Category: Capstone Studio (Shanghai)

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A Reflection on Lookism

An interactive face fortune telling/plastic surgery consultation that reflects on lookism and gwansang in South Korea.

Jessica Chon

https://youtu.be/cHf-VaSzmQ4

Description

Inspired by the cultural phenomena of lookism and gwansang, A Reflection on Lookism serves as a medium for users to question the significance of appearance in their daily lives. Lookism is appearance-based discrimination, while gwansang is Korean face fortune telling. Both are significant cultural aspects of South Korea, and I was particularly moved by the connection between the two. People feel the need to succeed and believe that they need to meet specific beauty standards to do so. As they undergo cosmetic procedures to improve their appearance and seek reassurance that their looks will be accepted by society, face fortune tellers cannot reaffirm this fortune, as their natural faces have been altered. I convey this irony through my consultation that is hosted on a simulated plastic surgery clinic website I created. The consultation is held virtually in a tent that is meant to mimic a fortune telling stall in South Korea, but with more “high-end” elements to give the professional feel of a clinic consultation.

The reason I combine both a clinic and stall is because when I enter fortune telling tents in Korea, there is a mixed feeling of hesitation and excitement because fortune telling, I believe, is mysterious in itself. As for the hesitation, trying to experience something that is so “powerful” and mystifying in such an unexpected tent seems strange. I want users to feel this emotion to capture the fortune telling experience. On the other hand, I also wanted to recreate the intimidation I feel when entering medical clinics. At times, I find going to a doctor intimidating. Everything is pristine and you’re suddenly hyper-aware of your medical knowledge and lifestyle habits. I want users to also feel this type of uncertainty that I feel when I go to medical clinics.

IMA/IMB Shanghai
INTM-SHU.401.2
Capstone Studio (Shanghai)
Culture,Narrative/Storytelling
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Visual Emotions: A Multi-sensory Documentary Photography Series

It is an audiovisual installation that creates a sonic viewing experience for digital photography.

Zeping Fei

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp_sksC-dq8

Description

Visual Emotions: A Multi-sensory Documentary Photography Series is an audiovisual installation that creates a sonic viewing experience for digital photography. Photographic contents were shot on one of the oldest and most vibrant morning markets in Harbin and audio contents were recorded separately during each shooting process. Field recordings are analyzed as audio spectra in Touchdesigner that affect positions, colors, brightness, and sizes of pixels in rendered photos. In my photography world, each shutter press is triggered by an emotional resonance between the self and the environment, and the use of audio data translates these personal emotions that arise from each situation and are unique to each photograph. By engaging both visual and auditory sensations from the audience, this project proposes an alternative to displaying and viewing photographic works and. This work aims for arousal in people’s photography viewing experience and opens up more space for imagination and interpretation of visual and audio information. It intends to reflect on how economic instability caused by COVID-19 is gradually affecting common people’s living conditions. This series translates the artist’s emotional resonance with the pandemic, speaks for the calmness within ordinary as well as the longing for hope within helplessness during the toughest time in human history.

IMA/IMB Shanghai
INTM-SHU.401.2
Capstone Studio (Shanghai)
Sound,Art
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Our Time Compared and Visualized: Optimistically Looking Forward

A series of clay dioramas that show human life in three different time periods: the industrial revolution, the modern day and in a post-labor utopian future.

Patricia Wier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJ9XcH_3So

Description

The chief purpose of my project is to present my idea of a utopian future in which robots do all work. It explores what could drive humans without work. Also, it explores what humans do with their time in three different time periods: the industrial revolution, the modern-day, and in this utopian future. The time periods are presented to help the audience better understand the stark differences between them and the potential for the future. Many dramatic things were happening in regards to labor during the industrial revolution, including machines replacing humans to some degree. My utopian idea is addressing the common perception that machinery taking over jobs is a bad thing and it challenges pessimistic views of the future.

I chose the diorama form because these kinds of ideas are, in my experience, usually presented in written form. Presenting this project in diorama form speaks to an audience in a different way. A diorama is a more concrete, immersive, and clear presentation of my idea. Although similar ideas to mine exist, my idea is in a new form and puts certain issues such as humans’ new purpose at the forefront. The diorama form was cemented in museums soon after the industrial revolution so that adds to my longing to include that time period. I would like people to have a more optimistic view of the future and understand several ways in which machines can continue to improve our lives.

IMA/IMB Shanghai
INTM-SHU.401.2
Capstone Studio (Shanghai)
Art
NYU Tisch School of the Arts provides reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Requests for accommodations should be made at least two weeks before the date of the event when possible. You can request accommodations at tisch.nyu.edu/accommodation