DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
MR : To build awareness of the power of Music, and the sense of 'Solitude' offered by Music, in an era of ubiquitous change.
To show the connection between the Sacred Feminine and Music, in turn to honor the Sacred Feminine.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
MR : In an age of information anxiety, the goal was to let people know of alternatives in traditional music and new computationally augmented musical instruments that will let them tune in and recharge in an environment of change.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
MR : Display at various museums in Asia and the world.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
MR : Two years.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
MR : The design was a personal intervention to show the power of Music and the Sacred Feminine in a fast changing world.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
MR : The work has already been produced and successfully deployed as an interactive exhibition in a museum learning situation.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
MR : This work continues previous, pioneering works in multimedia installations and interaction technologies that allow a museum visitor to experience the emerging relationships between traditional culture and new technology.
Please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranjit_Makkuni
My past works have explored:
-the multifaceted ideals of the famous Indian philosopher, Mahatma Gandhi, from The Eternal Gandhi;
-a virtual tour of the streets, spaces and rituals of Banaras (Varanasi), one of the main spiritual centers of Hinduism on the banks of the
Ganga River in India, from Living, Dying and Transformation in Banaras;
-a recapture of traditional practices that allow people to take charge of health, from Planet Health: Green consciousness, Ayurveda and
Yoga traditions;
These works have consistently demonstrated innovations in the arts, technology and cultural documentation.
Please see
www.sacreworld.info
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv4tiWXW_os
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
MR : The project presents a creative vision showing the meeting of modern and traditional categories of thought, and allows people to reflect upon their and the world's current situation shaped by political and economic forces.
In terms of form, the project will continue to show how classical cultural forms meet and embrace futuristic technologies in a marriage of originality.
This work speaks to the new generation of interactive art, bringing the dimensions of touch, hand based skill and livelihood, essential to the practice of the traditional arts, into the design of contemporary technology and artistic expression.
Please see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv4tiWXW_os
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjJjJp7PYNo
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
MR : General Audience.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
MR : After
-having participated in creating new media technologies at Xerox PARC, and
-having introduced some technology innovations and cultural works that have made impact,
this work lies at a pivotal point.
The project will let people
-examine alternatives: preservation of local cultures & creation of a 'green' economy, and development alternatives;
-explore culturally rooted, personalized economies;
The project aims to create an impact in developing nations, which are at a critical juncture in time, when timely intervention can positively influence policy planning.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
MR : It means what it means: Musical Landscapes and the Goddesses of Music.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
MR : Building conceptual bridges of innovation between Traditional Art and Modern Technology.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
MR : Computationally augmented musical interfaces allow people to access the complex skilled space of musicians.
In contrast to people interacting with glass screens, eg mobile devices, the interfaces in this project are hidden behind traditional cultural forms,
