The very first idea is very basic, using beans, often used in the Abrahamic religions for some prayers. The mechanism behind it is just that the audience will take a bean each of a different color and place it to gather more data to confirm the data from the Infographic and to obtain more data as well.
The second idea came from the ‘Muslim Praying Hat’ where the designs and colors would be representing the data. However, I wanted my observations on the data to be reflected as well, thereby leading me to the idea of adding typographic texts to talk about these observations.
The third idea was inspired from the ‘Holy Book’. Similarly, the color of the pages, when closed will represent the data whilst the inside will have typographies. Since its a book which had obviously more space compared to the ‘Muslim Hat’ I wanted to make some more complex typographies for this one. However, it would have been the most time consuming idea so far.
The forth idea was about candles, since I’ve heard of a meditation called the ‘Blue Ray Meditation’ whereby a candle is needed. The idea would have different colored candles, which I could custom-make them myself. The process is very simple, melting white candles and adding food color, or wax colored pencils to it to get the desired color and finally put it a mold and let it set. In this idea each candles will represent a category and just like the first idea of the beans it would be an interactive piece whereby they will have to plot the candles in the right spot.
The fifth idea was the exact same idea of the candles but this time using incense. Homemade incense can be made easily at home, grabbing some spices, let them dry then tie them together. There’s even more recipes available on the internet, combining different spices would give different tones. However, if it doesn’t I was planning to add some food color to each of them to get more variety. Compared to the previous idea though, this one might require a container to store them.
The sixth idea was based on Totems mostly, but I was also inspired by religious engravings through almost every religion out there. The Totems are Native Americans culture, whereby they display their history, religion among others. They are also based on the Animalism believes, which include having a spiritual animal guide, thereby creating the relationship with spirituality. Within this believe each animal has a symbolism and by following these symbolism I could get quite some flexibility on the designs.
These are rough ideas of what I believe I can achieve while following this direction. A series of single Totems to represent each category, might act like the previous 2 ideas. A Totem Pole which will be just a display piece, having different animals on the height of the Totem and each would represent a data. Finally, wood engraving or mashed paper sculpture which will display the data on it.
The seventh idea was based on a research whereby I found vases being used as incense holder/burners. I chose to make a vase, then using an Indian painting method to represent the data. Since this idea was quite promising I decided to try and make it into an interactive piece. I wanted to use incenses at first but after thinking about it I realized that they might not be so versatile. So I decided to go with Totems finally, combining my previous idea to this one. It will provide the same illusion of the piece being used as an incense burner but it will be Totems inside however. An additional point by having an interactive piece was that it would help me to collect the missing data to be able to compare with the previous data.I thought if many different ways to create divisions within this designs to try and add even more data to it just like with my Infographic. The few things that came in mind was the texture and colors.
I still prepared some backup idea just in case. The idea of an incense holder, with modern designs. One could be made out of clay, the other out of 3D printing and one out of laser cutting. Then burning the incense to the needed length to represent the data. This piece will however only be a display piece.
Next was the idea of a Muslim Praying Mat, which yet again was just a display piece. In this design, the data will be within the amount of the colors present in the illustration, for example more blue compared to yellow may suggest more Hindus compared to Muslims. Anyways, this idea was not so well elaborated.
Indeed, I went with the idea of the vases since it was more convenient and I also found more secondary research to support it. The finding of a rough surfaced vase which was used as an incense burner made me realize that I don’t have to make a refined vase with the electric rotating machine and I can just use some clay and mold it by hands.
A few smaller vases were made and smaller pieces of clay as well to test the methods of making it and the painting methods. The best method revealed to be making the vase in 3 or more if required different pieces. As for the painting methods, an Indian Traditional painting method was tried but failed horribly. Therefore A few other method were tried on the same piece on it’s circumference so as not to waste many clay. The other methods included coloring with soft pastel, with blending and without along with acrylic paint.
A few smaller vases were made and smaller pieces of clay as well to test the methods of making it and the painting methods. The best method revealed to be making the vase in 3 or more if required different pieces. As for the painting methods, an Indian Traditional painting method was tried but failed horribly. Therefore A few other method were tried on the same piece on it’s circumference so as not to waste many clay. The other methods included coloring with soft pastel, with blending and without along with acrylic paint.
The following sketches are a few proposals on the different design I wanted to achieve with a normal acrylic painting. On the same page you’ll notice a few writings, at this point I was thinking of some possible texture that can also be use conceptually. One was the basil leaf texture since it’s often used in Hinduism rituals along with the texture from a kneaded ‘Muslim Hat’ and lastly gluing colored rice to the vase which is again from Hinduism, the ‘Holi’ festival where they draw mandalas with the colored rice.
Due the what was available I chose a different clay and a ‘Muslim Hat’ which I bought for cheap online. However, after trying out the texture from the ‘Muslim Hat’ I found out that it worked on smooth surfaces but not on the rough and irregular surface of a vase.
As for the data I went back to the infographic and used the information there. A few more observations were made upon studying the infographics again such as Christians from my sample seems to be somehow slightly less happy as compared to the other religion and the all those having a different practice from their religion such as a Christian who practice Kundalini or a Muslim who practice meditation wasn’t as happy with it. I therefore concluded that it’s mostly based on the support you get during your practice just like the interviewee told me.
After receiving the data, each person were given a rating from 1 to 5 upon their level of satisfaction. From there each religion were rated upon their total level of satisfaction. After that I worked out the numbers and turned it into percentage. When it was in percentage form it was easier to correct the percentage error that was present due to the fact that there was certain groups that was outnumbered by other bigger groups. It was decided that the vases each will represent a different practice and then the width of each painting will represent the level of happiness of each religion.
A few tryouts were also made on AI to try and obtain a flat profile of each data and how they will be presented on the vase. Taking the smaller circumference of each vase and the largest circumference which were both made in consideration of the sizes of the Totems. Combining them together then the 2D profile was obtain, however at this point I was still insecure about the accuracy of this method.
The following vases were decided to be made, the first one being a typical shape it was decided to be used for praying since it seem to be the most common spiritual practice. The next shape was sort of Indian/Asian looking therefore it was decided to be used to represent Kundalini which is an Indian practice. Followed by the squared vase which was given the practice of meditation since it’s apparently a modern practice even accepted by modern Atheist based on the sample as well. Lastly a simpler looking vase to represent the ‘non believers in spiritual practices’ since there was simply no data available for this category yet.
The process for each vase was different since some were squared others were rounded. They were however mostly made pieces by piece except for the 2 last ones which required a template. For the meditation, vase a template was made out of corrugated board placed inside, the orifice was made much bigger to allow the easy removal of the template. For the one for the ‘non spiritual believers’ it was made using a cup I had which had a hexagonal shape. The clay didn’t naturally take the hexagonal shape, but since I thought it was an interesting shape I decided to give it the hexagonal shape by hands to make it more interesting.
As I was removing the cup it broke into pieces though, therefore I had to reassemble it using water and the clay I had left over. The other issue I had constructing the previous shapes were that the clay was too moldable, therefore it couldn’t handle it’s own weight, it was falling on itself. This issue left some cracks and folds in the shape of the vases. However, after an extensive polishing I was able to obtain a quite smooth surface. I used a wet course sanding paper with a bit of dish washing soap. After which I using the same grade but dry along with smaller grades dry as well. I believe the sanding paper I used was not of a good quality because they were all supposed to be wet and dry sanding paper but with the contact of water they were tearing apart. After that I used a sponge and smoothen it with the soap water again, then to removed any bubbled produced by the sponge I used my bare hands to finish it off.
After obtaining the vases I decided to try a new method to add the data unto it. I measured at least 4 points or more for some vases, Then I translated the data to the length of the circumference of the vase. I had to divide the length of the first data by 2 and measured it on the right and the left side to obtain the accurate first shape. After that the rest was pretty straight forward.
This was the tryout I was doing for the very first arrangement. After that I did my first arrangement which was not so colorful and I was recommended to make it more interesting with more illustrations and colors. And that’s how I obtaine
I studied the symbolism of a few animals and rated them upon how they display happiness or sadness. Finally, I was left with the sheep, the wolf, the cat, the horse, the dog and the dolphin starting from the saddest to the happiest respectively.
Here’s a few sketches of each Totems which I obtain by observing their most prominent traits and the features they have of which we don’t pay much attention to. The reason was to allow the people to recognize the creature while also keeping the aspects of a Totem which was supposed to be abstract and mysterious.
After doing the following, I proceeded with designing them in AI, using both accurate vector shapes and irregular brush strokes which again had the purpose of creating the abstract look along with the crafty appeal of a Totem.
The following did cause me some trouble as I sent it to the laser cutting machine since the laser cutting software wasn’t recognizing the brush strokes as strokes just like AI do. So I had to unite them and engrave them on the wood. The way the laser cutting machine functions it that the more area there is to engrave the more time it takes to process.
However, the design were well done, with one fully wasted board, but I was able to have quite enough Totems and each of the animals. There was a space left above each Totems to be painted so that even after they’re plotted in the vase and from far away we can see the data.
