The Thermal Body Map
“The Thermal Body Map” was the final project of my Space/ Materiality: Body class last semester. This project was composed by 5 acrylic painted clear acrylic sheets which hanged up inside of a metal closet (About 130cm). As an artist, I always abscessed with exploring the art of human body and human emotion, that’s why I chose “Body” as the theme of my Space/Materiality class. I think the reason why my professor Jeff assigned this project was to encourage up to explore more materials and learn how to come up with few ideas and the develop them in a professional and creative way. The initial idea that popped up in my mind of the topic “Body Map” was to create something about human body and human emotion. Using the color changing of the thermal map to show the emotion changing of human body.
Material Test
I did some acrylic painting test on the clear acrylic sheets, intended to find out weather human eye could see through the painted sheets after they layered up. The test was successful with acrylic paint, but not ink (The first material test, which failed). Testing different materials was really interesting, if I have a chance to re-do it, I would definitely add some fabric to the project, because fabric adding could give the project more textures.
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Making Process
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1:Set tools up (Acrylic Painting)
2:Drew the outer line of human body and paint.
3/4: In order to put all 5 finished paintings on the ground.
5: Use knife to cut 5 holes one each side. Also cut a hole on the top middle of the painted acrylic sheet. *5
6: Use cotton thread to tie the acrylic sheets on the metal closet.
Why Thermal Map? How the emotions were showed? What are emotions you pick?
Emotions can be detected by Machine!
Infrared thermal imaging is extremely accurate to detect the information of human body. All the images and datas are directly showed on the machine. I wrote down 5 emotions on my sketchbook. Neutral+Contempt+Depression+Angry +Happiness. The reason why I listed these 5 emotions in this order is because of the percentage of color black in the body. Neutral (90% black), Contempt (75% black), Angry (50% black), Happiness (10% black). Based on researches, color red represents the human body temperature at 37℃, color yellow at 20℃-28℃ and color blue and black will be like 5℃ -19℃. For normal human body, the process of the emotion change from neutral to angry and finally reach to happy will gradually rise body temperature.
I think I learned the most from the brainstorming part to finally narrow down few ways to develop my idea. I especially enjoyed the process of researching because It definitely gains my knowledges of human body. I also got to know and learn about the materials I chose after I finished my material testing part. I think what I just mentioned also were the most challenging part for me. I think learning process is to keep challenging yourself on what you truly interested and enjoy. I would definitely keep exploring this project if I have time in the future because there are just so many possibilities and materials I can add into this project, for instance, I can add fabric into the project or actually rent an Infrared Thermal Machine to detect a real human body.
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