The concepts have now developed into something feasable:
Hand-in-hand
With this installation we want to explore the question ‘What makes a group?’. How is a group created and what are the elements of a group? How many people are in a group and what is this group-feeling we are talking about? Are the answers to these questions culturally defined?
In this installation we provide the atmosphere and the tools for a group to be created. We won’t be suggesting, we will only be providing. Visitors are able to create beautiful patterns together, using their body dynamics and favorite colthiss. Every experience will create a complete and unique pattern.
It's a pleasure – Memnum oldum
The concept started out of interest in the forming and entering a group of Turkish men and women. After a few conversations with our fellow Turkish classmates, we noticed that communication mostly consists out of talking, anytime and anywhere possible. For them, it seems natural to enter or leave a group, but where does an invitation come from? Is there a mediator and what is the experience of entering a group after using that mediator?
So our concept will be a visualisation of the invitation to enter a group, using traditional ebru techniques (marble paper patterns). We’ll let you know what comes out!
The poetics of conversation
We are a group coming from different cultures. We have Dutch, Belgians, Turkish and even one Iranian. We noticed that we really differ in the way we communicate.
For example we had a situation were we needed to decide what we would do with an idea. A bad idea, in my opinion :).
I’m a Belgian, really direct, so I said: forget it, throw it in the garbage.
The Dutch said: yes but maybe we need to think about definitions.
The Iranian said: no no, I really think it’s a good idea, we keep it!
So what did we do: we had an acting out session. We asked the Turkish girls how would you tell your mother you have a boyfriend.
If we hadn’t interrupt them I think they would still not have come to conclusions and still be trying to tell their mother.
Then we asked the Dutch, and they said, we will take the subject of my boyfriend that cheated on me... telling your mother that you have a boyfriend is just too boring. The way they told each other about the affair was way more direct. So we concluded there are different ways you can tell someone something, everyone uses its own tactics. And that is what our concept is about.
In our installation you can play with your tactics and you can see that using different tactics imply another effect. So I hope you look forward to see and feel our installation.
See you!