THESISHasita Kamlesh | Senior Thesis 1 | Paul Carlos | Fall 2012

STATEMENT

For my thesis I want to create patterns and I want to use traditional techniques to create them. Techniques that are traditional to my culture and the country of my upbringing. If I trace back my grandparents come from Sindh it was originally a part of India but when the partition took place in 1947 it became part of Pakistan. Ajrak is a traditional to Sindh, it is a form of block printing to create patterns. I was born and raised in Indonesia. Indonesia is known for Batik, it is a process of using wax and dyes to create multicoloured patterned cloths. I want to create 3 patterns, one Ajrak, one Batik and one combination of the two. The reason for doing this is I want to bring awareness to these unique techniques. It is relevant particularly in this day and age where many things can be done a lot faster due to technology and I believe go-ing back to ones roots is very important. Most handmade one of a kind products have been replaced by assembly line products. People in India, Indonesia and New York particularly Parsons will be able to appreciate this because the patterns I will create are made in the traditional techniques, but the patterns itself are contemporary. Using different imagery will give the patterns a twist but keeping the technique will show that it is still possible to bring the old ways in to make new things. The thing that makes this like other things is that it is a creation of patterns, it has been done before but what makes it unlike many things is that it is my take on these two cultures. Two cultures that I have been raised with, its my point of view and upbringing translated into these patterns and the combination of Ajrak and Batik is the result of this.

My thesis is to use traditional pattern making techniques to create my own patterns. I want to use these patterns I create in nontraditional means to showcase the techniques.

The above are scans of various sketchbooks where I have found myself doodling to create potential patterns. I have been made aware that the patterns I doodle have a sense of congestion and in that congestion there is a sense of growth.

TRADITIONAL PRINTS

Ajrak Woodblock Prints Indonesian Batik Prints

INSPIRATION

1. Marimekko2. Sonnhild Kestler 3.Timorous Beasties Hornbrook collection 4. Christopher Wool5.Koloman Moser.

1

3

2

2

4

5

PATTERN ONE

The first pattern I chose to delve into is the Ajrak inspired pattern. I chose this because I was taking a woodcut class and as Ajrak is a woodcut technique I thought it would be beneficial to further this pattern this semester. The pattern I designed is based on years of doodles, I continuously default to these swirls. I chose this not only because it is natural to me but also because it depicts water. Water is the method of travel my grandparents took from what is now Pakistan to India in 1947 when the partition took place. It is also the element that calms me but at the same time frightens me. The concept of this pattern is to place it on the floor, to create an out of context environment for people who would interact with it. I chose public spaces dealing with transportation like the subways and elevators to relate it to modes of travel.

I first worked on a two colour image that was inspired by the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, which is a theme I was researching for my thesis. In this woodcut I tested out carving patterns to see if I could achieve the desired detail.

This is a page of my sketchbook of these swirls that I constantly doodle. I decided to make this my first pattern for my thesis.

Above is a test woodcut I did with these swirls, Here I was trying to see if I could manage the curves of the pattern, On the right is a print of the woodcut

Satisfied with the test I proceeded to create the pattern. I worked on the module that would repeat and create a seamless pattern. I first used Photoshop to offset the print, which is the second image from the right, I then drew on the image to fill the gaps. After a dozen iterations I finally decided on a module whose repetition I liked. The other modules I created when repeated created patterns within the patterns, which distracted the idea of a seamless pattern.

The carved module

The Repeat Pattern

PATTERN TWO

The second pattern is the pattern I want to create using the Batik technique. This pattern I want to create is reminiscent of tiling. I chose this pattern for the batik technique because Indonesia is my birth land and the tiling reminds me of the ground, although I am Indian I have a very strong connection with Indonesia. The concept of this pattern is to use it with light. I want to create a light fixture that will project the pattern on to the room. I chose the idea of projection because Indonesia is known for their shadow puppets.

Another page from my sketchbook where I’ve doodled this pattern that reminds me of growth. I want to work on this for my batik inspired pattern.

It was suggested that I tried working with shapes to see how they overlapped, so I drew these on acetate to transfer onto a silk screen.

The outcome of my silk screen trials.

PATTERN THREE

The third pattern is still under development, it is based on New York. I am using the windows of various buildings and the grid of the city as inspiration for my pattern

NEXT SEMESTER

PATTERN ONE

- Finalizing the material for the installation and the locations.

PATTERN TWO

- Prototyping with Batik.- Finalizing the materials for the light fixture.

PATTERN THREE

-Development of the pattern and idea