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 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, 2020, personal communication).  

• Similar to Thailand, New Zealand youths also experience poor mental health issue as proportion of youths age 15-24 experiencing with loneliness and low life satisfaction increases 5% from 2018 t0 2021 (Stats NZ–Tatauranga Aotearoa, 2022). 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 U of Waikato 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 national policy of Health Promotion by enhancing mental health (health.govt.nz/mental health and addiction section, 2021) for healthy and sustainable lifestyles among Kiwi juveniles.

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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 via an onsite photo-video art exhibition.

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.

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• 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 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’.