my paradise: to me paradise is an abstract concept, not a physical place with sunshine, tropical fish, hot guys, perpetual summer etc etc. so i chose two persian words and distorted them, and then combined them together to form an abstract composition that represents my paradise. i first looked at a couple of traditional calligraphy.
some examples:
initial study for the words:
secondary study
for the rivers i applied the same method of distortion, this time more literal, so someone who can read persian may be able to make out one or two of the words. the words are the names of the four rivers in the "paradise".
they are: سیردَریا آمودریا فُرات نیل
for the animals and plants, i thought i might be a bit more literal, so i looked at how animals are represented on persian carpets:
recap: generative metaphors, how to approach problems, coming up with solutions etc
three case studies
one. diller and scofidio blur: the making of nothing
switzerland, looking into the culture, geography, languages etc exhibitions as forming a national identity in a diverse country like switzerland "a laboratory of ideas" analysis of the different parts of the exhibit
"a matrix of associations" clashing ideas and concepts the project in evolution constant exchange of information and ideas analysis of the site natural elements; mist, water, wind, etc interaction between the visitors of the exhibit
the swarowski chandelier; analysing the characteristics of the chandelier and reinterpreting them
the first article talks about the concept of paradise within the western context, as well as examining some myths.
the second studies the concept of paradise in islam, drawing on several verses from the koran, and some poems. this is particularly interesting for me, since i grew up in a muslim country so i have a deeper understanding, but i grew up in that muslim country as a non-muslim so i still cannot completely understand how a devout muslim would feel about these ideas.
perhaps the most well known one is pandora's box! pandora opens the box and all blessings escape, but hope stays. hope is the only blessing mankind has to survive.
it is interesting to contrast the perceptions of the west and the east, but what is most interesting about both is the effort people have made to make sense of the things happening around them. people have, in a sense, made up stories in an effort to explain their surroundings, the world they inhabit, and of course, their lives. no wonder religion still plays a very important role in our lives today since there is still so much we cannot explain, including what happens when we die, hence all the ideas about paradise! =)
based on the islamic idea of paradise, designs have evolved over many generations
concepts of paradise among different cultures differ
the word paradise is of persian origin: literally meaning walled garden (reminds me of the garden of earthly delights)
the story of garden/paradise in the genesis
adam and eve are expelled from the garden and since then have desired to go back to that garden
similar ideas in the islamic tradition and certain similar concepts in the buddhist tradition
tibetan tantric art
paradise in ancient greek culture: perpetual spring with its own stars
garden in islam a confined space within a wall (however, there are several interpretations of this concept among different islamic cultures.)
some attributes of the islamic garden: -enclosed -cultivated -usually rectangular -usually include water channels -textured plants -the water brings sound to the space
the manifestation of this concept of paradise on carpets:
kurdish carpets, with different approaches towards the manifestation of paradise ( so they're not limited to persian carpets)
the immense amount of labour and skill that goes into producing a single carpet is in itself a metaphor of the difficulty (or even impossibility) of attaining the level of awareness and perfection one needs to be worth of "paradise"
patterns used in persian carpets and their symbolism (www.persiancarpetartcentre.com.au)
the use of colour: white:peace red great:joy yellow:glory green:sacred colour brown:acceptance orange:devotion
garden in persian miniatures: babur's gardens plants were chosen for their symbolism, their texture, etc
symbolism in alhambra
other cultures:
garden of eden is believed to be based in historical kurdistan
"the task is not so much to see what no one has yet seen, but to think what no one has thought about that which everyone sees".
a conceptual study of the coffee machine. i looked at the coffee machine as the result/embodiment of several ideas and thoughts etc, how they clash, how they stand as separate entities within the same frame.
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