Artist impression

Updates!
I have decided to change my project title to " Half-empty ". It may be subject to changes again. We will see...

enjoy~

World news

Child Take A Bath Inside A Plastic Bucket 

Image from the same news link below.

I just feel like sharing this news from World Environment News about sanitation and water problems in our neighbour country, Indonesia.

news link: here.

Project design (diagram)

Diagram of artist impression

(on a single set)

There will be six or less sets altogether. Video footages can be seen each of the pails. The intention of using different sizes of pails is simply to indicate the priority of the water sources available. The location of the pails will be permanent at their spots accordingly. The installation of the sensors are near to the pails (somewhere at the top ceiling of where the pail is located). 

Final Proposal -change of metaphore

Topic: Water

Title: In The Pail

Background:

'Freshwater is perhaps the most crucial resource for humans and all other living creatures on earth. Our life revolves around water, and sufficient clean water is essential for our healthy living as well as the health of the environment.' (WWF-Malaysia,2009).

Problem Identification:

people dont know about water source in malaysia. Malaysian has the typical lackadaisical attitude towards environmental issues. Most Malaysians are not aware of our current water issue. They still think that We are so Rich in Water source and we can continue using fresh water as always.

Objective:

To learn about different water resources in Malaysia

To identify sounds of water

To experiment with water and sound

Motivation:

At the same time to provoke awareness of the rising water issue in malaysia, in conjunction with WWF's effort of educating people about the environment.

Idea/concept:

My intention is to expose to users about water in Malaysia. How is our daily use of water brought to us?

previously, the metaphore I planned to use was umbrella. By using the same objective, motivation and identified problem, my idea is an audio visual installation. Using sound and video of different source of water, this installation will be using pail/ bucket as its visual metaphore. The reason of using pail / bucket is simply because it has direct connection with water. Generally pails are used to carry water.

Different sizes of pails are located in some spots and the motion sensor should be near to the pail. In the pails there are the videos of different water source footages, say the waterfall, river flow, tap water, etc. It should look like the water is in the pail. Each sensor will attached with different sound of the water. When user are in the area of sensors, motion detected and it will trigger the sound output from the speaker around the space. When more people are in different spots of the sensor, differnt sound will be played simultaneously. It could be an experiment for the users to play around with the different water sound installed. It would create something like a sound mixing experience.

The visuals in the pail is just to indicate the users of the source of sound, instead of showing in text, i suppose by showing videos would be more interesting.

Poster

Artist Statement

Title: In The Pail

ID: 1061104081

By: Tan Ming Jie

Blog url: http://thecolorsonmypalette.blogspot.com

In The Pail is an audio visual installation using pails, also known as buckets, as visual metaphore. It is a project to experiment with sound and visual of different water resources. It requires user interaction to trigger the sound. There are up to 6 different sound of water from the nature. Speakers are placed on the four corners of the space.

Motion sensors are installed to detect motion and will trigger sound. When the motion stops, the sound will fade out. Projectors are used to project the video of the actual source of the water. The size of the videos are scaled according to its different sizes of pails. Users can see the visuals in the pail.

The theme of this project about water sources in Malaysia. Our country is facing water shortages from time to time but the issue taken lightly by most of the public. Water as a crucial element in our daily lives should be appreciated. Through an experimental interaction with digital media, perhaps user could know better about water- driving force of nature.

Content Development #2

Part (II)

How water is brought to you? 
Have you ever wonder?

Credit: http://taliworks.com.my

I would like to include the the water running from the drain. 

All these should be a collection of water from the source to the users and then where does the used water goes?

Many might have the answer that they are ' down the drain'  and if we ask more in depth about where the water is going, I guess it would be a question mark there.

Idea Development #2

*// doodle 1

       *// plastic bucket. via here.

   *// doodle 2

Instead of umbrella (as mentioned in the proposal), I reconsidered that 'pail' could also be a suitable visual metaphore for my project. 

This was inspired by the picture of the African boy and his queue of pails. The water scarcity issue in the water-stressed countries and also the once very serious water shortage period back in 10 years maybe. I could still remember at that period of time, water supply is only available only at a limited time. Everybody was busy buying bucket / water container in huge size to store water for usage. Big plastic pails their ever highest sales during that time.

Definition from Answers.com

Pail: A watertight cylindrical vessel, open at the top and fitted with a handle; a bucket. 

Pail has direct connection with water. It is simple yet remarkable. Everyone knows that a bucket is generally use to carry water.


Possible Backend technology:
-Arduino
-PIR motion sensor
-Max MSP / Flash 3.0
-Laptop computer
-Surround sound speaker system
 (reference: sproutlab, Rain project)


Precedence studies reselected:
- WATER, video installation (Reference 2)   
- Rain installation  (Reference 3)

Idea Development #1

Image via here.

Credit: FAO Water.

What can you see in the picture?

"a boy", "an African", "an extremely dry land", "pails, buckets, containers"

What do you think he is doing?

"lifting the bucket up", "waiting for water", 

"want to get refill",  "waiting for the rain to come to collect water" 

*(answers collected from some friends)

You probably have all sorts of opinions about the picture but one thing that you would most probably link it with, I believe, is the scarcity of water in that region. No matter what the boy in the picture is doing, it must be something to do with water. They are facing ABSOLUTE WATER SCARCITY. That is so scary! I wouldn't imagine how would us live at that arid region.

---------------------

"Water is the driving force of all nature. "

                              -Leonardo da Vinci 

untitled #C

S.R.I.
Finally got rid of it!!!
Those research papers and citations and stuff was making me so confused. Everything I was reading about "water""water" "water" water WWWWWAAAAAAtttttttttteeeerrrrrrr.......
Half way doing it, I got these illusions where everything in front of me are those keywords I 've been typing in the Google search engine.
"water resource management"   "water demand" "non-revenue water""scarcity"....


HOWEVER,
It's unexpectedly enjoyable in the process when I started talking to myself which points should come first, which point I should put later, etc. ^^ In fact, the more I understand about the water resource and the world water crisis and the latest issue of the world, it got me motivated to do more research somehow. It's also helping me in developing new thoughts and ideas for my installation project. 
Nice!!! read more does help. 



* I feel sorry that my blog was not updated for at least a week. I've been trying to think what idea development I should put in. Well, I realized ' trying to think' is an excuse as to try not to think. That 's so regretful. and eventually when there's a piece of paper and a color pen or something in my hand and i start doodling. That should be the real idea developing session.


CHEER UP! XD

Gantt Chart FYP 2

This "Tomsplanner" is so useful. TRY THIS! 

It claimed itself to be easier to use than Excel and MS project.

Yeh! I agreed.

Content Development #I

This first mindmap is about water generally.

The information was extracted from here.

From the big mindmap of Water, I selected one small portion to focus on.

This second mindmap is about the world water resources which includes 

our fresh water availability, water stress, and etc.

Image via here.

Digesting...

As i told, I have zero knowledge in field recording, with DIY stuff that would much save my cost on the equipments. I checked some sites about DIY on making recordings of their own. From these readings, I came across too many new terms that i hardly can remember and for each i need to check out the dictionary and still i don't really get it. T.T


These are some sites I've read.


field recording advice
http://quietamerican.org/links.html#field
contact microphone assembly
http://home.earthlink.net/~erinys/contactmic.html
DIY steel can hydrophone & preamp (step by step guide)
http://leafcutterjohn.com/?p=915

Brief about hydrophones:

"Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when subjected to a pressure change. Such piezoelectric materials, or transducers can convert a sound signal into an electrical signal since sound is a pressure wave in fluids." from wikipedia.

reference #3

Rain installation by Rob Innes, Per Nilsson and Denlz Olcay in the year 2007.

I thought this is something similar of what I thought for my project. When someone is under one of the umbrellas, what he could hear is the sound of rain (from the video), but in my case it would be some different sounds of water.

ref: Rain project
      (Thank you Jacque for the reference link ^^)

The Recording Equipments (Part 2)

Definitely I am not going for cellphone in this case.

Image via here.

This is a Rode NT4 single point stereo microphone on the end of a boom pole (with Rycote Mini Windjammer furry cover)

It's a high quality one and portable. Not for underwater use.

The Recording Equipments (Part 1)

There is something that I forgot to explain. As in my previous post in Research & Analysis, I was mentioning that I might be looking into Arduino for my technical support. Unfortunately, my project does not need that type of technology yet. So now that I have selected my final proposal which is the combination of two of my ideas named Play-water for now(might be changing to a better one). It will be an audio-visual installation for audience to experiment with water.


As you know,  it is obvious that my project will have to be 'playing' with the sound of nature and recordings and shooting and etc. At this moment I know that I will be needing some sources like the sound of the flowing river, the waterfall ambient, tap water and etc. and all these should be using field recording which I know little of them. maybe slightly a little bit more^^.


but...
No Worries!!! I'm gotta get them all by myself. No downloadings from somewhere some holes in the Internet. T.T  and therefore Me will have to check out on what I will need to use to record.
Cellphone?
Microphone?
Hydrophone?


THE ANSWER IS...

"Come back after the commercial
~~"

Artists' projects related to WATER

From my research recently, I found out that the artists community in the world had worked together in groups to create awareness about the water issue on our Earth through art. They realized that there is a need to educate people to maintaining today's water. They are concerning about shortage of drinking water, good sewage system, environmental pollution and the signs of global warming which are occurring in no time everywhere on Earth. Some cities like Seattle has had collaboration projects with local artists on art exhibitions and and through installation art to convey an alarming message to the public about the issue.


These are some significant projects done by some artists.
1. MAINSTREAM- awareness by art
url : http://www.xs4all.nl/~boumanbk/water.html
Ulay

Project: WATERTOALL by Ulay from Germany/ The Netherlands.
It is an installation / photography type of work.


2. In Seattle, they have the Water Calling Temporary Projects.
It is a collaboration project with their local government. 3 artists and 5 filmmakers explored water - examining its flow and its history, offering ways to care our urban watersheds and celebrating water's mythical power. The projects took place at various locations throughout the city.


One of the works is Mater Matrix Mother and Medium by Mandy Greer.
It is an installation in the park. 
A Fiber-River of blue yarn and recycled fabric.

"a 200-foot "fiber river" of blue yarn and recycled fabric that flowed through the trees"

Mater Matrix Mother and Medium from Ian Lucero on Vimeo.
more info via here.


3. Some other projects to be mentioned here are.
 - A Body of Water by Paul Sermon and Andrea Zapp


 - Water Level by Willemijn Bouman. 

   "A painting, a statement.

    A statement about the drinking- and wastewater situation in Cappadocia Turkey, 

where I live and work, which is out of balance."

Something more...

Talking about water resources, there is a cycle where the water comes from and how it goes through all the processes until it reaches our homes. These are some first things get into my mind when i thought about where our water comes from.

i) waterfall
ii) river
iii) tap water
iv) sea
v) boiling water and etc.

I've been searching for interesting sound of water. and here i found one! Some guys here are experimenting with water and they got something weird out of it. There must have some physics theory involved. Anyways.. play to see what's so weird about it.

Weird experiment with water

Recording

THE DISHES from strayfox on Vimeo.

This is an experiment done by StrayFox(nickname used in vimeo) to get the original sound of the video instead of using other sound to replace. By the way, her real name is Hettie Goverts.

Research & Analysis

How does Microcontroller work?
Basically, any product or device that interacts with its user has a microcontroller buried inside.

After reading about microcontrollers, I think my project will have to use it. And so, I checked out Arduino, since some friends are starting to explore this something which seems so fun to play with.

reference #2

WATER, video installation from strayfox on Vimeo.

Critical commentaries on being LATE (unpunctual)

Malaysian Time

Late! as usual.

Malaysians are famous for being late. Is that true? Is that the innate attitude within most Malaysians? It's so sad to hear that. Unfortunately, it would be a 'yes'.


This phenomenon is happening everywhere anytime and it seems to be very normal in malaysia itself. Students attend classes late. Workers go to work late. Friends are late attending wedding dinner. Meeting starts late because some VIPs are late. In fact, events are not started punctually on time to wait for the arrivals of audiences/ VVIPs, who are apparently late for some sorts of reasons they may provide with.


'WHEN people turn up late for an event, sometimes even holding it up because they are the VIP guests, chances are the Malaysians in the crowd would simply take it in their stride and dismiss it as “Malaysian time”.
But a foreigner, having no idea what “Malaysian time” is, would probably be baffled and even annoyed with the general acceptance of tardiness in this country considering that the rule of thumb in many other parts of the world is that time is money. ' (Quote from Shantini S. )


People should have the ability to control their use of time. How they could arrange their time accordingly and set priority in task management. Unpunctuality causes loss of time and productivity. One party being late could cause so much loss in the other people's time. For instant, the unpunctuality of the bus services in Klang Valley would be a good example. Everyone in Malaysia knows that busses never come in time. 


How could this be solved?
It's probably only by  self realization, this problem may be solved. ^^
All of us are aware of this bad social behaviour but only our own determination could make a change in things happening right now. Weaknesses identified and discussed about but if there is no action its all zero. And also by everybody's effort to do it. Why do I say so? If one person has decided to be early in a function one day, but if being early results in waiting for the others, it's as the same meaningless. Let's try to influence people around us for better sake of the future. 


How could this behaviour be related to my project?
My project topic is about water. Water is just as time is. "Time is precious time is priceless."  If we don't grab it, we lose it. 
According to WWF Malaysia, our freshwater ecosystems are facing numerous threats ad challenges. Therefore they are promoting conservations and and integration projects to increase awareness. If we don't do something and grab it now as we still have time, we'll be losing them in no time! Malaysia is a developing country. About 70% of all available freshwater is used for agriculture. Yet because of inefficient irrigation systems, particularly in developing countries, just as Malaysia is, 60% of this water is lost to evaporation or is returned to rivers and groundwater aquifers.


Freshwater is perhaps the most crucial resource for humans and all other living creatures. There are many places in the world lacking access to water and they are using unsafe water. It is to remind us Malaysian while we still have fresh water, as the same to time, value them, use them wisely.

Proposal #3 + Redo #2

Topic:
Play-water

Background:
'Freshwater is perhaps the most crucial resource for humans and all other living creatures on earth. Our life revolves around water, and sufficient clean water is essential for our healthy living as well as the health of the environment.' WWF-Malaysia.

Problem Identification:
people dont know about water source in malaysia. Malaysian has the typical lackadaisical attitude towards environmental issues. Most Malaysians are not aware of our current water issue. They still think that our We are so Rich in Water source and we can continue using fresh water as always.

Objective:
To learn about different water source in Malaysia
To identify sounds of water
To experiment with water and sound

Motivation:
At the same time to provoke awareness of the rising water issue in malaysia, in conjunction with WWF's effort of educating people about the environment.

Idea/concept:
umbrella as a visual metaphore (just a tool)
a row of umbrellas displayed and hung over the ceiling and installed with different sound for each of them.
Audience interaction with the umbrella will trigger sound of different water source. (e.g. waterfall, river, tap, etc.)
OR
When the umbrella is opened, sound of the down pour or maybe the drizzle, producing lights on the umbrella indicating the amount of rain.
It is something to play with.
Perhaps through an interactive installation, audience gets to know better about water source in Malaysia.

reference #1

Rain Dance from Tak Cheung on Vimeo.

Redo Proposal #2

Topic:

The Umbrella

Background:

Inspired by people who are always lazy to bring umbrella out.

- umbrella needed no matter it's sunny day or rainy day.

Problem Identification:

- bringing an umbrella out is inconvenient.

-the size of the umbrella.

- the handle of the umbrella.

-the shape of the umbrella varies

(small : can't fully cover ; may get wet if the person's height is too tall)

(big : too big that it's very inconvenient to bring along and can't put fit into bag)

-weather too hot ( need to be under shelter to protect skin)

-raining (need to cover ourselves not to get wet)

-people prefer to be in the car/ in some indoor place rather than be under the sun / rain.

-people feel frustrated / impatient when it's too hot or when it's raining.

- raining causes traffic jam in urban areas.

Objectives:

-to appreciate the weather (sunny / rainy)

-to make umbrella more interesting for user.

-to motivate user use umbrella more and enjoy rainy day.

Ideation:

-an interactive installation -entertainment based

-an umbrella installed with sensors for touch and light/temperature

-rain drops : trigger sound when rain drops touch surface of the umbrella

-sunny day (bright light on/temperature increase): trigger wind/ fan

Redo Proposal #1

Topic:
The Virtual Me

Background:
I am inspired by tweetwhatyoueat.com where people create their own food diary and track their eating habits using the popular twitter. Users tweet their daily food consumption up in the website with a log in ID and password throught mobile phones, Instant messengers or the web. It helps you to calculate the total amount of calories daily. From this method, it reminds users of how much or less they eat everyday.

More about TWYE. Click here.

Problem identification:

People does not realize the effect of type and amount of food consume into their bodies. It may cause unhealthy food habits which leads to obesity or lack of nutrients. In general, overtaking food for a person makes him fat in some parts of the body. It depends of what type of food they eat. Concerning obesity and overweight has become a global epidemic, many people neglect their eating habit which is affecting their health seriously. Therefore, they need to be reminded in visuals.

Objectives:

1. To identify the sample food and their effects on human body.

2. To visualize food consumption and effect on body.

3. To remind people to practise good eating habits.

Motivations:

To help people realize the consequences of what they eat and to control their bad eating habits. ( for people in general)

Ideation:

- data retrieve from tweetwhatyoueat. (food amount in calories, weight, IBM, gender)

- a dynamic human body figure.

The amount of how much a person eat daily will be calculated in calories and the body figure change according to the food consumption. If one day, that user eat too much of fried chicken, if too much calories consumed, the figure shall get fatter than normal.

The user needs to log in to send data for calculations. Thus, people can visualise how much food consume and type of food affects their body (certain parts of the body e.g. tummy, arms, thighs,etc.)Users can view the human figure in different views (front, side, back)

cool one!

It's an augmented reality shooter game for mobile camera phones.
Players can see the 3d town through the mobile phone. it's a first person view game.
Tap the screen and you shoot.
when u need bombs, players need real 3d object and it'll trigger the bombing.

Click here to know more.

Thought of...

Topic : mamak culture

Background:
it is a very popular phenomenon in malaysia regardless of age n gender.
You can't claim to have been to Malaysia if you have not visited a mamak stall. The Mamak Phenomenon is the hottest, and probably the longest lasting "cultural" scene in the country.
They provide very Malaysian type of food from roti canai to nasi lemak to lou shi fun.

Problem Identification:
I dont know what's the problem yet.

Ideation:
I can't think of any idea to connect mamak to any art.

Let's Go Mamak from KLpac

proposal number FOUR

Topic: self hypnosis

Background:
Self-hypnosis is a form of hypnosis which is self-induced, and normally makes use of self-suggestion. Self-hypnosis is often employed as a therapeutic adjunct to hypnotherapy although it has many other uses, e.g., personal development, creativity, sports performance, motivation, etc. self hypnosis indeed help many people to be better for themselves.
"A state of concurrent relaxation and concentration with an increased consciousness evoked from suggestions"

Problem identification:
people need to communicate with themselves. sometimes not even the psychiatrist could help them go through their state of misery.

objective:
to help people gain relaxation and mental stability.

Ideation:
an installation art with visual in a private space.

Proposal number THREE

Topic: the water

Background:
It is something we could not afford living without. No water, we will be dead. However, many people does not appreciate water. I would like to research on water and further in my research i 'd like to narrow down the topic into what type of installation could educate audience on water appreciation.



both these videos are about water.
I 'm still thinking which one of these two has more potential to work on for my research. I'm impressed by 'the water board' where the technology used in the interactive installation is remarkable. I got no idea how to do it how they did it.
The following video is ' Beneath'. it's inspired by the underwater world.

The Water Board


Beneath


Ideation:
an interactive installation
I would like to do about the movements of water. lights travel in straight line. this was what we had learned in our science class back in high school time.

PROPOSAL number TWO

Topic:
Dealing with Stress

Background:
Inspired by people living in the city especially those people who are so stressful that they feel like dying.

Problem identification:
Many people face stress everyday in their work/ studies. Some serious ones might even get themselves into the depression stage. Worst can might create suidical cases.

Ideation:
a video interactive installation
which there is a video playing on the screen. it is playing something extreme would be something to do with committing suicide, or outdoor extreme activities. the content of the video should make the audience feel intense. to control the speed of the video, the audience would need to hit the kickboxing bolster. the more aggressive he/she hits on it, the faster the video will be playing.

proposal number ONE

Topic:
Human behaviour (lazy)

Issue:
Rubbish are supposedly be thrown into where it supposed to be. In Malaysia, it doesn't seem like everybody is practising this habit. Consequently, rubbish are seen everywhere on the street, in the drain, at the bushes, etc.

Motivation:
Appropriate effort needed to make a change on current situation. People are encourage to make our environment clean and healthy. Healthy culture should be cultivated among us.

Ideation:
When one throw rubbish into the rubbish bin, the bin should change color. the bin changes color everytime someone throws something into the bin. There will be a sensor at the bin hole. It is to sense something pass by the entrance.

colorless

T.T....
ideas scattered...
brains apart...
'CRACK-----ED'
dead.



no RED YELLOW BLUE
it's BLACK N WHITE.