The Process of Term1 Studying

Bio-Electromagnetic Field

I start to think about if there is anything between people, affected by the elements of surrounding or by people themselves. It could be a kind of the third space which we have never noticed but exist in our life. For example, the Earth is like a giant magnet, surrounded by a magnetic field, has been chinging for thousands years. However, we hardly realize the changing because we cannot observe it by our eyes.

In these figures and animations, the magnetic field from 1590 to 1980 is given by the GUFM-1 model of Jackson et al. (2000), while the field from 1980 to 2010 is given by the 10th generation of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field.

Bio-electromagnetic field which is defined as an eletromagnetic field produced by living biological organisms. The theory has been utilized by Chinese Qigong for thousands of years. Chinese people believe that this field affect the air around us, whether through minute vibratory force or very faint eletromagnetic radiation or by various other means. The aura can be said to be both the field itself. as well as the effects within the field. For instance, while we cannot see the wind, we can observe its effects as it blows the leaves of trees. Moreover, the air does exist and might cause a kind of space.

Flute

Flute

New Zealand, Pacific Ocean

Wood

L8.0, D3.0 cm

Donated by William Bragge 1869
Ethno Oc.5369

A drawing by an artist on Captain James Cook's first Pacific voyage indicates that this Maori flute was collected during the 1769-1770 exploration of New Zealand by HMS Endeavour. It has four playing holes and a small loop for a suspension cord. This type of flute is played by blowing either through the mouth or through the nose at the curved end: playing by the mouth produces a resonant sound, while playing by the nose gives a softer, sobbing effect. Historically, flute music and chanted poems helped to soothe the pain of tattooing. Musical instruments were seen to control and celebrate the air or breath (te ha) which, in the ancient Maori world, was considered to be the essence of life.

The analysis of behaviors

The Observation of People

Human behaviours around the two sites are the most interesting things for me as I mentioned before. Because of this, I start to do a survey, talking with 100 people around the areas from the morning to the night in order to observe the differences of human behaviours.

There are always a lot of pasengers when I walk on Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road but 90% of them are uneasy to chat with because they might try to chatch the tube or meet someone else. On the other hand, around Soho Square, people seems relax and friendly and enjoy their lunch break in the afternoon. When I talked to them, most of them would like to help me to do the survey and had a positive response. However, during the night, only few passengers walk around this area and the square is shut down, which made the place become cold, unfriendly and even dangerous.

In the morning and afternoon, one side of the site, which faces to Piccadilly Circus, is busy with passengers whereas the other side between Air Street, Brewer Street and Glasshouse Street seems quieter with the noisy from cranes and workers. For me, it is quite difficult to do the survey as most people just pass through this area and have no time to stop for my research. Nevertheless, those streets around the site become busy and the atmosphere has changed dramatically. There are many elements which result in the difference, for example alcohol, the artificial lights and the music from the pubs. People seems totally different from the morning and love to talk with each others on the street.

SITE STUDY

The first site is in the corner of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road. On the one side, there are many passengers and busy traffic on the street. On the other side, there is the quite and lovely Soho Square with a few people who are taking a break or having lunch during the afternoon.

The second site is between Air Street, Brewer Street and Glasshouse Street. The site, Regent Palace Hotel, used to be one of the biggest hotel in the UK. The 94 year old hotel is redeveloping as a cutting-edge energy centre with offices, shops, entertainment centre and residential units.

Workshop - Gestural Translation with Perry Kulper

During the first week, I worked in a group with Aneesha and Gintare, using Gestural Translation method to explore and test different ways for our design. The Ship Breaking site was chosen as the ship represented a way which could be used to reach a destination while our the theme "Motel" which is also a kind of mode for reaching a destination. Therefore, our team decide to play paper football and record the movement for gestural translation study as the game represent another way to approach the goal.

Camera 1



Camera 2



Camera 3

Eventually, we figure out that the most interesting thing during the process is not only the game or the movement but the different methods of observation, and then we put this idea into motel design. There are three different observers in the motel rooms, including a still room, a moving room and the play area itself, on the ship breaking site.