The catalogue follows the poster in communicating the idea behind the museum along with more detailed information about the object[s] displayed. The information contains links to other related objects displayed in the museum.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
CATALOGUE
CONCEPT:
The catalogue follows the poster in communicating the idea behind the museum along with more detailed information about the object[s] displayed. The information contains links to other related objects displayed in the museum.
The catalogue follows the poster in communicating the idea behind the museum along with more detailed information about the object[s] displayed. The information contains links to other related objects displayed in the museum.
POSTER
CONCEPT:
This museum follows a new train of thought as it tries to turn its space into an area where different cultures can meet and take something away from the interaction. It tries hard to move away from the usual display system that tends to turn museums into ‘graveyards’.
It does not classify objects as they have been so far but dwells deeper into their presence, and makes lateral connections that seem to be forgotten. And it is fun.
For such a museum, it is vital that its poster reflect the same.
REMARKS: the process i followed for this was quite unexpected.
This museum follows a new train of thought as it tries to turn its space into an area where different cultures can meet and take something away from the interaction. It tries hard to move away from the usual display system that tends to turn museums into ‘graveyards’.
It does not classify objects as they have been so far but dwells deeper into their presence, and makes lateral connections that seem to be forgotten. And it is fun.
For such a museum, it is vital that its poster reflect the same.
REMARKS: the process i followed for this was quite unexpected.
POSTER process
Started working with the poster, and that took me towards the catalogue cover.
Worked on it to reach the final poster.
coming back to the poster, 
made a seemingly nonsensical visual with a sense of humor.
made a seemingly nonsensical visual with a sense of humor. It was far more successful than my earlier attempts.
Worked on it to reach the final poster. FINAL DISPLAY
CONCEPT:
The snake boat is a striking thing to look at due to its unique dimensions(50 feet long and 6 feet wide).It in itself has a great visual impact on the viewer.It also has a very interesting history and a technical side to it(architecture). I wanted to put across both these aspects.
The snake boat is a striking thing to look at due to its unique dimensions(50 feet long and 6 feet wide).It in itself has a great visual impact on the viewer.It also has a very interesting history and a technical side to it(architecture). I wanted to put across both these aspects.
the boat is displayed in the middle of the hall, along its lenght. it is sunk into the ground, as though in water.this gives the viewer an idea of how it looks in its natural surroundings.
there are 5 images on the wall along the lenght of the boat. the images are to do with the different stages of its life- building of the boat, religious procession before race, snake boat race, shed in which it is stored till the next year.
each image had a sound that accompanies it. the sound can be heard by placing your ear to a square surface near the image, on the wall itself.
this aims to tell a story about the boats life, viewing it as more than just an object.
the wall above these images contains a map of the kerala backwater.
REMARKS:when i thought of the snake boat, the grand boat races automaticallty came to my mind. i could not separate one from the other. it is the entire event that makes the snake boat. i wanted to put that across.also, when you put a boat in a museum, it loses a great amount of its life. to make it relate to the living world once again, i used sound from different stages of its life.the images and sounds on the wall along the lenght of the boat aim to tell the story of the boat, snippets from its life.
IDEAS for the display;
Try to use maximum senses-eyes, ears, nose, taste, touch.
1. A hole in the ground in the shape of the boat- as though the boat has fallen through the wooden floor.
Concept: the absence of the object tells you things its presence cannot. Using negative space.
Problem: not very informative.permanent.
Concept: the absence of the object tells you things its presence cannot. Using negative space.
Problem: not very informative.permanent.
2. Use negative space to put across the volume/dimensions of the boat.
The shape and size of the boat is something that is most likely to generate interest about this object. A walk through an area mimicking the dimensions of the boat would give the visitors a fairer idea about it.
The shape and size of the boat is something that is most likely to generate interest about this object. A walk through an area mimicking the dimensions of the boat would give the visitors a fairer idea about it.
3. An enclosed room in the middle of the room, with a window to look in. Use optical illusions to increase the sense of depth and distance in the room. Person looks into the room to see video of snake boat race. Boat looks like it is passing you and moving away.
4. Watch the boat race from underwater, with a different perspective. Like a walk through aquarium.
Too expensive, maintenance, not sustainable design
Too expensive, maintenance, not sustainable design
5. Enter a room through a one way entrance. Walk along a straight pre-determined path. As you walk along, life size videos of boats run along the length of the room, in the opposite direction, on the floor and the walls. The boats race in the opposite direction at a very fast speed, while audio of snake boat song plays in the background. The speed of the videos distorts the sense of time and slows it down for you. Video along with loud rhythmic, pulsating song heightens the excitement. Purpose: to feel as though you are standing in the middle of a boat race. Experience the event that makes the object rather than seeing it as just an object.
Areas of research,
About boat construction, dimensions- engineering- Vedas- connect to literature.
Types of boats, hierarchy.
Snake boat song, vanchipattu- audio- different sounds during the process/life of a boat.
Valasadya- feast- link to food.
Related myths, stories- religious and non-religious- beginning of snake boats and races.
Festival of onam, Malayalam months.
Kerala backwaters.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
topic: CHUNDAN VALLAM(snake boats)
Boat races are magnificent fiestas that bring alive the tranquil backwaters and these races are held in connection with Onam, the harvest festival in August/September. The snake boat festival is well known for its vigour and excitement.RESEARCH:
The race, which occurs once a year in the Malayalam month of Simha (usually August), is only the end of a long process which begins with the construction of the boats themselves. Specifications for every detail of the construction of these unusual vessels are revealed in the Sthap Athya Veda, an ancient scripture defining the building of yaman or odam (wooden boats).
The race, which occurs once a year in the Malayalam month of Simha (usually August), is only the end of a long process which begins with the construction of the boats themselves. Specifications for every detail of the construction of these unusual vessels are revealed in the Sthap Athya Veda, an ancient scripture defining the building of yaman or odam (wooden boats).
it takes 650 MAN-DAYSto build a single snake boat.
The long wooden planks used in the construction of the hull must be precisely 83 feet in length and six inches thick. The boats themselves are 158 FEET LONG AND HOLD 100 MEN. They are constructed so that the head and tail project out five and three feet, respectively, above the water. Each boat must have 64 seating compartments for 64 OARSMEN, representing 64 art forms. At the head of the boat on a raised platform are seats for four more master oarsmen who control the direction of the boat with large oars. These four oarsmen symbolize the four Vedas. In the middle of the boat is a platform for eight people to stand. They represent the Ashtadikpalakas (devas), who guard the eight directions.
There are 32 SNAKE BOATS representing 32 villages on the banks of the holy River Pampa, which winds through the district of Pathanamthitta. On the main day of the festival, everyone worships the murti of Lord Parthasarathy, a form of Lord Krishna, the presiding deity of the ancient Aranmula temple. On this day, all of the boats are adorned elaborately with decorations and maneuvered into view of the Parthasarathy temple, standing majestically above and near the shore.
The oarsmen, wearing white dhotis with white scarfs around their heads, row the snake boats to the rhythmic tunes of sacred hymns composed by the late, great poet, Ramapurathu Warrier. All of the local people participate in the festival. And all the pilgrims who come to Aranmula become the guests of the resident families. Food, especially, is made available to everyone.
The long wooden planks used in the construction of the hull must be precisely 83 feet in length and six inches thick. The boats themselves are 158 FEET LONG AND HOLD 100 MEN. They are constructed so that the head and tail project out five and three feet, respectively, above the water. Each boat must have 64 seating compartments for 64 OARSMEN, representing 64 art forms. At the head of the boat on a raised platform are seats for four more master oarsmen who control the direction of the boat with large oars. These four oarsmen symbolize the four Vedas. In the middle of the boat is a platform for eight people to stand. They represent the Ashtadikpalakas (devas), who guard the eight directions.
There are 32 SNAKE BOATS representing 32 villages on the banks of the holy River Pampa, which winds through the district of Pathanamthitta. On the main day of the festival, everyone worships the murti of Lord Parthasarathy, a form of Lord Krishna, the presiding deity of the ancient Aranmula temple. On this day, all of the boats are adorned elaborately with decorations and maneuvered into view of the Parthasarathy temple, standing majestically above and near the shore.
The oarsmen, wearing white dhotis with white scarfs around their heads, row the snake boats to the rhythmic tunes of sacred hymns composed by the late, great poet, Ramapurathu Warrier. All of the local people participate in the festival. And all the pilgrims who come to Aranmula become the guests of the resident families. Food, especially, is made available to everyone.
For years the "Aranmula Festival" had been exclusively a RELIGIOUS AFFAIR. However, beginning in 1978, politicians entered into its management and made it more of a sports event. This August, 2000, festival (reported here) commemorated the way the event was celebrated before 1978 and officially re-established those previous more religious customs and practices. Copying this colorful festival, there have been other boat races in the backwaters and rivers of Kerala for the purpose of attracting foreign tourists. But only at the impressive Aranmula festival do the true snake boats compete. 
Friday, November 23, 2007
to start with..
collecting information about kerala.
problem:the information online was found to be superficial and 'touristy'.
solution:going beyond this level, considering other sources(people, books...)
context of objects often lost along the way...how do we recover it?
objects more than an artefact for aesthetical value...
are a window into another time.
problem:the information online was found to be superficial and 'touristy'.
solution:going beyond this level, considering other sources(people, books...)
context of objects often lost along the way...how do we recover it?
objects more than an artefact for aesthetical value...
are a window into another time.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Introduction: totaldesign
project totaldesign.It is about museums; from coming up with a name,display/signage, to researching and documentation, interpretation of the objects displayed,publication and publicity.
There is a client in kerala who wants to set up a museum about kerala for local,national and international audiences.
In this project each of us are to choose a topic (related to kerala and its traditional arts) and on doing a thorough research on it, come up with a suitable display system for it keeping in mind the concept of total design.
The concept of 'total design' gives the designer the authority over content along with packaging it.It involves working with all aspects of communication using various media.We will look at and discuss the current museum display systems and their drawbacks, to see what not to do.The museum is to be an experience more than a highly informative space.
There is a client in kerala who wants to set up a museum about kerala for local,national and international audiences.
In this project each of us are to choose a topic (related to kerala and its traditional arts) and on doing a thorough research on it, come up with a suitable display system for it keeping in mind the concept of total design.
The concept of 'total design' gives the designer the authority over content along with packaging it.It involves working with all aspects of communication using various media.We will look at and discuss the current museum display systems and their drawbacks, to see what not to do.The museum is to be an experience more than a highly informative space.
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