RUS 101 - Integrated Studio

My Home...

2009-10-10T02:40:00.000-07:00

Before this, my blog is only a place where I express my feelings and thoughts which cannot be said out loud in front of people. It is where I do my reflections and a place to rant my emotions, usually negative ones. This is the first time I'm using the blog and the internet to publish the works of my own.

I feel this idea of having a site to compile and log all our assignments is interesting. It would be organized and the assignments won't be easily forgotten, with the chance of going back in time now and then to compare what I have and can achieve now compared to when i just set up this site.

Maintaining this blog has not been a problem. I love to write and can deliver my thoughts through words quite accurately. But, as they say, a picture is worth more than a thousand words. Taking pictures, for me, is kind of a challenge. Honestly, I'm not that into photography and armed with shaky hands, I've got to admit, I'm one of the worst photographers around.

But anyway, I'm glad I have made it through RUS 101 with the experience, knowledge, a new way of looking at things and nothing more than dark eye bags. I've found out that diversity doesn't just apply to the different species of flora and fauna, but also to humans and situations. The ability to adapt and change is critical in this constantly moving world. Even when you think you are standing still, the Earth is still revolving around the sun.

Well, enough talk. Here are the links to all the assignments, projects and talks during the whole of RUS 101. I hope that through my posts, my experience can be your experience. Enjoy.

Assignments

Me, Myself & I
Natural Structure
Man-Made Structure
The Mask
Perspective
Projection Drawings
Black Box
Analysis of HBP Spaces
Analysis of Georgetown Spaces
Merdeka Installation
Urban Plan
Bamboo Break
Constructing for Real

Talks
What I Read Today, 6th July 2009, 0900-1200
My Big Bang!
Existence
Seen-Unseen: Privacy - What Have I Learnt?

Assignment 8 - Constructing for Real

2009-10-10T02:07:00.000-07:00

This community project made me realize that ‘community’ does not just refer to the human
community. Living on this planet, we share the environment with many other life forms, including the ‘unseen’. Through this project, we have helped Nature live more comfortably by supplying one of the main essence of life, water. By ensuring the existence of our fellow inhabitants of this planet, we also ensure a sustainable. Future for mankind. Through this project, I have learnt to appreciate other residents on Earth and to treasure their existence.

[Product]

Assignment 7 - Bamboo Break

2009-10-10T00:56:00.000-07:00

The purpose of the bamboo break is for us to get used to handling the materials and tools which we were going to use for the next project - bamboo and the parang. The moment this assignment was issued, the only thing that went through my mind was - joints... AGAIN.

Working with bamboo really isn't an easy task. Dried bamboo will crack if used together with the wrong tools and materials (nails and screws for example). Using the parang isn't that easy either. It is heavy and not easy to be controlled. In the end, because of my parents' concern and worry (that I will defenitely cut something more than bamboo if i use the parang), I changed the tools a little for this assignment.

I know it this assignment would serve no purpose if i don't use the parang, but on the bright side, i learned how to use the power drill, hand drill, chisel, saw, file and hammer. And I'm pretty happy with my final product. I constructed the whole 1m x 1m x 1m cube purely out of bamboo. No rope or strings were used. But even so, my cube is not perfect. It is still wobbly and if Che Wan wanted to test my cube, the joints wouldn't give way but most probably the bamboo would have cracked.

Anyways, I had lots of fun and experience with this assignment. Who knew drilling bamboo till it warms up would smell like baking cookies?? Interesting...

[My small gift - an ashtray]

Assignment 6 - An Urban Plan

2009-09-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

The Urban Plan assignment was really a pain in the neck. Firstly, we did analysis of the site we wanted without it being confirmed. When the confirmed list was up on the RUS website, we found out that we did not get the site we wanted. And so it was site analysis all over again. Then we had to design an urban plan for our site. That went fairly well, with all of the members giving ideas and agreeing to the proposed design and concept.

When we almost finished the project and prepares it for submission, there were changes again to the assignment. Now, we were supposed to also integrate the biodiversity and adopting a tree concept into our urban plan. Unfortunately, when we handed our assignments for submission, we found out that we have misinterpreted the assignment issued. So we had to do some changes before we go on our Raya break.

This is our final product after many many changes.

This assignment was a valuable lesson because I found out that what I read may not be the message that the writer wants to deliver. Because of that, I have found out the need to ask questions, even though you think you already understand something.

Assignment 5A & 5B - Merdeka Celebration

2009-09-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

The purpose of the Merdeka Object Intervention is to create and design a costume or concept for the Merdeka Celebration's balloonmen (HBP RUS 101 was to be in charge of releasing the balloons at 12am sharp). In our costume, we were supposed to integrate our sarongs, masks and at least one balloon.

To prepare for the Merdeka Celebration, RUS 101 went to the site (Penang Times Square) the day before to further analyze the site. There, we also planned our entrance for the ballon release.

[Lining up for the entrance practice]

[Encircling the fountain]

Then finally came the eve of Hari Merdeka. Everyone was at Penang Times Square for the celebration... except me. I had to stay at home away from all the celebration because I had fallen sick... again. It's really unfortunate cause this would be the first time I would be a part of such a celebration. Anyways, I hope I will be fit and healthy for next year's Merdeka Celebration.

Assignment 4B - Analysis of Georgetown Spaces

2009-09-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

For this assignment, we were asked to visit heritage sites in Georgetown and do a presentation on three buildings which we think have a common theme. I was actually a little excited going on this assignment because, as a Penangite, I have not really toured Penang on foot. Here are some of the heritage sites we visited...

[State Islamic Council]

[Standard Chartered Bank]

[An information board on Beach Street]

[Penang City Hall]

[Town Hall]

[High Court building]

[Church of the Assumption]

[St. George's Church]

Assignment 4A - Analysis of HBP Spaces: A Nook To Inspire

2009-09-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

A Nook to Inspire is about the special place around HBP where we can just rest and relax, not worrying about our assignments. Because till now, I have only treated and thought of HBP as a place of study, a place of work and labour. Never have I thought that HBP can also be our 'home', our own personal space to feel comfortable enough to do the things we like.

So, for this assignment and to better know the place which I am going to spend another two and a half years, I went in search of my favourite spot. After walking some distance and helping my friends find theirs, I finally found my "special" place down by the Dataran HBP, beyond the paved square, on the grassy area by the main road. I find it special because although there are traffic bustling about on the road, this spot is kind of isolated from human interference. The place is shady and the surrounding buildings direct wind flow to the area.

After pin pointing my site, I started to work on my assignment. I took a few photographs (with help from Gim), not forgetting to include the sarong and other props to create the effect of relaxing and chilling out. All the pictures I have compiled into a presentation with a storyline to complete this assignment.

[Hey!! I was not ready!!]

[Disentangling earphones]

[Do I hear a handphone CF coming up?]

Assignment 3C - Black Box

2009-09-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Black Box is about creating a box to light up our White Box. The trick to this task is that wires and other electrical component are not supposed to be seen. The Black Box is a box which can illuminate the White Box all by itself.

I decided to make my Black Box (from now onwards is referred to as BB) as small as possible. So, i settled on using LEDs, connected to a switch and power source (four AA-sized batteries), all fitted inside the BB. The only electrical components protruding from my BB is the 2 LEDs and the switch to turn it on and off.

[My Black Box and its holder for the White Box]

[Black Box on White Box]

Since the BB is supposed to illuminate the White Box and project the shaped we have cut out, the light source must be bright. At first, I was a little worried about my BB being not bright enough to reveal the pattern which I have painstakingly cut out. Thankfully, it worked and I'm actually quite proud to say that the end product is surprisingly impressive.

[White Box illuminated by Black Box]

Assignment 3B - Projection Drawings

2009-08-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

For this assignment, we were asked to do 2 projection drawings of our obelisk from different angles. We then chose a projection angle to pull the obelisk apart.

[First sketch of my projection drawings]

[ End product of my projection drawings]

Assignment 3A - Perspective

2009-08-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

North-South-East-West

For this assignment, we were required to draw cubes using perspective. The drawings we intend to draw must have a story behind it. In the first sheet, the cubes are all 6 sided. In the second, the cubes are 4 or 5 sided, and in the third sheet, the cubes are either transparent or translucent.

In my drawing, there is a big cube surrounded by four smaller ones. My drawing tells a story of 'not judging a book by its cover'. Here are the end product of my assignment.

[The first sheet : 6-sided cubes and the story of my Cubes]

[The second sheet : 4 and 5-sided cubes]

[The third sheet : translucent cubes and the sarong]

Seen-Unseen: Privacy - What Have I Learnt?

2009-07-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

On Friday, 24th July 2009, Sr. Dr. Ilias Said gave us a talk on Seen-Unseen : Privacy. He started the lecture with the story of a poor guy and rich guy. He talked about how much expectations have been put onto the two guys when they have been accepted into USM and what they have become in a year's time. From this story, I have learnt that the moment we enter university, it's not only our hopes and dreams that we are carrying. There's our parents' expectations, our sibling's admiration, our friend's anticipation and many others' hopes. Bearing all this burden, it serves as a constant reminder that if we are to fail, many people will be disappointed. Therefore, putting this to mind, I realise that I cannot risk failing or to lack behind. I need to keep onto the right path and not stray from the sight of my dreams and my expectations of myself.

The other thing he showed us was the view or the thinking from people from each discipline. For example, an engineer may design a swing with many electronic devices and principles but a quantity surveyor would just design one which will cost the least. It triggered to me that although we are all in the same class and studying the same things, our perception and thinking may be different from each other. The seen and unseen - we can't see our thoughts, but when something is acted out, we can see that one is different from another.

Well, this is just basically what I have learnt from Sr. Dr. Ilias's lecture on Friday. I don't know if this is the message he was trying to send but I have learnt a few valuable lessons that day.

Assignment 2C - The Mask

2009-07-24T19:08:00.001-07:00

For this assignment, we were asked to make a mask which should be a perfect replica of our face. The technique to be used is paper mache.

For my first step, i decided to make a mold of my face using paper clay to make paper mache-ing easier. Below are the steps of my way of making my Mask.

[Step 1 - Making mold with paper clay]

[Step 2 - Mache-ing 1st layer with toilet roll]

[Step 3 - Layering with newspaper]

[Step 4 - Peeling off they clay from the paper mache]

[Step 5 - Painting the base colour of my mask]

[Step 6 - Drawing eyes and lips]

[My end product - A mask of my own face]

So that is how i made my mask. It is not perfect (I think my face is much better looking in real life) but this is my end product after 4 days of work. I'm still wondering bout the purpose of this project. Why do I need a mask of my own face when my real face is perfect enough? Don't know...

Assignment 2B - Man-Made Structure

2009-07-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

So, after completing Assignment 2A Natural Structure, we were asked to do Assignment 2B Man-Made Structure. This assignment is about translating the natural structure that we drew into a structure which can be built. To be honest, i felt the tree i drew in Assignment 2A was not the easiest thing to work with.

At first, I wanted to convert the tree into a building, but then i felt it would look like any other building. Then I thought of looking at it upside down to make it an arch. But I didn't like that idea of drawing a tree the wrong side up. So, i decided to make my tree into a column of a bridge. This is my end design:

~My final design~

Other than just designing a man-made structure, we were also required to explain in words why we drew that structure. I exlained my intention in the window next to my drawing using the intention, act, product concept.

For this assignment, we were also required to design our own logo for RUS 101. So I came up with one using Adobe Illustrator:

~My very own logo~

The 'I' in my logo stands for Integrated, so when combined with the word 'Studio' beside it makes it Integrated Studio, which is RUS 101. The 'I' is made up of seven squares of different colours, representing the seven courses in HBP. There are some squares which are detached to further emphasize the meaning of 'integrated'. That is basically the meaning of my logo.

The end.

Existence

2009-07-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

In last Friday's class, Mr Wan talked about Existence. He raised a few questions. Why do we exist? What are the rules of our existence? Mr Wan's definition or concept of Existence is 'I think, therefore I am'. According to him, we only exist when we think. So, what if we are drunk, asleep, or in a trance? We do not think at those times. So does it mean that we do not exist?

Honestly, I do not quite agree with Mr Wan's concept of 'Existence'. To me, this concept may only be true for human beings. Human beings are unique because they have a mind of their own. But, many other things like animals and inanimate objects can't think, but they still exist in this world. so if according to Mr Wan's concept of 'I think, therefore I am', we exist in this world to think, then what about other things in this world? Why do they exist?

The word "existence" comes from the Latin word existere meaning "to appear," "to arise," "to become," or "to be," but literally, it means "to stand out" (ex- being the Latin prefix for "out" added to the Latin verb stare, meaning "to stand").
-Wikipedia-

There are many concepts regarding Existence. No two human beings are the same, therefore everyone's views on Existence will differ. For me, I believe that as long as we are something or someone in this real world, therefore we exist. The question is, does our existence matter? Will the world be any different without us? Many may not agree with me but this is what I have summarised from my understanding of existence.

Assignment 2A - Natural Structure

2009-07-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

Our next assignment is Assignment 2A : Natural Structure. We were supposed to observe a natural object's structure and draw the structure based on what we observed. For me, after much contemplation, I decided to draw the tree just outside HBP's building.

~The tree I decided to draw~

So I started to draw what i observed. I started with the bark of the tree and drew it with relative ease. Unfortunately, i encountered problems when i began to draw in the leaves. I realised i do not know how to draw them. The leaves were moving gently in the wind and every leave has it's own position and motion. It made me confuse and I think the leaves i drew ended up looking like cotton wool hanging on the tree.

Alas, i managed to finish my drawing and my final drawing of a natural structure looked like this:

~My final drawing~

In conclusion, I feel that this assignment has let me realise my weakness, and I will try to improve on it.

Assignmnet IB - Me, Myself & I

2009-07-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

My name is Moey Sui Min. I was born on the 25^th of July 1990 in Penang. As of now, I am 18 years old, going to be 19 in two weeks time. I live in Penang with my parents and two younger brothers aged sixteen and thirteen.

My schooling life started when I was four years old when my parents sent me to Easternsun Kindergarten, Penang. After spending three years there, I went on to Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Hamilton, Penang for my Primary Education. After five years and scoring five A’s in my UPSR examinations, I continued my Secondary Education in St. George’s Girls School, Penang. After completing my SPM, I went on to take Form Six there.

Along the way, I have met many good friends and teachers who have helped and guide me through my schooling life. In school, I have learnt not only academically but also many lessons on life itself. I myself have gone through many changes throughout the years. From the shy and quiet girl I was when I entered Standard One, to the outspoken and confident Head Librarian when I left Secondary School. I feel very grateful to have spent my schooling years in that school as not only was academic results important but also our character upbringing as a whole.

I have always wanted to study Architecture in University, but I don’t know why. I was very fortunate to be accepted into USM’s School of Housing, Building and Planning, majoring in Architecture. Here, I hope to be able to graduate with a degree in the field that I am most interested in and go into Building Conservation. I am interested in Building Conservation because I feel that although a country and it’s infrastructure must move forward, it’s history, culture and roots must be preserved and maintained to be appreciated by generations to come.

My hobbies are watching videos and making a lot of noise at home. For my videos, I can’t live without Youtube as I watch many foreign shows, especially Korean shows there. I love DBSK, a top Korean group and also disturbing my brothers. Brothers are good because they keep me entertained. They are like monkeys at the zoo. The only problem is that they are not caged. Life would be very different without them around to push around and to bully.

Other than that, I also love to eat and sleep. Coming from Malaysia’s food haven, Penang, I was blessed with delicious food since young, hence the extra body fat. However, I am a very picky eater. There are lots of kinds of food which I don’t like to eat. I love to sleep a lot, so I was a little worried when the lectures said that HBP’s students will lack sleep. So far, it has not troubled me that much yet.

My Big Bang!

2009-07-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

The Big Bang - the name of the School Of Housing, Building and Planning's orientation program for first years with our seniors. Firstly, why the Big Bang?? Well, I figured that it was because the Big Bang Theory explains an explosion which eventually led to the birth of our Universe. The Big Bang marks the beginning of our Universe and subsequently, life on Earth. Therefore, this program is aptly named because for us, first year students in HBP, it is a new beginning. The purpose of this program is to help us settle in this new environment quickly.

The Big Bang Project was supposed to begin on the 9th July 2009 (Thursday) till the 12th July 2009 (Sunday). Unfortunately, on the eve of the program, my grandfather passed away. So, I had to take leave from school to attend his funeral. Thus, I'm sorry to say that I did not manage to take part in some of the activities of the Big Bang.

I came back to USM on Sunday, 12th July 2009, just in time to attend the closing ceremony of My Big Bang program. On that day, we, the juniors were required to stage a performance and my group decided to stage a play. The title of our play was the Transformation of Communication throughout the eras. In the play, I played a helper of a kidnapper in the modern century. We also had a Grand Dinner that night, with some of the food being cooked by the seniors. Unfortunately, my piece of chicken barbequed by the seniors was not cooked enough.

~Queuing up to get our food~

~ Performance by seniors~

The closing ceremony ended at around 12.30am and we walked back to our hostel. Most of us stayed up to complete our Assignment 1B which was due the next day. Although I couldn't attend the full program, I feel lucky enough to have at least attended one of the programs. That's it for my Big Bang. Unlike the Universe's Big Bang, I'm sure the will be more Big Bangs in my life to come.

What I Read Today, 6th July 2009, 0900-1200

2009-07-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

Today, 6 July 2009, is my maiden class in USM for the first semester. Today's lecture, Integrated Studio, RUS 101, was conducted by Mr. Wan Burhanuddin Wan Abidin, on the topic of reading and documenting. Like every presentation, our lecture started with an introduction. What is to read?

The first meaning of 'read' was something like 'to see and look in order to understand'. When the slide changed, i was amused to find that a simple four lettered word, 'read' carried forty-something other meanings. I wanted to read every single definition of 'read'. Unfortunately, Mr. Wan changed the slides too quickly.

I find the next part of the lecture quite inspiring. It explains why I'm writing about other things instead of just what I have read. Well, Mr. Wan's definition of 'read' does not just take in consideration words and paragraph one reads. To truly read, one must not only use their eyes but their ears and heart as well. Reading with our eyes alone will not get us anywhere. But when we use our ears and heart to read, we are able to understand and interpret words into messages and information. That is why here, I have wrote not only what I have read but also what I have interpreted from my reading.

Next, Mr. wan introduced us to the concept of 'intention-act-product'. He went on to explain that without the intention and act to do something, we will not get a product. From here, i think it conveys a message for us to be strong-willed and hardworking when doing something, to always remember our purpose till we achieve our goals.

Then, it was time to introduce our lecturers. I tried to read all the lecturers' names on the screen but they were in a font too small to be seen from where I was sitting. So, I resolved to reading my lecturers' names from the guidebook. After the lecturers' introduction, I read about the projects we were supposed to do this semester. Only basic information was given, like how we are supposed to have a different Studiomaster for every project and briefly describing our ten projects for the 14 weeks of the semester.

After some running around searching for groups, we entered the Bilik Kuliah and were given a talk on Plagiarism vs Originality. I read the definition of plagiarism, which goes something like this - Plagiarism: the act of copying or borrowing an intellectual property without the owner's consent. I felt grateful that Mr. Wan touched on the topic of plagiarism but expected him to elaborate more on the matter - like to what extend can we use another's ideas and the different kinds of plagiarism. I would really want to know more about plagiarism so that I can avoid this crime. I guess I have to read it up myself.

So, I guess this is the end of what I have read today from 9am to 12pm. It is not much of what I have read but more of what I have come to understand from my reading. Well, they say a picture is worth more than a thousand words. It is not important how many words you read, but more important is how much of the message is sent through to you.