Aalto University, P.O. BOX 11000, 00076 AALTO www.aalto.fi Master of Arts thesis abstract Author Miyu Kuno Title of thesis Capturing the Moment Department Department of Design Degree programme Master’s Degree in Textile Art and Design Year 2013 Number of pages 106 Language English Abstract The main topic of the thesis is time, the perception of time, and light. Based on my observations, thoughts and daily experiences in Helsinki as an “outsider”, I came up with the idea for the the- sis. Time and light are very common things in our daily lives but rarely do we think about the relationship between them or their natures. This is the reason I chose them as the research topic. The purpose of my creative work part is to make an artwork to feel the existence of invisible things for the viewer, such as passing of time and light. I started working on the thesis in Sep- tember 2012 and I had an exhibition of thesis artwork in the end of February 2013. This thesis also contains the outcome of the exhibition as the result of execution process. Keywords Time, The perception of time, Light, Textile Art, Silk screen printing Capturing the Moment by Miyu Kuno Masters Thesis in Textile Art and Design Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture 2013 Foreword 0.Foreword !is book, Capturing the Moment is a book American contemporary artist, James Turrell, written on my thesis artwork and its research because his standpoint is very close to mine, background. The main topic of my thesis is and his opinion helped me a lot in developing time, the perception of time, and light. Based my idea further. After that I summarise my on my observations, thoughts and daily research on the concept of time. !e purpose experiences in Helsinki as an “outsider”, I of this part is to argue how a human being came up with the idea for the thesis. Time is imaginative and how one thing can be and light are very common things in our interpreted in many di"erent ways. daily lives but rarely do we think about the relationship between them or their natures. Next, I move to the discussion about the This is the reason I chose them as the relationship between light and time, because research topic. The purpose of my creative we can perceive the passing of time only work part is to make an artwork to feel the with the changing of other elements and existence of invisible things for the viewer, light is one of them. I then discuss the such as passing of time and light. I started topic of light in depth; the sense of light in working on the thesis in September 2012 different cultures. I introduce two artists and I had an exhibition of thesis artwork in who succeeded in capturing the sense of the end of February 2013. This thesis also passing of time through expression of light contains the outcome of the exhibition. in different ways. The practical part follows the theoretical part, in which, I explain the This book consists of two parts: part one concept of my artwork, how I developed explores a number of di"erent points to view the idea, what are the hidden stories in the the topic of time and light. !e second part motives, how I planned the exhibition, how illustrates the work process and theories of I solved problems, and how I executed my the thesis artwork. working theories. To express the whole context of my thesis, I start the discussion with my personal point of view and the starting point of the research. I continue by introducing some ideas from an 01 Contents 0.Foreword 1.Starting Point 1.1 Motivation 1.2 !e Concept 1.3 Object of !esis 2.James Turrell 3.Time and Human 3.1 Time Recognition and Human’s View of the World 3.2 Elastic our Time Perception 3.3 Time Perception and Body Size 4.Light and time 4.1 My Room 4.2 Sunlight as a Measure of Time 5.Light 5.1 Sense of Light and Colours 5.2 Sense of Light and Art Study1. Painting of Water Lilies Study2. Light in Scandinavia 6.Capturing the moment 6.1 Outcome 6.2 Outline of My Work 6.3 Context of My Work 6.4 Hidden Stories Behind the Graphics 6.5 Process of Idea Development 6.6 Technical Point of View 6.7 Planning an Exhibition 6.8 Feedback 7.Conclusion 8.Endnote 8.1 Bibliography 8.2 Image Credits 03 Capturing the Moment Staritng Point 1.Starting Point 1.1 Motivation seasonal changes, it is very different from My thesis work, Capturing the Moment, is the seasonal changes in Finland. Bright- an artwork based on the topic of time, the ness does not change from one extreme to perception of time and light. !is idea comes another. I noticed that these huge changes in from my thoughts and experiences in Hel- light a"ect my lifestyle and behaviour a lot. sinki, Finland. I have to change the position of my desk and bed according to the season because of the I feel like an “outsider” or “observer” here. brightness of the window side of my room. I came from Tokyo to Helsinki in August I can spend a longer time working at home 2011. Before that, I had lived in Tokyo for in the winter than in the summer because I Glaring sunlight, a view from my apartment, 2012 twenty-three year. I had not have any experi- come home earlier. Maybe this finding was on the clean and empty architectural space 1.3 Objective of thesis ences in living in other places. Both Tokyo the starting point of my interest on time in Finnish houses. I was inspired by this dra- !e objective of this thesis is to rethink the and Helsinki are capital cities of each coun- and light. This major changing that occurs matic light and shadow created by strong and things we take for granted in our daily lives try, Japan and Finland, and also located in through the year a"ects my daily activities a glaring sunlight in Finland. Consequently, and try to see the things from several di"er- the eastern ends of Asia and Europe. I feel lot and this became a kind of intense event this lead to the idea for my thesis. ent angles by the method of research. In that sometimes, as many people think, that these to me as an “outsider” or “observer”. I felt that point, my topics of interest, the time and the two countries have similar characteristics I became more aware of the passing of time 1.2 !e Concept light are suitable themes. These things are but now I know that life in these two coun- than before. !e main idea of my work is to create an art- really close to our daily lives, yet mysterious tries is completely different. I was amazed, work changing in the appearance according topics and they are di#cult to grasp exactly and sometimes confused by the differences Another thing that surprised me was the to the amount of light. The purpose of this for what they really are. I think it is mean- between the two countries. Of course, there fact that even the winter sunlight was glar- artwork is to feel the existence of invisible ingful to try to get a new perspective and are many cultural di"erences, but the thing, ing and strong because of the altitude of the things, such as passing of time and light. I mindset to something we take for granted which was the most impressive change for sun is very low. It causes a dramatic e"ect in wanted to provide an opportunity to sense because it is a good opportunity to maintain me was the changing of the seasons. I was light and shadow. !e patterns of the shade the passing of time for the viewer through a fresh mind as a creative artist and designer. surprised at how fast it got dark in the win- changes from moment to moment and I felt this artwork. I named my work, “Capturing ter and how bright it was, even at midnight, it was an interesting and beautiful phenome- the Moment”. in the summer. Even though Japan has four non; this primitive yet easily forgetful beauty 04 05 Capturing the Moment Staritng Point Dusk from my apartment, 2012 Light and shade in my room, 2011 Glaring sun in winter, Vantaa, 2012 06 07 Capturing the Moment James Turrell 2.James Turrell James Turrell (1943- ) is an American art- the artificial lights produce an orange glow to recognize things in the dark getting used Notes 1 - James Turrell, 2011. Inteview Magazine interviewed ist who was born in Los Angeles. He creates on the white walls of the room to make com- to darkness. Turrell’s screen emits really low by Michael Govan [Accessed January 2013] a lot of artworks concerned with light and plementary colours as blue colour of the sky. light and only after the dark adaptation has 2 - Anonymous, 2013. James Turrell: Wikipedia [Accessed space. He studied psychology of perception !us permitting the viewer to appreciate the happened, the viewer sees the screen. January 2013] 4 3 - A permanent work made by James Turrell for MoMA at Pomona College in Los Angeles in the intensity of colour of the sky. For Turrell’s work, it is an essential process PS1; a contemporary art museum in New York.