ITP Thesis Archive 2024

Abstract

This project stems from the extensive duration of my childhood immersed in an elevated cognitive state called flow. This art piece is curated with a deliberate intention to resonate with a diverse and inclusive audience. Its appeal extends to individuals across various ages, backgrounds, and walks of life who seek connection and understanding of the elusive state of flow as well as those intrigued of tapping into such a state. The intention is to spark a collective recognition and appreciation for the beauty of an autotelic experience called flow.

Technical Details

I used acrylic paint to illustrate a visual of my personal experience of flow. I tend to fall into this state the most when I am creating something, hence the hand with a tool. I used a variety of bright colors on the human being emphasizing the lively and exciting feeling that takes over my body. Under the hand I have created a glimpse of the universe.

On the forehead I have placed a red dot, a bindi from my Indian culture. Ironically, a bindi is said to symbolize a retention to energy and strengthen concentration. It also represents the third eye. In this painting specifically, the dot symbolizes the intersection where skill and challenge meet in order to create flow state.

Directly above the bindi I have attached my Ipad for interactivity. I have used figma to create this button to video interaction. The button states “enter flow” inviting the viewer to click on it. Once the button is clicked a short clip of me dancing appears. The style of dance I chose to portray is Contemporary. Contemporary is an expressive style of dance that pulls elements from modern, jazz, lyrical, and classical ballet. This form connects the mind and body through fluid dance movements. I have edited the clip to match the aesthetic of the art using a colorful foreground with a black background.

Research/Context

http://katevrijmoet.com/blog/autotelic-flow/

“I want to talk about what happens when I work and seek out your experiences in kind. When I am engaged in an autotelic activity, when I make daily paintings such as the one presented above, I almost always experience flow. That is, I enter a state of hyper concentration. The outside world melts away. Time ceases to exist for me. I feel no judgement or attachment to what I’m making, the egoic self has been suspended.”

https://thequintessentialmind.com/flow-state/

“The foremost reason that happiness is so hard to achieve is that the universe was not designed with the comfort of human beings in mind.” – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, “Flow.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010945222001836
The Nine Dimensions ( Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi, 2014):
clear goals
high level of concentration on the task
balance between the individual's skills and task difficulty
immediate feedback about performance
sense of control
fusion of action and consciousness or automaticity
autotelic property or intrinsically rewarding activity
changed experience of time
decreased self-consciousness and absence of worry.

“Art for art's sake” -
- Both concepts emphasize the intrinsic value of the experience. In "art for art's sake," the value of art lies within the art itself, and in an autotelic experience, the value is found in the activity or process.

Arrival* (film) -
- Nonlinear Structure: Heptapod is written in circular symbols, suggesting a non-linear perception of time. Unlike English, which is read linearly from left to right, Heptapod can convey entire thoughts or concepts simultaneously.
- Bilateral Symmetry: The Heptapod symbols exhibit bilateral symmetry. This symmetry aligns with the idea of a non-linear perception of time, suggesting that the beginning and end of a concept are interconnected.

The Sweet Spot”(Book by Paul Bloom)

“Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life” (book by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)

Article : https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/autotelic-personality

Formula One - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ0bHr8UW7k
- In the high-stakes environment of Formula One racing, participants need to be intensely focused on the present moment. The split-second decisions, precise maneuvers, and strategic considerations demand complete concentration. This heightened state of focus is reminiscent of the mindfulness associated with flow, plus the skill + challenge needed.

“Runners high” - a short-lasting, deeply euphoric state following intense exercise

Feedback loops
- Feedback loops inherently involve a self-perpetuating mechanism where the output influences the input, creating a continuous cycle of adjustments.