For this project, we were asked to create an 'immersive digital experience' to introduce a UAL course of our choice. I chose the 'Art and Design Foundation Course' - which was (personally) a year of self-exploration and experimentation. I wanted to create an experience where technology and nature could be reunited. The concept of this 'exhibition' was to encourage students (on a UAL Open day) to 'plant their seed' as well as track and share the growth of their flower. This growth would symbolise a student's experience on the Foundation course. I made a short video entitled 'nature is inspiration' filmed in Hyde Park which played in the back of this exhibition. The sounds of the video played an important role in creating an 'immersive' feel to my exhibition. I also created a 'photography' book filled with distorted (mirror effect) images of nature.
I had 2 hours (limited time as I booked a room at LCC) to create this immersive exhibition. I set up my table, displayed all my material - the test tubes, the packaged seeds, the LED light, as well as projected my short film on the back wall. But something was missing... I wasn't turning out as immersive as I had planned. So I improvised - ran to the nearest supermarket and bought rolls of cotton strings. Inspired by Marcel Duchamps' 'String exhibition' I created this 'magical' environment which sparked curiosity.
The 'seed' represents you. The 'sunlight' needed for the seed to grow represents your teachers and peers. The 'water' it will need represents the work and effort you put it. Because yes, the seed will not grow by itself. With care and patience, the seed will bloom into a flower, the same way you will grow as an individual. You will become part of a community. The same way that flower (you) will become part of the Garden of Creativity. University is a place where one should experiment and make mistakes. Therefore, a part of the Garden of Creativity was to create a 'botanical lab', filled with test tubes and growing plants.
