Visual Oneirology

visual_oneirology

January 2023 - December 2023

Preface
Dreams reflect our subconscious minds. The brain stores complex emotions and imagery from our daily experiences, and these subconscious thoughts and feelings can resurface in our dreams in symbolic or abstract forms that may not be immediately recognizable to our conscious minds.

visual_oneirology is a conceptual art series that serves as a reflection on how my dreams have mirrored the fluctuations in my mental health throughout the years. Furthermore, the phrase visual_oneirology is coined as a literal definition of something that visualizes my experience with "oneirology"—the study or interpretation of dreams.

01. Zines
As an introductory piece to visual_oneirology, this section provides insights into my dream's possible causes, specifically my nightmares. This study is executed in the form of a zine, where it covers the side effects of psychiatric medications I have taken over the years, as an assumption for one of the main causes of my nightmares. The purpose of this zine is to “tag” my dreams and create a method for me to log all of my memorable dreams.

Zine #1: ㄴㅇㅁ.

Zine #2: Visual Language System

This section explores how dreams and emotions can manifest as a visual language system. The visual language system in the field of visual oneirology is influenced by the Braille writing system. Braille was developed to aid visually impaired individuals, and its simple yet effective design paved the way for accessibility in communication, inspiring the creation of this section. This language system explores the needs of individuals who may face challenges in understanding, expressing, and empathizing with their own and others’ emotions. Similar to the grids used in Braille, this language system uses six grids, each associated with basic human emotions.

02. Sculptures
Inspired by a therapy exercise called, “Stream of Light,” this part of the thesis work encompasses a series of sculptures that reflect my dreams. These sculptures are created from my mind—each event, relationship, dream, etc is given a shape/form, color, texture, and size, as well as its location in my body. The intention of these sculptures is to extend the existence of these forms into the physical space. By interacting with these objects, my hope is to allow my viewers to understand how emotion can be manifested in physical, and visual forms.

03. Video Visualizer
The video showcased at the top of this page provides a visual representation of what my dreams look like. It offers insight into the imagery and themes that characterize my dream experiences. Specifically, it extends the depiction of my sculptures, elaborating on the dream that transported me to "Heaven." Religious themes predominantly influence the narrative of this visualizer, and I find that many of my other dreams similarly incorporate such influences.
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If you would like to learn more about this project, please do not hesitate to reach out!