Glow @ Putrajaya, nestled within Malaysia’s vibrant urban landscape, provided the ideal backdrop for the Dasein Digital Media Community’s annual bonding expedition in 2023. This purposeful retreat transcended the usual vacation, serving as a catalyst for building strong relationships, stimulating fresh ideas, and revitalizing participants.
The retreat held a significance that extended well beyond a mere pause from the daily grind; it embraced a comprehensive approach to rejuvenation. Commencing each day with tranquil sessions by the lakeside, participants cultivated mental clarity and embraced mindfulness, thereby laying the groundwork for a day filled with purposeful activities and interactions.
At the heart of digital media lies creativity, a quality carefully nurtured during the immersive workshops. Through collaborative narrative exercises and interactive design challenges, participants ventured into unexplored realms of thinking, sparking novel insights and revitalizing their imaginative faculties.
This expedition aimed to create an environment where like-minded individuals could forge meaningful connections, exchange ideas, and experience a holistic revitalization of their creative energies.
The group project ‘Heat Escape’ by Chin Jia Wei, Tey Yun Nee, Ting Ee Vern, and Yeong Ke Xin, students of Dasein Digital Media, achieved great success at the iNYALA 2022 Beyond Light New Media Art Competition. Their installation, focused on the theme of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), garnered recognition as it won The Best Creativity and The Best New Media Art Awards.
From December 1 to 25, 2022, the ‘Heat Escape’ art installation was exhibited at Fahrenheit88, captivating audiences with its unique concept. The project employed anamorphic illusion, requiring viewers to stand at a specific distance for optimal viewing, along with supportive motion on other sides of a cube screen. By utilizing audio-visual data depicting man-made disasters, ‘Heat Escape’ transported viewers to the scenes of these disasters, prompting reflection on the future trajectory of our planet.
The conceptual sphere, represented in an anamorphic view, symbolized planet Earth, while the ever-changing shapes and elements on it represented man-made hazards such as deforestation, air pollution, and water pollution, all of which contribute to global warming. The installation aimed to highlight the consequences of human exploitation and the cyclical nature of our planet’s recovery efforts. It served as a poignant reminder that without addressing these issues, the extinction of both our planet and humanity would become inevitable.
As a result of their outstanding work, the group received a total cash prize of RM6000 and trophies from Helios Loo, the founder of iNYALA, and Chegne Eu Jin, the Assistant Marketing Manager of Fahrenheit88.
iNYALA, established in 2019, strives to be a progressive platform in Malaysia, championing the new media arts. The organization aims to nurture young talents, foster connections within communities, and facilitate dialogues surrounding technology, sustainability, and art.
Helios Loo and Puan Nor Aida bin Ismail, the Timbalan Pengarah Bahagian Pengurusan Strategik Tourism Malaysia, presenting the trophy and prize money RM3,000 to Tey Yun Nee, Chin Jia Wei, Ting Ee Vern, Yeong Ke Xin for their artwork Heat Escape which focused on SDG 13 – Climate Action.
Digital Faith is an award-winning project recognised at the Kancil Awards 2022. It received a Merit Award in the category of Digital Experience – Other Digital Experience.
In today’s digital age, the concept of preserving art in a digital format has gained immense popularity. Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have become a buzzword, representing a new way to authenticate and trade digital artwork. To help people understand the process of preserving art digitally, a talented student in Digital Media created an innovative project called Digital Faith. This interactive artboard allows users to create their own pixel art and experience firsthand how their creations can be immortalized in the digital universe. By incorporating Arduino technology, the student successfully crafted an engaging and educational tool to foster creativity and understanding among the youth.
The Interactive Artboard: Digital Faith comprises a captivating artboard featuring 100 LED color blocks, each containing seven different colors. This unique setup enables users to express their creativity by simply tapping the color blocks and forming pixel art. The process is not only enjoyable but also offers an interactive experience, allowing users to experiment with different color combinations and create vibrant visuals.
As users tap the color blocks and create their pixel art masterpiece, they embark on a journey of understanding digital preservation. With each tap, the artboard captures the selected colors and converts them into a digital photo. This conversion process mirrors the transformation of physical artwork into a digital representation—a fundamental step in preserving art in the digital world. The artwork is then stored indefinitely in the digital universe, ensuring its longevity and accessibility for future generations to enjoy.
Digital Faith not only provides a fun and engaging experience for users but also serves as an educational tool for fostering creativity and digital literacy among the youth. By combining art and technology, the project encourages young minds to explore their imagination and learn about the possibilities offered by digital mediums. The interactive nature of the artboard allows users to experiment with colors, patterns, and compositions, honing their artistic skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the digital preservation process.
Digital Faith stands as a remarkable project created by a talented student in Digital Media, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional art and digital preservation. By offering an interactive artboard that allows users to create pixel art and witness the process of digital preservation, this project effectively educates and engages the audience. Through its incorporation of Arduino technology, Digital Faith not only promotes creativity but also imparts valuable knowledge about NFTs and the significance of preserving art in the digital era. By inspiring the youth to explore the possibilities of digital art, Digital Faith paves the way for a generation of artists and enthusiasts who can actively contribute to the evolving world of digital media.
Experience the magic of Dasein Digital Media’s stunning projection mapping show, illuminating the façade of the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya. As part of the LAMPU 2019 Festival and Putrajaya’s exhilarating countdown to the new year.
The seamless blending of technology and art, propelled them to secure first place and a cash prize of RM10,000.
The annual Putrajaya Light & Motion Festival (LAMPU) in 2019 proved to be a remarkable celebration, as the crowd gathered at Putrajaya to welcome the New Year. Attendees were in for an extraordinary treat when they witnessed the mesmerizing grand projection mapping showcased on the façade of the Palace of Justice. This event, themed ‘Beautiful Malaysia,’ featured competing teams from various Malaysian universities. Among the talented participants, a team of students from Dasein Academy of Art’s digital media program emerged victorious, claiming the grand prize and a cash reward of RM10,000.00. Their awe-inspiring projection art beautifully showcased Malaysia’s rich culture, historical landscapes, and technological advancements.
Lim Ching Xian, Jenny Su Kai Wen, Chan Wai Fong, Wong Xing Kai, and Wong Si Ying dazzled the audience with their remarkable creativity. Their winning projection mapping displayed Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage and showcased significant technological achievements onto the architectural surface of the Palace of Justice. As the esteemed home of the Malaysian Court of Appeal and Federal Court, the Palace of Justice became a canvas for these young artists to merge art and technology seamlessly.
Digital Media Program at Dasein Academy of Art: The victory of the Dasein Academy of Art team at LAMPU 2019 is a testament to the institution’s excellence in nurturing talent and embracing cutting-edge art forms. The digital media program offered at the academy equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge in video projection mapping, mobile app development, website design and programming, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). By integrating art, science, and media practice, this comprehensive program prepares students to tackle the ever-evolving challenges of the media industry.
At Dasein Academy of Art, students are encouraged to explore innovative design solutions that merge art with technology. The academy’s digital media program empowers individuals to think outside the box and create captivating experiences. By honing their skills in various digital media disciplines, students are equipped to tackle real-world challenges in today’s dynamic media landscape.
The grand prize triumph by the Dasein Academy of Art team at LAMPU 2019 not only showcases their exceptional talent but also highlights the significance of digital media in shaping and preserving cultural heritage. This achievement serves as an inspiration to aspiring digital artists, reaffirming the importance of merging technology with art to create impactful experiences.
https://youtu.be/o4U-cYq05pE
The Putrajaya Light & Motion Festival’s projection mapping competition at LAMPU 2019 brought forth an awe-inspiring display of talent and creativity. The victory of the Dasein Academy of Art students is a testament to their exceptional skills and the academy’s commitment to nurturing talent at the intersection of art and technology. This achievement reinforces the importance of digital media in capturing the essence of cultural heritage while adapting to the evolving demands of the media industry. The Dasein Academy of Art team’s success serves as a reminder that innovation and creativity have the power to shape our world and captivate audiences in breathtaking ways.
