1. What is the core concept of your VIEW FINDER and why does it matter to you? Is it intended to assist during the next hurricane? Is it a sculptural interpretation of a particular “wicked problem”? Is it an information kit, a map, a portable community center?
The core concept of my view finder focuses on oil production in Kuwait, and the risk of harmful health effects that it poses. The air pollution occurring from oil production is posing a serious risk of cancer developing within the Kuwaiti population. This specific issue matters to me because I am a part of this country, and the people being affected are my friends and family. This piece is an interpretation of this specific issue, and represents my point of view on it.
2. What overlooked or under discussed event(s) of does your VIEW FINDER DRAW ATTENTION TO or ATTEMPT TO INTERVENE WITHIN — AND WHY?
The overlooked issue that my view finder draws attention to is the absence of action against the current level of oil production in an attempt to better the health effects. The citizens of Kuwait tend to downplay the health effects because they want to maintain a certain standard of living that would be unattainable without oil.
3. Who is the intended audience of your VIEW FINDER and where are they located?
The most impactful change possible in Kuwait lays in the hands of the youth. Realistically, the drastic changes that this country desperately needs will only occur in the future. Therefore, the youth of Kuwait hold the power necessary for change within all failing systems of the country. It is for these reasons that this hourglass is mainly targeted to the youth, but also to the Kuwaiti population as a whole.
4. What is your VIEW FINDER made of and why? What does this design make possible for your users’ experience? (does it help them slow down, hear/see differently, relax, pay attention, imagine geologic futures, is it reflective, does it float, is it waterproof? etc.)
My view finder is made of mainly glass, jute rope, and black foam board. At first, I wanted to use recycled plastic bottles instead of glass, which would make my project more sustainable and resilient. However, if I truly wanted to attract the Kuwaiti population I would need to create a product that was made of ‘luxury’ materials. By using the glass, it seemed to be a better solution than the plastic bottles in terms of clarity. This hourglass is particularly larger than an average hourglass which allows it to stick out and shock the audience. The concept of time that is associated with the hourglass also adds an element of stress.
5. How does your VIEW FINDER assist the intended audience in acting in ways that are more resilient AND “walk them through an inner space that is hard to traverse” – Morton?
My view finder assists the intended audience in acting in the above ways by encouraging them to find solutions to the harmful health effects that current oil production levels are causing through air pollution. It encourages the viewer to think about finding alternate methods of oil production, which is why this view finder is targeted towards the youth, since this is a solution that might take place in the future. This view finder “walks them through an inner space that is hard to traverse” by shocking the audience into seeing the reality of this situation. It is supposed to almost force the viewer to think about how this is a dangerous and overlooked issue within Kuwait.