This seminar, the first phase of the Biospatial Workshop research, has now finished.

The next phase, a design studio project, is occurring in a new blog:  Cultivating Life

Here is the digital (+backup) copy.

jiroj_manual_submission.pdf

jiroj_submission_reciept.pdf

jiroj_-posts_submission.pdf

Dear All,

I invite you to participate in my final project, as a component of my final submission for the completion of the Bachelor of Architecture.   The project is composed of a written thesis, and an architectural project that has seen Bulding Eight, by Edmond and Corrigan, immersed in the great depths of my own reverie.  The following will compose of a 15 minute presentation of the architectural project, followed by discusison.

A CLINIC FOR THE EXHAUSTED

(An Act in Four Parts)

20th June  2007

Viscom Gallery, Building 9, Level 3 (just above SIAL)

9.30am - 10.00am (such an ungodly hour)

Caution: You may get your feet wet

Regards,

Michael

Last night there was a movie showing on SBS called ‘[safe]‘ which I have seen before. It is abou the effect of chemicals in everyday products that begin to have an effect on a San Fernando housewife (Julianne Moore).

She developes multiple chemical sensitivity, illness caused by miniscule fumes and gases from plastics/fabric/fragrances etc.

I think it has particular interest for Sarah and Sophie as there are a few hyperventilation scenes that sound exactly like your dialogue! scary!

It would be a good movie for everyone though, even if just for the great late 80s outfits and homes.

One of the manuals is an actual garment (a top that I am in the process of making) that will transform completely into a shopping bag or handbag. The top will have the guide of how to transform it, its composition and care requirements, all printed onto it. The print will hence not only be a part of the fashionable appearance of the top, but also a key functional feature.

As I am designing a collection of 10 transformable garments like this one, I will also make a hand held guide that one can purchase. It will give them a step by step (written and with technical drawings) process on how to transform certain garments into new, usable objects/things. However not all 10 that I am designing will be in there, but instead a select three or four different styled garments.

These are a few of the different mechanisms I am looking at in relation to transforming the garments:

Knots, buttons, pleats/slits, folds, velcro, zips, drawstrings…

Here is an initial and second mock up of the t-shirt idea:

Shopping Tee

On average, however, I’ve been slightly uncomfortable in producing these images.

The homunculus/mandrake image especially has left me feeling a little unsettled. I keep thinking back to the Hans Bellmer images I posted a while back. Whilst the viewer knows that the image couldn’t be real, the impact that the misappropriation of the human form has is slightly unsettling.

Perhaps the dandelion image is more successful – a slightly more poetic idea of transformation and extension of the human artefact or souvenir.

At this stage, I envisage the final document to be a series of these ‘sprouter’ images with accompanying text.

Oh, and upon approaching some science heavyweights it seems that human semen would be a fine environment for the germination of seeds. Here are the responses I received:

Scientist 1:

Jen - Your query is perfectly legitimate, and your comments about the amines quite correct - I would expect the chemical ‘cocktail’ would support plant germination because the levels of the materials are not
too excessive - the main things needed for germination are water (moisture ) and warmth - you probably recall that as children, we germinated wheat seeds on a moist layer of paper or cotton wool, placed
in the light and warmth of a window sill - all the necessary nutrients required for germination are contained within the seed - for continued growth, you need to add soil or a fertilizer…
Best wishes for the experiment –Colin
Associate Professor Colin Rix
Program Leader, Applied Chemistry

Scientist 2:

Wouldn’t have a clue! Only one way to find out….
John 

With hydroponics, it seems that the main issues are fertiliser and a structural support system upon which the plant can grow (rather than floating in space as my images currently portray!)

 

i am really sorry that i can’t make it to our last class, but i am still struggling with my glandular fever.

here are some images of the carpet i am going to transform into a  mobile substitute on the body! i still have to digitize the images for the manual!

 pattern that is drawn onto the carpet.

variations of wearability.

so far: substitute_082.pdf

will bring in more techs to class that haven’t been computerised yet… see ya’ll then

Fun with Urine!