Project development (new idea)

Changes

Sorry for the late update,having some problem with my motherboard :PThere are a few changes that will be made to the installation. The tree as an object in the installation will now be removed. The tree idea will be change to make a better and more effective for the user to interpret the idea behind the artwork. The new artwork will use a toilet paper dispenser as the main tool. This is better as toilet paper are being use in the everyday life and most people use it without any idea on how it would effect the rainforest. According to my research, toilet paper industry contributes almost 80% of the world deforestation. It indicates that 48 full grown trees are needed to make 500 rolls of toilet paper. This artwork will hope to give an impact for the user whenever they decide to use or waste the toilet paper thus provide the user to care for the natural habitat.

The Artwork

The artwork will use an installation to convey the message. A toilet paper dispenser will be the main object. A simple object but yet will attract user to know the purpose of it's being there all alone. A LCD screen will be put next to it to indicates the tree that's being killed whenever the user use the toilet paper. The idea is to resemble an actual toilet. Where the user can see the LCD screen that's being put after they use the toilet paper. If given the time, a sound effect for the artwork will also be put giving it a more realistic kind of feel.


The picture will be uploaded soon!!!


The Interface

Here are some of the proposed interface for the installation. I choose a simple interface and easy for the user to understand rather than fancy and hard to understand. At first, i just wanna go with a number of tree on the interface, and decided to change it and make a simple tree that will be cut down whenever the user pull the tissue roll. There are still a few changes here and there that can be upgraded for the interface,but for the time being,i stick with this.





Testing 1 2 3


The installation

The installation will use hit button,with a real button triggered and keyboard hacking stick inside the toilet paper dispenser.The button will showed the interface and played a sound whenever the user decide to use the toilet roll.


Prototype



Video

Global warming (ref)




Tree installation (ref)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-GZoy6Az-E


Idea and development


A tree that will be put in the middle as a resemblance to the last tree that's still living in the world today and will projected an information showing how it 'race' is destroy by human is the first idea of the installation. It is like an exhibition where people gather to see the last tree that's been save and nurtures to give hope to human and show of what they have done to destroy the nature. User will walk through a path that's been created and see the information showed on top of the tree. At the end, i personally thinks that this looks more like a information kiosk rather than an artwork.


The 2nd idea was almost the same as the first one where a tree is being put in the middle but instead of showing information, it will scream whenever it is being touched or axe. This idea will allow user to experience the tree feeling towards human. The installation will give a raw idea on what deforestation do to a tree. It also provides a warm connection between the user and the tree. The purpose is so that whenever a person or a user see or decided to chopped down a tree, they will think twice and remembered the tree scream.

The third idea for my installation is by using sound manipulation. The installation will consist a space that is created to resemble a forest, where the place is divided into certain areas that contains the most number of tree to the most less. A sound will be projected when a person walkthrough this area. The sound that is projected is according to the area the user step in. A nice sound will be projected if the user walk pass the area that contains a lot of tree and an annoying sound when the user walk pass the less tree area. This will give the user to experience on what the world will 'feel' like when the world is lack of tree. A user can interpret and have their own understanding about the nature destroy and can choose what type of world they like to live in .

Final Idea

My final idea is to use a resemblance/metaphor of deforestation. I choose the use of toilet paper and printing paper for the installation as both of this object consume 40% of the the tree destroy. In this project, user will understand and aware of the fact they are destroying the tree, this will allow the user to experience the guilt of killing a tree and thus not using it or use it less. The purpose of this is so that user can switch from what they are used to a recycled product, study shows that 423,900 tree can be saved by changing 500 of the normal toilet paper to 100% recycled ones. I decided to use this installation probably in every part of the exhibition(MMU if i got the resource),i also would like to collaborate with the student so that the installation will be put at their booth so it will give a better effect.

Sitemap

Site Map Description:

  • MAIN: This is the default main screen at the start of the installation or when it’s not being used. It shows the trees are being cut or burned down to gives the user a brief introduction on the installation.

  • Facts: Facts are shown once the installation is activated (40 second)
    • 1. Deforestation: The scene where upon activation shall contain information and facts about deforestation
    • 2. Destruction: Shows information on what kind of natural destruction such as burning down tree and illegal logging that’s been done to the forest
    • 3. Taking care: Show ways to take care of the natural habitat to maintain the wildlife place on this world

  • Images: Images are shown on the projection when the second button are activated
    • A. Forest: This scene will project images showing the beautiful forest and the animal habitat.
    • B. Destruction: The scene will show images of a burning and destroyed rainforest
    • C. Organization: The scene where the organization that helps to maintain the rainforest are shown

  • Video: Video is played upon the third button activation
    • I. Burning trees: Burning trees video are shown
    • II. Wildlife: Wildlife habitat being destroyed are shown
    • III. Effects: A fast video been edited to show the tree crying and anger towards its destruction.

Research and fact findings

What is Global Warming
Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of Earth's surface. Since the late 1800's, the global average temperature has increased about 0.7 to 1.4 degrees F (0.4 to 0.8 degrees C). Many experts estimate that the average temperature will rise an additional 2.5 to 10.4 degrees F (1.4 to 5.8 degrees C) by 2100. That rate of increase would be much larger than most past rates of increase.
Scientists worry that human societies and natural ecosystems might not adapt to rapid climate changes. An ecosystem consists of the living organisms and physical environment in a particular area. Global warming could cause much harm, so countries throughout the world drafted an agreement called the Kyoto Protocol to help limit it.
The premise of global warming is that industrial growth coupled with non-structured methods we as humans use to sustain ourselves has created a situation where our planet is getting hotter by the minute. We have seemingly negatively affected our environment by a cycle of harmful processes that now seem to be feeding upon themselves to exponentially increase the damage to our ecosystem.

Causes of Global Warming
Climatologists (scientists who study climate) have analyzed the global warming that has occurred since the late 1800's. A majority of climatologists have concluded that human activities are responsible for most of the warming. Human activities contribute to global warming by enhancing Earth's natural greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect (carbon dioxide, methane and ozone as well as nitrous oxide and other naturally occurring gases, the levels of carbon dioxide and methane have increased significantly over the past 650,000 years due to fossil fuels being burned, deforestation and other causes) warms Earth's surface through a complex process involving sunlight, gases, and particles in the atmosphere. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are known as greenhouse gases.
The main human activities that contribute to global warming are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and the clearing of land. Most of the burning occurs in automobiles, in factories, and in electric power plants that provide energy for houses and office buildings. The burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, whose chemical formula is CO2. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that slows the escape of heat into space. Trees and other plants remove CO2 from the air during photosynthesis, the process they use to produce food. The clearing of land contributes to the buildup of CO2 by reducing the rate at which the gas is removed from the atmosphere or by the decomposition of dead vegetation.
Finally, solar variation is considered a cause of global warming. Some researchers, such as from Duke University, believe that the sun may have created 45-50 percent of the increase in average global temperature from 1900-2000 and 25-35 percent from 1980-2000. It is also considered that solar output may have contributed to global warming; the magnetic properties of the sun may deflect cosmic rays, influencing cloud condensation and thus affecting the Earth’s climate. A small number of scientists argue that the increase in greenhouse gases has not made a measurable difference in the temperature. They say that natural processes could have caused global warming. Those processes include increases in the energy emitted (given off) by the sun. But the vast majority of climatologists believe that increases in the sun's energy have contributed only slightly to recent warming.

Impact of Global Warming
Global Warming threatens local communities, wildlife habitats, and endangered species. It alters weather patterns, potentially causing more floods, famines, droughts, and ecological devastation such as:
Weather Damage - Changes in rainfall patterns could increase both flooding and drought in some areas. More hurricanes and other tropical storms might occur, and they could become more powerful.

Threats to human health - Tropical diseases, such as malaria and dengue, might spread to larger regions. Longer-lasting and more intense heat waves could cause more deaths and illnesses. Floods and droughts could increase hunger and malnutrition.

Rising sea level - Continued global warming might, over centuries, melt large amounts of ice from a vast sheet that covers most of West Antarctica. As a result, the sea level would rise throughout the world. Many coastal areas would experience flooding, erosion, a loss of wetlands, and an entry of seawater into freshwater areas. High sea levels would submerge some coastal cities, small island nations, and other inhabited regions

Harm to ocean life - High water temperatures can cause a damaging process called coral bleaching. When corals bleach, they expel the algae that give them their color and nourishment. The corals turn white and, unless the water temperature cools, they die. Added warmth also helps spread diseases that affect sea creatures.

Changes of habitat - Many species would have difficulty surviving in the regions they now inhabit. For example, many flowering plants will not bloom without a sufficient period of winter cold.

Unsustainable development – Componu resources on natural resources

Loss of Biodiversity – Significant loss of biodiversity is projected to occur in ecologically rich country such as Australia and New Zealand.

Steps to prevent global warming
There are many things you can do in your daily life that can have an effect on your immediate surrounding, and on places as far away as here in Multimedia University Cyberjaya. Here is a list of things that you can do to make a difference.
- Lower the consumption of carbon emission (energy efficient appliances and things as easy as changing your lightbulb)
- Buy recycled product
- Plant trees
- Drive an energy efficient car
- Stop pollution (air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, environmental pollution, soil and gas pollution).
- Reduce garbage
- Un-plugged unused electronics
- Carry canvas or mesh shopping bags to the grocery store with you to conserve plastic or paper bags supplied by the store.
- Use pesticides very sparingly, and use those which have a short active potency on the plants or in the soil.

Support event/charity preventing global warming all around the world such as:
Earth hour - Earth Hour 2009 was a global initiative by the World Wide Fund for Nature which acted as a worldwide call to action to every individual, business and community to take a stand against Climate Change.

Global Warming State of Action - Explore, enjoy and protect the planet (awareness campaign).

UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme

IOWA Global Warming Campaign

YCC – Youth Climate Conferences

Environmental Film Festival

The Green Generation

Event here in Malaysia:
Earth Hour - Earth Hour in Malaysia is planned and run by WWF-Malaysia and its partners. We welcome all parties to participate in Earth Hour by turning off your lights for one hour from 8.30pm-9.30pm.

CETDEM hopes that this educational project is well received and actively used by school in order to combat this very serious issue of global warming and climate change that we are facing in the World today. By implementing the recommended measures, the school and students can help reverse the impacts that global warming and climate change are having on the world and environment around us.

Malaysian Nature Society – MNS School Nature Club, Wira Alam Programme and KL Green Lung Seminar

PATT (Plant a Tree Today) - campaign for better environmental practices, take action against climate change, implement reforestation projects as well as provide funding for partner projects, set up school tree nurseries and provide environmental education, and fund community development projects in rural communities cantered on tree planting and reforestation.

Analysis
• To create an installation art that interacts with user by combining both the eco elements and technology.
• The main use of this installation is so that the user can interact with the eco elements and to provide awareness about the global warming.
• User can feel the necessity of preventing global warming by exploring/interact with the installation art.
• Using the research. The awareness in preventing global warming is little known by the student in MMU, the installation will perhaps be more emphasize on the preventing part.
• Using material, component, hardware/software and eco elements ( tree, water) that is compatible and can work together in creating the installation art

Approach
Environmental art/green art

The environmental art movement can be traced back in the late 1960’s or the late 1970’s and was mostly associated with sculpture in its early years. Environmental art or some called it green art/sustainable art is a kind of art that informs and interprets nature and its processes, concerned with environmental forces and materials, creating artworks affected or powered by wind, water, lightning, even earthquakes or educates us about environmental problems. In other words, it is a kind of art that helps to improve the human relationship with the world. “My work is inspired by my desire to understand and heal the environment. By working intimately with natural materials such as rocks, branches, leaves, and sand, I deepen my knowledge of nature and natural forces” Zach Pine (Nature Sculpture).Much environmental art is temporary (made to disappear or transform), designed for a particular place (and can't be moved) or involves collaborations between artists and others, such as scientists, educators or community groups. Arborsculpture, frail loop, sculpture out of scrap and glass works are some of the example of the environmental art.
Unlike the usual art, the environmental artist creatively tend to use a recyclable, used or even trash item to make their art, this is to help in maintaining the environment. “I’m not starting any rallies. I’m not making a political statement,” he says. “It’s more like a personal display of how I feel about [recycling].”It just goes against my nature to use up something new if it’s already available, taking up valuable space on a trash heap,” Erwin Timmers.
Knowledge and Ethics
There are many ways to prevent global warming such as planting tree, drive an electric or hybrid car that low in fuel consumption, recycled, stop pollution, using eco friendly item or things as simple as changing your light bulb and many more but do MMU student know or involve in any of the ways to prevent global warming. This project aims to provide consciousness for the student about global warming

- To study about the cause of global warming

- To study on how student can help and participate against global warming

- Provide a better understanding and information such as impact and ways to prevent global warming for the student

- Create an awareness amongst the student about the importance of taking care of the environment for a better future

- Using installation to provide a user experience about the global warming, student can actually feel/interact with the art itself.

Planning

Approach

Literature review – Books, article, newspaper, magazine
Data Collection – Surveys, internet, messenger and discussions
Design development
Concept and Implementation

•Managing the eco elements and the technology to work together
-software and hardware compatibility to work with the eco elements such as tree

•Combining the installation art with the art movement (environmental art)
-creating the installation based on the environmental art to provide awareness

•Dark art
-creating a kind of art that allow user to experience and bear to put in their mind for future reference about the importance and awareness of preventing global warming.

To create an installation art where user can interact by exploring/play/touch the art itself to give the user a personal experience and conducting a message about the importance of global warming.

Project proposal

Title: The last tree

Content: The negative effect cause by deforestation

Analysis:
A study on what is deforestation. What causes it, the impact and what can we do to help in preventing deforestation becoming much worst. In this research project, the focus will be on University student understanding, involvement in contribution and involvement to help preserve our rainforest.

Knowledge and Ethics: to provide awareness and understanding amongst the student in Multimedia University about the importance of preserving our tree.

Planning: Installation art as a medium to convey message and create awareness on deforestation. Installation art provides interaction, a rich environment and allow user for various type of navigation that explores and interact between the user and the digital realm. This will give user a new experience and a whole new meaning on what natural destruction is all about.


Project planning for The Last Tree artwork

- for the first and second week, all the information and research are completely gathered for the project. The information is mainly used in the project manual, printing, a small introduction kiosk and perhaps some in the installation itself. Blog is created within this week also to give updates to the lecturer.

- the idea and development for the project is done to provide a better solution and design for the project. Idea that is created will help to improvised the installation functionality and creativity. The final design that's been created for the installation will be selected and publish. All of this is being done in week 3 and 4.

- in week 5, the estimated time and cost will be calculate. This is to give times for me to search for the things and find the best value for the installation software and hardware.

- week6, 65% of the work should have been done. This is the most appropriate time to test for any error or debugging in the software and will give time to fix it if there is any. The printing for the manual, poster and exterior of the project also will done within week 6.

- booth setup will be done on week 7, booth setup is according to the prototype that's been done earlier.

- the installation should finish for the final presentation on week 8

Introduction

Hello, my name is Yassier Ariffin bin Maidin I/D 1041103938, FCM (Digital Media) Final Year student in Multimedia University. I'm doing my final year project for this trimester title "the last tree". Its an installation based project. The installation is inspire by the global threat that the world been dealing with for the past few decades, the Global Warming. One of the factor of global warming is the 'Deforestation'. The installation "the last tree" are created based on this " Deforestation" understanding. "the last tree" is a piece of artwork and installation combined together to bring a better exposure, value and understanding for the audience/user. User can have their own perception on what the 'art' itself means.