Matthew Baral

This is my research page for ART 691.

Bio:

I have been a physician and professor for the past eighteen years, focusing on pediatric medicine. For the past five years, my interest in producing art has returned as a priority in my life. My work is driven by a fascination with the science behind beauty, and how it influences our behavior. Biophilia, the concept that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life, often directs the research and preparation for my projects. Nature exposure and immersion benefits humans in many ways, and the scientific explanations that currently exist for this are mostly theoretical. However, there are clear similarities between the aesthetics of shapes and colors, and patterns we see in the natural world. My intent is to induce the same feelings we experience when viewing nature by using patterns found in nature to be aesthetically pleasing. These feelings, as demonstrated in the existing research include relaxation, fascination, and curiosity. My ultimate goal is to produce work that is especially beneficial in therapeutic environments such as hospitals or clinics, or public settings where there is limited visual access to nature.

My current questions:

· Is there a method or template that Turrell uses in all of his works to induce a common experience?

o If so, what are his resources?

o If not, what techniques has he used to create the desired experiential outcome of the viewer?

· Are there common phenomenological themes in the experiences of the students participating in the class?

Statement of Research Goals

• Personal Research Project
  • 5-10 minute interview of each student in every class section
  • Study the individual experiences garnered by the interviews and attempt to describe common themes
  • Compare common themes to experiences reported by nature exposure research