Intercultural Design - Project 2

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Intercultural Design - Project 2

02/02/2023-14/02/2023 (Week 4- Week 6)
Brigita Maria/0352958
Information Design/ Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
3D render by Sebastian Svenson

INSTRUCTION



After we got the feedbacks, we proceed to do some researching and digging. We ended up with not re-using our initial ideas and start a new idea using the research we have gathered. So we will make a new proposal.

We decided to combine 2 culture that goes hand-in-hand. Skate and Graffiti culture. Why? As mentioned in my groups previous proposal. Graffiti do often seen in skateparks. They often overlaps with each other. They essentially share the same values. In the long run, skate culture and graffiti have this self-expression and rebellion. It expresses through their respective art form. Skateparks that do not have graffiti on it do seem like it is very structured, not expressive and gated. 

That is why we went with making a model of skatepark. But we were not sure how to corelate the idea and convey a meaningful message to the readers and viewers out there. 

Arnusha did a wonderful research on Skateboard and Graffiti art culture in a form of docs:

SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION/INTERNET RESEARCH

So we did some research on skateparks, graffiti, graffiti artists, etc from the internet. Me, Konomi and Xi Zuan did the internet surfing. I did some research on the skateparks and some of the graffiti artists and pictures to complete our data collections:


I specifically try to find some skateparks in Malaysia and outside Malaysia. So that we can see how skateparks can be unique in different country. How there is gated skateparks that has no graffiti at all and also gated skateparks that have some trace of beautiful graffiti and drawings, that actually changes every now and then. One of the skateparks in Malaysia, Mont Kiara is a sheltered skateparks, I found different photos of the skateparks and I always see new graffiti art.

Fig 1.1

Fig 1.2

Fig 1.3

One of the graffiti art that I research is one of Shepard Fairey's graffiti art. 

As stated from Britannica, Shepard Fairey is an American muralist and graphic artist who first gained attention for creating a sticker with a portrait of the towering professional wrestler André the Giant and the word Obey. Fairey is perhaps best known for his iconic 2008 “Hope” poster depicting then U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. His work combined street-art activism with entrepreneurial spirit.
Fig 1.4 Barack Obama Poster "Hope"

One of the mural art that we research as our secondary data is his mural titled Make Art Not War.

Fig 1.5 Shepard Fairey's Mural "Make Art Not War"

As he is a political and environmental activist many of his works are advocate for awareness. He also utilize his art to build people’s curiosity and interest to their surrounding, so that they can  make their own interpretation of the message. His works always carries a message. One of them is this “Make Art Not War” graffiti. Where he wanted to advocate peace.


When it comes to his art style, it can be seen in Fairey’s works, he uses primary vibrant colors such as red, blue, yellow with a hint of black and tan colors as highlight and shadow. He sometimes fuses appropriated commercial images, then using pop art style, strong geometric lines and shapes, which is similar to Russian Constructivism art style.


Other than that we also did some research on Banksy, a famous street artist and also Blek Le Rat, French Graffiti artist or known as "Father of stencil graffiti". 

Fig 1.6 Banksy's  "Graffiti is a Crime" Graffiti

Fig 1.7 Banksy's "Boys and Shower" Graffiti

Fig 1.8 Blek Le Rat's "Warrior" Mural

Fig 1.9 Blek Le Rat's "Homeless" Mural


FIELD STUDY/PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION

Ayshan and Farah did the fields study and went to Shah Alam Skatepark. They did an amazing job capturing the skateparks and its condition as well as interviewing one of the people there at the skatepark.  
Fig 1.10 Shah Alam Skatepark (1)

Fig 1.11 Shah Alam Skatepark with some graffiti art (2)

Fig 1.12 Shah Alam Skatepark with some graffiti art  (3)


After taking photos of the graffiti, murals, and artwork across the entire skatepark, they stopped by the skate shop that was located not far from the skatepark. Outside were its shopkeepers [also local skaters] sitting together, so we asked them for a short interview just to find out about their personal thoughts and feelings on the graffiti at the skatepark. 


There are the audio of the interview. We asked a few questions to three workers there, who go by Pali, Abdul, and Luqman. They were very friendly and keen on sharing their thoughts.

Here is the transcript of the interview:

I: What’s your name? 

P: Okay, uh…my name is Pali. People call me Pali. 


I: What do you think of graffiti at skateparks? 

P: I think it’s pretty standard to see graffiti at skateparks, you know? It’s hand in hand. We cannot see a skatepark that’s like… ‘empty.’ 


I: How do you feel about skateparks that don’t allow graffitti? 

P: You know how…skaters, a lot of them are teenagers, you know? So, if the skatepark is always open, and then they can just come and write on it whatever— it could be something vulgar, you know.

I: Yeah. 

P: Skateparks should have strict rules. Even if you see the paintings here, it’s more like a mural- it’s not really graffitti. 


I: I saw one of the murals (on the skatepark) say “Live, Learn, Lead” ? 

P: Oh, yeah. I think that’s the best one, right in the centre. I think someone paid an artist to come and do that. That’s why a lot of the paintings here are kind of…thematic.


I: What do graffitti and the skatepark murals mean to you? 

A: To me, at Shah Alam, the graffiti is mostly for the marking. So it’s marked; which place you wanna carve, which way you wanna turn… So basically the marks- they have specific um…How do I say ah? Macam… (It’s like…)

I: It’s like signs? 

A: Ah. Signs. And they mark “what to do here.” Ah, something like that. 

I: Ah, okay.

A: But for me, most of the graffitti here, they tell a story. They tell a story and they try to make the park look beautiful.


I: When you first came to this skatepark, was the artwork always here? 

L: Yeah. 

L: So you’re asking about graffiti in skateboarding? 

I:  Yeah.

L: I think skateboarding itself is graffitti. Skateboarding is related to arts. I mean like, the graphic on the board, you can see the graphics. So that’s why- mostly the skatepark needs the graffitti. Because skateboarding is also just an art. That’s what I think of it.




After gaining these research on primary and secondary datas, and also reading an article (Source), Arnusha came up with the idea of making a handmade or 3D printed circular miniature skate park. It is an enclosed skatepark. The outside wall of the skatepark would have stuff like warnings about vandalism basically negativity against skate and graffiti. While the inside of the skate park would be decorated in good graffiti which is all positive and talks about how graffiti and skate are both true forms of art. 

The message behind the structure would show how a skatepark is basically a safe haven for skaters and graffiti artists, while the outer wall shows all the negativity against it. 

Fig 1.13 Eye's view of the skatepark


Fig 1.14 Outside of the skatepark


Fig 1.15 Inside of the skatepark


This is the overall rationale of our project:


Skate culture has always gone hand in hand with graffiti as an accepted form of expression, rebellion and art. Skaters love to see their skateparks decorated with graffiti not only because they believe graffiti is a true form of art, but also because graffiti art comes from wanting to make something completely your own, not controlled by the public or the government. The hearts of skate culture and graffiti art are similar--they have a spirit of rebellion and wanting to do things by themselves. Thus, skateboarders and graffiti artists come together at skateparks, which act as a safe haven for both these groups.

Skaters and graffiti artists want to do their thing somewhere that isn't officially endorsed--somewhere they chose and built themselves. This comes from the do-it-yourself attitude that skaters and graffiti artists have always had, and it is also why abandoned public spots often get taken over by skateboarders and graffiti artists and turned into their self-made skateparks. However, many people think graffiti art is ugly, illegal and should never be allowed in public spots, and because skate culture is so heavily intertwined with graffiti art, they think the same of skateparks--skaters should not be allowed to take over public areas as their own, or that public funds should not be going towards building skateparks because they will encourage gang behavior and illegal activities. Either way, they do not want to see any skateboarders, skateparks or graffiti in their neighborhoods.

This is where the skater and graffiti spirit of rebellion comes from--they challenge the public opinion that skate culture and graffiti is unacceptable and breaks the law. They embrace the fact that they are outcasts and continue to be themselves and express themselves through their art (skateboarding and graffiti). The one place they will always be accepted and allowed to be themselves is their skateparks.
Fig 1.16 Final Slides




FEEDBACK

No feedbacks as Mr. Asrizal approve it! Thank you Arnusha for delivering a great convincing presentation for Mr. Asrizal <3

REFLECTION

Finally, finally we finished the whole project and are able to present it to the class. I did learn alot on how to create an pitch an idea to an audience. Basically doing the process from 0-100 did taught me alot. Although I may be not the besr idea pitcher, but I did learn the process of curating a research as a team.

I really appreciate Arnusha's effort in organizing the slides as well as coming up with this final ideas. <3 

And to all my members I do really appreciate their hardworks on doing their parts.

For the research wise, I learn that graffiti artist tend to use their art to advocate and spread their thoughts on this world, either politics, social awareness, and even economics. I love how they can express their thoughts through this art form. And I hope in the future, these art forms can be accepted by the masses.