Week2 Day 5

We compiled everything together and did a podcast out. This is the web link:http://www.vimeo.com/3299768. (visit here!)

Week 2 Day 3

After hearing the advice given to Sui Lee, we decided to narrow our concept to only the structure of Wayang Kulit. We started thinking about a word for our concept and we came out with "Imagination". As we are thinking and browsing through our research, we realise that the features of Wayang Kulit are actually exaggerated. For example, the hands of the Wayang Kulit are so long that it reaches its leg, thus we think of the word "Exaggeration" as our direction for our exhibit.

We plan to feature different individual parts of the Wayang Kulit. One of our example is having different kinds of eye on the wall, framed up. However, if a visitor walk pass, the eyes all look at them... Miss Ester feels that this idea lacks of significance and must think harder. However, we feel that we did a better job in our 2nd idea.

We will be researching on things that will support our idea tomorrow and finalize it.

Week 2 Day 2

It was an interesting day for us. We had a workshop with the Asian Civilisation Museum's education services team to better understand the objective of the project in relation to the workshop and more about the client which is ACM itself.

ACM is moving into a more media and technology focused approach, bridging the gap ~ edutainment.

What we learnt during the workshop:

• To experience how the visitors see the exhibits by first identifying the object based on first impression and understanding.
  
• Make it simple & clear on the message, NO FRILLS.
  
• Explore and go all WILD in your idea, place no boundaries.
  
• Focus on one main idea, place priority first.
  
• The more important message to portray, may NOT always be the easiest to do.
  
• Think about how the exhibit alone will relate to the whole section of the museum.
  
• ALWAYS think of the visitors' experience.
  
• Translate into new forms, bite sizes that are consumable (not literally,haha).
  
• Experience cannot be compromised by the virtual approach, still have to relate to the visitor in a real way.
  
• Consider the sustainability of the exhibit; wear and tear, damages and other factors.
  
• Finding out what visitors will first be curious about with regards to each object.
  
• How do we tell them so much about each exhibit without knocking them out?
  
• Activities are targeted more for young visitors aged 9-12.
  
• Image and Attitude towards museums
  
• EXPERIENCE! Engaging the senses.
  
• Consider the physical constraints that might affect the whole message to be conveyed, to learn with primary sources.
  
• Museum is actually only takes up 1% of all the activities available to entertain oneself, whereas Home Entertainment takes up the top rank.

Interactivity:

• Learning with a Handling Collection
• Learning with Primary Sources(Hand-on activities..)
• New Media
• Developing Concepts and Storyboards
• The Virtual vs. The Real?
  

Lastly, something to think about: A great trip is not about the destination, its about the experience.

Peter Greenburg

Museums cannot be all about fun. :)

Week 2 Day 1

Today after we consult Miss Ester, we found that our concept was too surface. It means that it is too shallow and nothing special, so we decided to start with the atmosphere. Wayang Kulit performance are outdoors and always at night to morning (last around 9 hours). Having this in mind, we think that we can set the lighting in the exhibit to suit the atmosphere ourdoors meaning it will change its brightness as time pass. We also plan to set a raining atmosphere in the exhibit by using glass tubes and light. Though the performance is outdoor, there is shelter thus it can continue its performance even if it rains. We want to have the raining effect as we want to let the viewer have a sense of how it will be like to watch the performance if it rains, will it affect the sound made etc.

After having all these discussions, we realize that actually, our concept lacks of emotion, or how user will feel after visiting the exhibit. Thus we came out with a concept map stating all the things we know about the structure of wayang kulit and the process of making it.

Below is our concept map ( Click for a closer view.)

Week 1 Day 5 - First Presentation

11 Claps for 5-fingers! =)
The presentation was pretty great.

Comments from Lecturers:

• Research is strong.
• Ideas is ok.
• Concept wise is still ok. But maybe can try to combine our concept idea instead of separating idea.

Overall we are doing ok and on the right track, so keep up the good work. =)


Things that we need to improve/work on:

• The survey.
• Combine Concept.
• Survey.

Week 1 Day 4

Today we went on to our concept development. We went to research on different gestures for the wayang kulit like what they do when they are angry, in love, happy etc. We find it interesting because they uses only the few joints they have to create such emotions. Not only that, we also did a research on how dalang controls his puppets. We had then scanned and will show them.

Our concept also touches on how these wayang kulit are related to modern humans like ourselves. For example, slender eyes in the wayang kulit world means good, kind but does it means that to the people around us too? So we came up with a survey and question people on what are the features of a people that will make you think he or she is good. We will show the results tomorrow.

Week 1 Day 3

Today, after consulting Miss Ester on our 3 ideas, we went to discussion on which one we should do. In the end, we decided to focus on a combination of our 2 ideas and came up with THE STRUCTURE OF A WAYANG KULIT AND ITS MAKING PROCESS, as our final idea.

Reason being that, people may have heard of wayang kulit or even seen its performance. But how many people actually know how precious these puppets and how long the people are willing to spent in making just one wayang kulit. At first, our group only know that wayang kulit is a shadow, leather puppet but didn't know that actually, different features of each wayang kulit can show if it is good or evil etc.

We also discuss about what do we want the viewer to bring home after the exhibit. We want the viewer to be aware of the unseen part of a wayang kulit like how to make one? What are the things used on the ox hide before using it? We hope that our viewer will be more knowledgeable after viewing. Besides that, from our research from yesterday, we found out that wayang kulit performance are used for socialising. Thus we thought of ways to make our exhibit more interactive and allow the viewers to interact with each other.

Lastly, the mood and atmosphere. We think that the museum did a great job in this area with the lighting etc. We hope to improve on the music that they play in the museum and create a relaxing yet interesting mood for the viewers.

Week 1 day 1

Our group name is 5 Fingers. We are doing on Southeast Asia - Wayang Kulit.



Group members: Shavien Chow, Tok Xin Lin, Tan Wan Teng and Timothy Pang. (Starting from Left.)