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.



CATALOGUE process

Taking the initial posters forward,


They look like book covers, simple.

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.

POSTER process

Started working with the poster, and that took me towards the catalogue cover.

coming back to the poster, 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 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.


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.

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


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.


6. Boat in the floor- the floor acts as the water level.

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.