Recycling from SI+SA Exhibition in the Context of Visual Arts

This study was conducted to discuss and identify the potential of discarded recycled materials from the daily use of society in Malaysia and turns them to produce creative artworks. The study was conducted based on the observations of the artworks exhibited during the SI+SA Exhibition at the Shah Alam Gallery, Selangor. This research focuses on the creation process, form and value of the creative artworks originating from recycled materials. The art study approach, where the foundations are derived from a qualitative approach that emphasizes descriptive and holistic explanatory systems, has been used and linked through a conceptual framework developed by the relevant concepts as the frame of its analysis. Data was collected through primary methods such as interviews and observations and secondary sources such as books, journals, newspaper clippings and magazines. The results show that the works from the SI+SA Exhibition attempted to convey a message to address humanitarian problems such as responsibility, behaviour, awareness and sacrifice. The structure of the message conveys content that represents the meaning of the values of health, hygiene and creativity that ultimately encourages the community to play their respective roles in addressing the issue of waste management and recycling on a global scale. It is hoped that this research can show that using recycled materials as an alternative to producing creative artwork is a practical approach. Indirectly, raising awareness about recycling is no longer an option but rather an obligation to all levels of society to be cultured in daily life to ensure the environment's future is secure.

Perception on Si + Sa as a Theme in a Work of Art Entitled “Free Memories”

The effects from thinking will result in the production of perception. This perception exists in both positive and negative situations. It focuses on the cognitive that explains how human brain responds to the perceptions received from their respective methods of understanding. The exhibition of “Kami 8: SI + SA" has managed to exhibit creative artwork produced by academic staffs from the Faculty of Art and Design UiTM Perak, with the appreciation of the theme "SI + SA" will change the way of delivery or meaning, according to the circumstances and methods of individual personal perception. The research design is based on J.J. Winklemann in producing art works. Data collection consisting of sampling and equipment based on ideal imagery observation methods. Also, samples and equipment were analyzed based on the production of the proposed artwork based on the studio-based research. The artwork "free memories" is produced based on perception and understanding by the author translating in visual form.

Methodological Approach for the Analysis of Artistic Creativity through First-Person Analysis

Can the study of a single subject by means of a first-person analysis be considered from a scientific methodological approach? The response from neurophenomenology is yes. The recent science of consciousness led by Francisco Varela claims the need to use first-person data, subjective-experiential reports to link them with neurobiological correlates of classically scientific third-person data. I address here a systematic disciplined methodology to translate first-person analysis to the field of art creativity to be performed by the own artist/subject. The goal is to formulate a methodology to be further validated and standardized by other artists willing to perform an introspective analysis, in what can be considered open to “intersubjective validation” in terms of Varela. First-person analysis by the artist herself might reciprocally offer the basis for scientific understanding of the neural processes involved in the synthesis of a creative artwork. Finally, better understanding in the mechanisms involved in inspiration, synthesis and execution of art-work may also help an artist to enhance his/her creative abilities.

The Effect of a Multimodal Intervention on Mobility and Fall Risk in Elderly Care Residents

AIM: Aging has been associated with reduced physical performance and morbidity. Living in a residential care home may be beneficial with regard to long-term medical assistance, but the diminished fundamental or instrumental daily activities further contribute to the deteriorated physical health and fall risk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to implement a motivation program to sustain and potentially increase physical activity in residential settings. MATERIAL & METHOD: Thirteen female residents of the Larissa Municipality Elderly Care Nursing Home (17% of bed capacity), 61-92 years old, with mild cognitive impairment (MMSE score 11-20) and diverse health conditions, participated in this pilot program. The intervention lasted from September 2018 to June 2019 and included two practical sessions of field walking, geriatric NHS workouts, plant care, and creative artwork per week. The quantitative and descriptive elements of STEADI battery were used to assess physical performance at the beginning and end of the intervention. RESULTS: All participants complied with gardening activities, half were in full compliance with the bi-weekly session schedule, and two adopted independent exercise activities. No participant was free of fall risk either at the beginning or at the end of the intervention, and 6 incidents were recorded concerning 5 people. One individual achieved finally the TUG goal of 12 s, but overall the shift of test performance did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.196). Leg strength and endurance score were above the average score for age in another case, and no significant change was observed during the study period (p = 0.738). Contrariwise, balance was significantly improved (p < 0.001), and half of the participants were able to complete the tandem or the single foot stand stage. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary approach may be effective in promoting physical performance indices, and STEADI tools are sensitive to such changes. However, seasonal infections, chronic conditions, and medication have a severe impact on leg strength and walking speed, and occasionally may mask the beneficial effect of exercise in the elderly, even to the point of an individual not being able to commence the assessment.

Towards reconnecting: creative formulation and understanding dissociation

Purpose The term dissociation can describe a coping strategy to protect oneself against something unwanted in the moment, a disconnection from sensations and experiences in the here and now. Although the more severe experiences of dissociation have been the subject of intense study over the last two decades, much less has been written about clients commonly seen in mental health services with mild to moderate dissociative conditions. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to attend to therapeutic work with a client who experienced moderate dissociation, which caused disruptions to her autobiographical narrative and sense-of-self. Design/methodology/approach This single case design details the therapeutic journey of a Caucasian woman in her early 40s, who experienced moderate dissociation. The report illustrates how the process of creative artwork formulation helped address unwanted dissociative experiences whilst enhancing other coping strategies. Findings The client’s personal resources combined with a creative and responsive approach to formulation and reformulation facilitated the process of reconnecting with herself and others through developing awareness of her strengths and past means of coping, finally developing a consistent self-narrative. Practical implications The experiences of a creative approach to formulation are discussed in relation to the client’s past traumas and case relevant theory. These preliminary findings suggest creative artwork formulation is an effective tool in terms of developing trust and shared understanding within the therapeutic relationship and meaning making processes throughout therapy. Originality/value This case study presents an account of creative artwork formulation used as a method of formulation and reformulation specifically with a client experiencing moderate dissociative experiences following interpersonal traumas. Further, the report discusses the ways in which creative artwork formulation facilitated memory exploration and integration, as well as containing meaning making and healing.

Theater and ALife Art: Modeling Open and Closed Systems

The live art of theater remains curiously missing from ALife art history, despite the fact that its very existence is poised on the cusp of the living and the artificial, and on the modeling of life as artefact—what can be called the containment-versus-continuity dilemma. How far one seeks to affirm autonomy of the creative artwork or, in contrast, how far one seeks to affirm its continuity with its supposed real-life contexts is a question that has forever haunted theater, and that has naturally come to haunt ALife and ALife arts. Investigation of the boundary separating observers from modeled systems is as core to research into the live art of theater as to ALife research. This brief article seeks to open up discussion on links between ALife, ALife art, and the live art of theater, through key thematic threads that traverse these domains: their modeling of universes, the open or closed nature of the resultant modeled systems, and their implications with respect to observers, definitions, and instantiations of life regarding non-life or death as well as attributions of liveness to emergent synthetic biology and metamaterials.

A preliminary study on the attitude of the Japanese public towards creative artwork by people with mental illness

Background: Although researchers have suggested that consumer art can help reduce the stigma of mental illness, there is little evidence of the attitudes of the Japanese public towards such artwork. Material: A total of 277 Japanese visitors attending an exhibition of visual arts by people with mental illness completed a short questionnaire. Discussion: After their visit, approximately 87% of the participants reported being strongly or fairly impressed by the creative art. Word frequency analysis implied generally positive attitudes towards the works. Conclusions: The Japanese public might generally have positive and empathetic attitudes towards artwork by people with mental illness.

A Study of Mixed Media Creative Artwork Designed with Computer Software

A case study was conducted to explore the mixed media creative artwork, a picture book hand-drawn by an 8-year old child. First, the documentary analysis of materials related to children's picture books was conducted to understand the features of materials and the essence of stories. After rounds of discussion teaching, the parents guided the author to create a story, characters, items, and sets, and to arrange colors. This process took 6 months. 14 hand-drawn works were completed. Then those drawings were scanned with Photoshop and the layout was arranged with Adobe Illustrator. Finally, discussions of the problems encountered during the process of creation were conducted and suggestions were proposed.

Use of Tactile Pictures to Communicate the Work of Visual Artists to Blind People

An approach to the transcription of visual art into tactile form is described with regard to the effects of relief, texture, and picture context. The impact of such pictures on user's understanding of spatial relationships, distance, and perspective and as a stimulus for creative artwork is discussed.