Studio Progress (Week 3)
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Base on my two previous experiments, a diagram can be used as a powerful GCD tool, functioning as a lens of storytelling that can be interpreted in any way.
Experiment 3
The above conclusion makes me feel that adding a random title in any of my diagrams, will somehow be connected to it. The diagram’s interpretation and meaning/function will be based on the title given.
Mixing diagrams with random interpretations I got from experiment 1:
Adding random quotes at the bottom of the diagrams:
I believe what’s happening on the above iterations is that whatever piece of text I will add next to my diagrams, the brain will try and connect these two, trying to analyse and visualise the text through the diagram, without a logical/progressive way but instead with intuition and imagination (non-linear thinking).
Focusing on non-linear thinking and conceptual work through diagrams.
As thinking type is absolutely relatable to the way one is interpreting a diagram, it is worth researching it in more depth. My research focuses on non-linear (holistic) thinking as this is the most common way that viewers use to interpret my diagrams.
Non-linear thinking involves the automatic, experiential, and often unconscious processing and learning of information. Contrariwise to the strict and logical structure of linear thinking, this style involves intuition, creativity and imagination attending to internal feelings, impressions, images, and sensations in order to form an understanding (Groves and Vance, 2015)
REFERENCE 1
A significant example of someone else’s creative practice that iteratively engages with diagrams and non-linear thinking/ compositional work is the project ‘Diagrams 1994 – ongoing‘ by Ricardo Basbaum.
In Basbaum’s own words he takes the diagram as a ‘tool for intervention (…) a sort of drawing (or visual poem) that mediates the dynamic flow between words and images – discursive and non-discursive spaces – or literary and plastic spaces’ (Basbaum, 2016). His iterative process and the continuous repetition of his diagrams shaped and developed his position; exploring diagrams as a collective conversation.
Experiment 4
As Ricardo uses text as part of his diagrams, it is time to experiment by trying this as well; adding a little bit of context in the diagrams I design to see how the interpretation of the viewer changes.
→ Create a series of diagrams using the same words/special characters in each one. I have decided to use words without specific and clear meaning, in order to leave the interpretation open.
I have used the words/ special characters: nothing, yes, unknown, be, +/-
Reflection
Some of the viewers seem to be very confused, not understanding, or be able to interpret the diagram.
Some others just overlooked the text/words, giving an interpretation based on the diagram (as before).
Instead of looking at the diagram in combination with the words, some viewers’ attention went only to the words, trying to connect the words or some of the words and shape an interpretation.
Few were those who gave an interpretation after connecting both the diagram and the words.
Overall,
All the interpretations are around one specific topic; life.
The open interpretation that the diagrams without words had, is now limited.
I will probably continue without text/captions, like before.
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Part of my position is that I am using linear elements to create non-linear diagrams.
– Exploring what a diagram can be used for.
– Criticising what diagrams are used for.
Final Direction
Direction 2
Explore an open-ended question/topic (e.g. what life literally is) through diagrams, developing based on the interpretation of others. Using the same method I used in experiment 1 but this time having a specific topic/area of investigation.
The relation between diagram and interpretation is really connected to storytelling. As stated previously, a diagram without colours, text or a specific context can be a source of interpreting endless stories. Their abstraction forms a story with both text and image, even these elements are not part of the composition.
How a series of diagrams can be shaped into a story? And how this diagram collection/sequence will then be interpreted? (Adding words, or leaving the interpretation up to the viewer?)
→ A story structured only out of diagrams (no captions/ text), inspired from the random diagrams above (source). Creating a sequence of many new diagrams or diagram I have already created, etc.
The above story/sequence will then take the form of a zine. It can be read from any side and interpreted into endless stories.
1. small booklet, or
2. one-page book
REFERENCE 2
Quite different from my position but using the same medium (diagram) as a tool of investigation is Jenny Holzer’s work ‘Diagrams 1976‘. Trying to explore time and space, she precisely copied diagrams from physics textbooks along with their captions. Holzer’s approach consists of a source that functions as a foundation behind the diagrams she designs. Her approach challenged me to form a story consisting only of diagrams based on a source.
My Source
Random Diagrams or diagrams’ elements found in my everyday life, on products’ manuals, on food products, in buildings, at the gym, at the university, in flyers, etc.
I didn’t want a specific source based on a topic etc. The aim is taking random elements of diagrams, connecting them together into a sequence of diagrams that can be interpreted by the viewer (endless stories).
Making
Initial experiments – In progress
Reference List
Basbaum, R. (2016) Diagrams, 1994–ongoing. Berlin: Errant Bodies Press. Available at: https://www.errantbodies.org/Basbaum.html (Accessed: 10 May 2021).
Berger, J., (2008) Ways of seeing. UK: Penguin Modern Classics, pp. 8-9.
Groves, K.S. and Vance, C.M. (2015) ‘Linear and nonlinear thinking: A multidimensional model and measure’, in The Journal of Creative Behavior, 49(2), pp. 112-113.
Holzer, J. (1976) Diagrams 1976. Available at: https://projects.jennyholzer.com/drawings/diagrams-1976 (Accessed: 10 May 2021).
Visual Essay ideas
Beginning – First part
Final direction/experiment: Zine (print)
Going through the book while recordings of different interpretations (stories) play on top. A repeat of this procedure 3-4 times.
After – till the end
Going through all the process and experiments, highlighting the findings/conclusions showing examples of the studio work (including the 100 Screengrabs project), made until the creation of the outcome.
→ Sound (voice-over on top)
Diagrams along with their interpretations.