“Street Dreamer” is an interactive installation designed to raise awareness about drug exposure and abuse among Malaysian adolescents and young adults. Using realistic drug props and animations, the project educates users on recognising drug use and understanding its consequences. Through an engaging interactive experience, participants learn about the effects and dangers of drug abuse, promoting community awareness and preventive action.
Student 1: Tan Ji Kean Student 2: Voon Run En Student 3: Loh Pei Shien
Issue & Challenges
In Malaysia, around 2,138 adolescents (9.25%) abused drugs in 2010, with most users aged 19–39, followed by 13–18. The easy availability of drugs threatens young adults and teens, highlighting the need for community awareness and vigilance to address this issue effectively.
Concepts & Idea
The idea involves using realistic drug props to depict the appearance of drugs and their effects, alongside educating users on recognising drug consumption through actual methods. Animation is utilised to illustrate the characteristics of drug users and the consequences of drug abuse.
Technical Execution
The user interaction for this project begins with the participant placing the realistic drug props on their hand to initiate the experience. Once all the drug props are positioned, an animation is triggered that visually demonstrates the effects and impact of drug use. The next step involves the participant attempting to remove the drug props, symbolising an effort to stop or reverse drug consumption. This action leads to the display of a different animation, which illustrates the challenges and outcomes associated with attempting to quit drug use. This interactive approach aims to create an engaging and educational experience, fostering awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and the difficulties in overcoming addiction.
“Innomals” is an interactive project that raises awareness about the ethical issues surrounding the pet blind box trend. Highlighting the cruelty and inhumane treatment involved, this installation uses gacha-inspired animation triggered by users shaking a simulated pet parcel. The animation reveals the condition of random pets, with the number of shakes determining the severity of their injuries. By depicting the consequences of this harmful practice, the project aims to shock viewers and inspire action for responsible consumption and animal welfare.
The pet blind box trend involves customers buying a box with a random pet inside, often without proper consideration, which can lead to animal abuse. Animals inside the box also might be subjected to cruelty and inhuman treatment, highlighting the ethical and welfare issues behind pet blind boxes.
Concepts & Idea
Creating an attractive blind box that represents a pet parcel. Animation is used to reveal pets that are already harmed and injured, presented in a bloody and disturbing manner. This aims to shock the viewer and make them experience the consequences of this abusive trend.
Technical Execution
The user triggers the animation by shaking the blind box, which simulates the parcel transportation process over time. A random pet will be selected, and the number of shakes will determine the severity of the pet’s injuries.
Gold winner of Kancil Awards 2024 | Best Idea for Social Good
On 19 October 2024, the much-anticipated TERANG 2024 projection mapping competition took place at MaTiC, Tourism Malaysia. Organised annually by Filamen, this year’s theme, Culture Futurism, focused on the fusion of tradition and technology. It transformed historic landmarks into stunning visual displays, creating an immersive experience for all attendees.
Five groups of students from Dasein Academy of Art were honoured to reach the finals. Despite their best efforts, they faced tough competition from talented artists and students from other institutions. While they did not secure a win, their work showcased their creativity, dedication, and skill, making us incredibly proud of their achievement.
The variety and creativity on display were inspiring, demonstrating how artistic expression can bridge the past and the future in innovative ways.
Participating in such a prestigious event offered our students invaluable experience, helping them to develop their skills, gain fresh insights, and connect with fellow creatives. Although the result was not what they hoped for, the opportunity to compete on this platform was a significant milestone in their creative journey.
Photo credit: Filamen
We extend our warmest congratulations to all the finalists and winners for their exceptional work. TERANG 2024 was a true celebration of creativity, and we look forward to witnessing the artistic brilliance that next year’s event will bring.
Aquatopia is a digital media exhibition that highlights critical issues affecting marine life. Through various projects, it explores the challenges our oceans face, such as pollution and the protection of sea creatures. The event aims to raise awareness and encourage visitors to think about how they can contribute to making a difference.
From 13 to 27 September 2024, Dasein Digital Media students from batch DDM221 presented the Aquatopia exhibition, merging art and technology to highlight crucial environmental concerns related to SDG 14: Life Below Water. The exhibit drew attention to the issues of jellyfish overpopulation and the detrimental effects of cigarette butt pollution on marine ecosystems, offering the audience a chance to engage with these themes through interactive and immersive experiences.
Watch the full event recap video here
Behind-the-Scene Video
The launch event on 13 September 2024 featured MareCet, an NGO dedicated to marine conservation in Malaysia. MareCet’s participation enhanced the exhibition, promoting greater awareness and understanding of the importance of sustainable practices to protect our oceans.
Exploring the Projects: Individual Works by the Artists
1. Loh Wai Xin
Project 1: Interactive Website – Jellyfish Blooms This website aimed to raise awareness about jellyfish overpopulation, focusing on how global warming and deforestation contribute to the issue. Through interactive visuals and informative content, users explored the dangers posed by unchecked jellyfish populations and learned how these challenges threaten the balance of marine ecosystems. The seamless browsing experience encouraged visitors to engage with the topic by leaving feedback through integrated forms.
Website Design & Development Showcase
Project 2: Interactive Installation – Watt’s A Jellyfish
This installation symbolised the delicate relationship between human actions and environmental preservation. Visitors were invited to interact with lamps that lit up LED-decorated jellyfish models, representing efforts to conserve the beauty of these creatures. Some jellyfish installations vanished into the darkness, illustrating how neglect and excessive consumption could disrupt marine ecosystems.
Project 3: 3D Anamorphic Animation – Burn to Bloom
This 30-second 3D motion design and animation uses naked-eye 3D technology to vividly illustrate how deforestation triggers global warming, causing rising ocean temperatures and jellyfish overpopulation. The anamorphic effect creates a visually immersive experience, drawing the audience into the interconnected nature of these environmental challenges.
2. Lau Chewvy
Project 1: 2D Animation – Buds Planet
This animation focused on the harm caused by cigarette butt pollution to marine environments. The engaging narrative illustrated how cigarette butts travel from urban areas to oceans, demonstrating the significant impact these small items can have on marine ecosystems. The project encouraged viewers to adopt responsible disposal practices by showing the cumulative harm caused by carelessness.
Project 2: Interactive Installation – Bud Stream
This installation provided an immersive, hands-on learning experience. Participants explored different scenarios to see how improperly discarded cigarette butts harm the ocean. By interacting with the installation, visitors gained a deeper understanding of the consequences of pollution and were encouraged to change their behaviour towards responsible disposal. This experiential approach fostered empathy and reinforced the need for environmental responsibility.
Moreover, alumni from DDM213, the creative minds behind Dasein Kopitiam, returned to enhance their message about the impact of ocean trash with a new installation project. Their latest work, titled Fantrashtic 2.0, builds on their previous semester’s project, delivering an upgraded and compelling visual experience to highlight this critical environmental issue.
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors for their invaluable support, which made this exhibition possible and successful. Your generosity has greatly contributed to our students’ achievements.
Two fearless content creators, known for faking horror content, venture into a notorious abandoned house for their next video, only to uncover a chilling truth when a tragic past and a malevolent force blur the lines between fiction and reality.
