1.1 project proposal "believe in believe" Working title: believe in believe : an exploration of human nature and trust through transparent letterboxes / "Believe in Believe: An Exploration of Trust and Communication through Transparent Letterboxes"
Overall aims:
The overall aim of this art installation is to investigate the theme of trust and communication, using transparent letterboxes as a metaphor for openness and transparency. Through informal interviews and personal experiences, the project aims to contextualize and explore the dynamics of mistrust in human behavior and communication.
Background:
The project is inspired by some letter box outside my door in my Hong Kong's home,I found that the all letter box in Hong Kong are with colour, but they are based on different material, I m curious about is there any transparents letter box, so I have started my research journey of different letter box over the world.
The use of transparent letterboxes and letter as a medium allows for an exploration of the way in which it is perceived and communicated.
Contextualise:
The project seeks to contextualize the theme of trust and communication in the cultural and social context of Hong Kong. By exploring the reasons for the lack of transparency in the city, the project aims to shed light on the underlying dynamics of mistrust and the barriers to effective communication. By exploring the words of chinese charactor, The Chinese character for "letter" and "believe is the same, showcasing the polysemous nature of the language. The letterbox itself bears the word "believe" in its Chinese char- acters, highlighting the irony of the situation and inviting viewers to consider the power dynamics involved in communication and trust. Investigate:
For the investigate, I choose to ask my friend and family to send me a letter, through the letters from friends around the world, the project aims to investigate the multifaceted nature of trust and communication. The project invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences of trust and communication, while also highlighting the power dynamics at play in these interactions. Exploration:
The project encourages viewers to explore the theme of trust and communication through a series of interactive and participatory experiences. By engaging with the letterboxes and the letters contained within, viewers are invited to reflect on their own perceptions of trust and communication, and to consider the broader social and cultural dynamics at play.
Experimentation : Requesting friends to send letters and observing the content they write is an experiment to explore the emotional, meaningful, or trivial nature of their messages. This exercise aims to examine the impact of the letters on the recipient's emotions and perceptions.
Using varying thickness and transparency of acrylic sheets, including frosted sheets, and different adhesives can result in varying visual effects. The effectiveness of these materials can be tested and compared.
Additionally, exploring different placement methods during the exhibition can enhance the overall presentation.
Create: A series of 3d works, writing letter to myself everyday? (maybe) and photographs that fully reflect the issues investigated during this MA project and show pure perseverance in direction and technique, resulting in a unique visualization system.
Background
History I have introduced the historical background of the letter and letter box in the following four directions: evolutionary history, philosophy, Myths and Legends and art history.
⊹Evolutionary history⊹ Ancient civilizations: The earliest recorded form of letter writing dates back to ancient civilizations, such as Egypt, Babylon, and China, where people used papyrus, clay tablets, and silk to communicate with each other.
Middle Ages: In the Middle Ages, letters were handwritten and usually delivered by messengers or travelers. Letterboxes were not yet common, so people often left letters with innkeepers or other trusted individuals to be delivered.
19th century: With the development of the postal system, letterboxes became more widespread. In the United Kingdom, the first letterboxes were introduced in the 1850s, and were made of cast iron. Letterboxes were also introduced in the United States during this time, with the first being installed in Boston in 1858.
20th century: In the 20th century, letterboxes continued to evolve. In some countries, such as France, letterboxes were designed to be more decorative and ornate, while in others, such as the United States, letterboxes were more utilitarian and designed for easy access by postal carriers.
Present day: Today, letter writing has become less common due to the rise of digital communication. ⊹Philosophy⊹ Martin Heidegger, a German philosopher, argued that technology (including letterboxes) has the ability to shape our understanding of the world. He believed that letterboxes, as objects that mediate our relationship with the world, can help us understand the way we interact with technology more broadly.
Gaston Bachelard, a French philosopher, explored the concept of "home" in his work. He believed that the letterbox, as an object situated between the outside world and the domestic realm, can help us understand the relationship between our personal and public lives. ⊹ Myths and Legends ⊹ While there may not be many myths and legends specifically about letter boxes, there are certainly many stories and folklore surrounding the act of sending and receiving letters. Here are a few examples:
In Chinese cultures, there is a tradition of sending "red envelope" letters as gifts on special occasions such as weddings or New Year's Day. These envelopes are filled with money or other valuable items, and are thought to bring good luck and prosperity to the recipient.
In Greek mythology, Hermes was the messenger of the gods and was often depicted holding a caduceus, a staff with wings that was a symbol of his role as a messenger. He was responsible for delivering messages from the gods to mortals, and also for escorting the souls of the dead to the afterlife.
In Irish folklore, it was believed that if you wanted to communicate with the faeries, you could leave a letter for them in a special "faery post box" that was located near a fairy mound or other magical site. The letter would be delivered by the faeries themselves, who were said to have the power to travel between the mortal world and the realm of the fairies.
In some Native American cultures, it was believed that if you wrote a letter to someone and then burned it, the smoke would carry your message to the spirit world where it could be received by your ancestors or other supernatural beings.
In medieval Europe, there were many stories and legends about knights and other romantic heroes who would send love letters to their sweethearts. These letters were often delivered by a trusted messenger or courier, and were sometimes accompanied by gifts or tokens of affection.
⊹Art history⊹
The use of letters and letterboxes in art has a rich history dating back centuries. In the 18th and 19th centuries, letter writing was a popular form of communication, and many artists used letters as a medium for expressing their thoughts and ideas. One of the most famous examples is Vincent van Gogh, who wrote many letters to his brother Theo, which have become a valuable source of insight into his life and work.
In the 20th century, artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Joseph Cornell began using letterboxes and mail art as a way to challenge traditional notions of art and communication. Duchamp's "Box in a Valise" is a portable suitcase filled with miniature reproductions of his works,
while Cornell's "Shadow Boxes" incorporate found objects and personal memorabilia into small, intimate compositions.
In contemporary art, the use of letters and letterboxes has continued to evolve and expand. Artists such as Yoko Ono and Jenny Holzer, have used public spaces to display messages and texts that encourage social and political reflection.
Overall, the use of letters and letterboxes in art reflects a continued fascination with communication and the power of the written word. By incorporating personal letters and messages into their work, artists have created a medium that is both intimate and accessible, inviting viewers to engage with their thoughts, emotions, and experiences in new and meaningful ways.
Methodology: The research will be based on a literature search, internet research, online questionnaires, interviews and exhibition visits.
Exhibition Visit. The exhibition visit will be to a companion exhibition in London. In my research there are few artworks exhibiting in Tate Morden about letter. ("Untitled (To the People of Halifax)" (1990) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, "Untitled" (1992) by Lawrence Weiner, "Secondary Stuttering" (2013) by Mark Leckey, "The World Turned Upside Down" (2017) by Lis Rhodes)
Throughout the practice, I intend to use the blog site to reflect on the techniques and difficulties of each Experiment.
Methods of completing the work, using school resources to complete the work; including the 3D workshop, laser cut workshop and print studio.
Outcome
This project features a series of custom-designed letterboxes, each containing a personalized letter from a friend across the globe. The design of each letterbox is carefully crafted to match the letter it houses, marked with the Chinese characters for "letter" and "believe" to reveal the multi-dimensional nature of language. The resulting collection of intimate letters will be documented photographically, inviting viewers to contemplate the interplay of trust, communication, and cultural differences in the digital age.
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