projector C: project the photo/video upward to the transparent screen adhered with the holographic film as an overlayed image of all

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Sample images projected on transparent screens adhered with holographic films

Above Image: Photo  courtesy of: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Factory-Price-Indoor-Transparent-Digital-Signage_1601013128591.html?spm=a2700.pccps_detail.0.0.307013a049iQPg&s=p 

Below Image: Photo  courtesy of: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/3D-Window-Glass-Rear-Projector-Film_1600204742629.html?spm=a2700.pccps_detail.0.0.307013a049iQPg

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The 3-Projector Layout planed to apply to TAM Experiment 2, with an opaque wall in the back (white wall) and a transparent screen (semi-blue transparent glass) upfront

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The artworks, however, might not be served as visual stimuli for the Art for Wellbeing Research - depending on the adviser’s consultation, but it will be definitely presented via an exhibition at the NABA gallery.

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2. Art for Wellbeing Research (Optional): 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 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 body knowledge from TAM could be disseminated via serial publications with tentative titles such as: Psychedelic Colours as Creative Stimulation, Ambiguity as a Creative Stimulation, and Juxtapositions as Creative Stimulation. The artwork of TAM served as the visual stimuli could be also presented through exhibitions.

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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’.

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