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What Inspired
The idea of creating a project discussing grief first came to me on 11/11/2023.
I knew I wanted to discuss this topic due to grief being a big part of my life and my significant exposure to it.
And with that exposure came the realisation that not grieving healthily can have detrimental effects on a human's mental health and quality of life down the line.
The "How" Part
I had seen a post on Instagram of a media campaign that created an interactive installation where people would pass in front of a sensor, and their silhouettes would translate into the visuals.
RPReplay_Final1726760749.mp4I started experimenting with techniques on TouchDesigner to read the silhouette of a person without using external equipment like Kinect (find more details in the Creation page).
Over time, I was discouraged by the outcome, and I felt like creating visuals for the new reconstructed stages and having people move the visuals was more interactive (find more details in the Creation page).
However, with more research and testing, I came to find out that I could create more meaningful and engaging visuals with audience silhouettes when using Kinect.
Visual Identity
Finding a consistent visual language for the 5 stages that could not be classified as "similar" was difficult. This is because the reconstructed stages, confusion - limbo - pressure - anger - surrender, contrast each other in terms of color psychology as well as how motion can depict emotion, anger is red and bright with harsh movements, while confusion is defined by dark blue and grey hues and is more slow and murky.
So instead of trying to fit all the visuals into the same mold and make it look the same, I opted for the interactivity
to be the glue that connects the visuals.
The Display Concept:
"Unmasked"
At first, the display approach that I was going for was to isolate audiences
from the rest of the room and the "outside world," and have them see the installation
on the wall in a confined space.
While in theory this display would work, it wasn't personal enough, and based on feedback from my supervisor and close family, and friends, there would be better ways to execute this installation. My supervisor recommended we utilize projection mapping and project on an object rather than a wall.
With that in mind, I revisited my main goal of how I wanted to normalize the idea that we all experience grief at some point in our lives, and that we should not suppress our emotions or act as if we're not hurting, because the truth is, beneath the surface, we all feel something.
While brainstorming for ideas on how I will achieve this, "The Mirror of Erised" came to my mind, a mirror from the movie franchise Harry Potter, the magical mirror exposed "deepest and most desperate desire of our hearts"; the viewer could see their reflection in a state of perfect happiness.
While my concept differed, the idea that someone could walk up to a mirror and see their reflected self experiencing raw emotions was emotional and achieved my goal.
After deciding and getting approval on creating a mirror that would reflect the audience's silhouettes, the remaining step before creating the mirror would be deciding its design and size.
The size was easy to decide, I wanted to follow a 9:16 ratio, thus translating to 90cm height and 60cm width.
Finding a design, however, for the frame was harder because I had to keep in mind that the inside of the mirror would be white fabric, and so the design had to make it clear that this was a mirror. I also wanted an antique-looking frame, because usually, antique aesthetics can foster nostalgic emotions.
The initial frame options were these two:
The problem with this frame was that the arch at the top would make the projection more difficult; it would need extra adjustment.
This elaborate design was also very costly and surpassed my budget.
The problem with this frame was that when the fabric would be added it could be mistaken for a picture frame rather than a mirror.
The design on the bottom could also restrict the frame from being put on the floor and leaned up against the wall, as it is meant to be hung.
The Final Mirror
The final mirror design was this frame, which includes the elaborate design on the top of the frame while also maintaining a flat bottom and back support so it can stand on its own.
The design also followed the antique vibe I wanted while portraying the message that this was a mirror and not a frame.
The Next Stage
Ideating is a crucial part of any project; without a solid plan, one can face more challenges and roadblocks when they start creating.
So, with a solid plan and idea in mind, it was time to start creating my project, from making the soundtrack and visuals to building the actual frame.
Head over to the Creation page to follow my journey on bringing Al Forak/ Severance to life.
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