Folisthesia · 2023 · Arts Project & Exhibit · Loughborough University
Folisthesia
Folisthesia was a year-long research-led art project focused on the psychological state of relaxation induced by natural patterns and imagery. Utilising natural dyes and foraged inks, Folisthesia employed a self-invented monoprinting process that relied on the natural pooling of water in relation to gravity and tracing paper.
This project culminated in a two-week exhibition as part of Loughborough University’s School of Design and Creative Arts Degree Show in June 2023. In addition to exhibiting, I provided installation and curatorial support to students and acted as the lead tour guide for selected guests during private tours of the exhibition.
Loughborough University Degree Show
Development:
Theory:
Folisthesia’s main goal was to recreate the feeling of being in a natural space through pattern, colour, and intimate installation. This experience is mainly constituted by feelings of wakeful relaxation and reduced anxiety, thought to occur as a result of the fractal patterns present in natural phenomena. A fractal is a repeating pattern that iterates across a depreciating scale. The most obvious example is a Tree. starting off with the trunk, the wood divides into two branches, and then those branches divide similarly until you end up with the fine branch tips and buds. The pattern of division repeats, getting smaller with each division; this is the fractal. However, what’s more interesting is that these patterns, yield the same calming affects, even when abstracted to the point of no longer being recognisable. In my work I utilised a original monoprinting technique, using tracing paper and wet ink, made of red cabbage, blueberries, saffron, and turmeric, to create branching tree-like networks, and bubbling pools of colour, inspired by the work of Ruth Asawa.
Phyllotaxis, 2023, Red Cabbage ink, Saffron Ink, and Lemon juice on 120gsm paper and 60gsm tracing paper:
A two part piece featuring paper (left) and the monoprinting tracing paper ‘plate’ (right).
A phyllotaxis pattern, a name referring to the growing pattern of leaves, as been cut into the printing layer, affecting the branching and puddling around it.
A Linguistic Nomenclature
The psychology of art observation is a subtle one, with some studies revealing that information as minimal as the title of a piece can alter an audience’s perception of it. This project, relying on such delicate experiences, had to avoid a name that might steer viewers towards any particular interpretation. Folisthesia is a work created specifically to reflect the artwork through linguistic sound symbolism. Firstly, "Foli" sounds similar to ‘foliage’, directing the listener towards natural imagery, while the suffix ‘-sthesia’ alludes to sensory-based content. Secondly, the word capitalises on the ‘Kiki-Bouba’ effect, where words with rounded vowels are associated with organic, rounded shapes, hinting at the organic, puddle-like forms in the prints. Lastly, "Foli" has a natural inflection that guides listeners towards lighter colours, as higher pitches have consistently been observed to correspond with brighter tones, such as the yellows and blues present in the prints.
Development Images
