INTODUCTION

This proposal looks into alternatives to obtain the benefits from physical touch through substituting using approach from fine art installation of artificial tactile. Next, designed tactile can help in improving, boosting, enhancing one’s mood. The artist proposes the idea that certain elements can help tackle a certain group of people in improving their mood instantly. For instance, torment and vulnerable situations like people waiting in the hospital, patients undergoing operation or dental treatment, or maybe a candidate in a waiting room before an interview; these people might experience uncomfortable feelings such as anxious, fear, and loneliness. However under such circumstances, physical touch might not be available at the nearest reach. Hence, designed artificial tactile are proposed to be installed, conveniently calm and soothe the targeted groups of people. The proposal also serves a purpose to introduce this mechanism to respective parties and to be applied adequately.

OBJECTIVES

To tackle the problem of the absence of physical touch which focused on specific sites and situations and also to boost, calm, and encourage one’s mood such as in a workspace; the objective of this proposal is to plan a design solution to be installed in chosen sites and meet the purposes. In conjunction with that, another objective of the proposal is to propose the design solutions, inspire and educate respective parties the importance of touch; to improve the setting of sites to enhance mood of users.

All in all, the following objectives are set in order to solve the problem statement:

• To spread awareness and encourage the importance of physical touch.

• To find an alternative, resolve the absence of physical touch when one is needed.

• To help enhance the user’s mood using the approach of fine art installation, tactile design and suggestions.

PREVIOUS PRACTISE

The artist previously worked on mostly paintings and a minor work of sculpting. Majority of the works produced were impasto, familiar at manipulating strokes and creating tactility. Palette knives, piping tools, and mixed media collage were used to create these tactiles. Taking psychology as a minor course in university, the artist also has a background of psychology knowledge. Throughout the studies of this course, there was this subject studying health psychology; in this particular chapter, environmental factors were taught that are much related to affecting emotions and will then ultimately affect health in the long run. Small research was done by the artist during the studies of how to improve the situations. Eventually the issue has been brought forward and has chosen to be continued in a thorough manner, correlating with fine art practice to then develop and complement the results. practice

RELATED STUDIES

Sense of touch plays a large role in establishing how humans feel, act and communicate toward another person. Many messages can be conveyed through touch, these include hostility, nurturance, dependence, affiliation and affection. Emotion and touch are deeply connected. Tactile stimulation includes the activating of nerve signals beneath the skin’s surface that inform the body of texture, temperature and other touch-sensations. Tactile Studies show simple tactile stimulation is good for mental and physical health. It showed blood pressure and heart rate significantly decreased when one was struck and caressed. The study showed that tactile touch led to significantly lower levels of anxiety.

Many researches are devoted to the study of how the place human inhabits on a regular basis can have a strong effect on mood, thoughts, and behaviour. The environment plays a crucial role when it comes to the well-being of the mental state, and a human’s mood depends on several external factors. A person may recognize something that has “triggered” a shift in their mood, such as a stressful event at work. But it’s also not uncommon for mood swings to occur without an obvious cause. People may experience these changes in mood over the course of a day or even within a couple of hours. Internal factors that need to be considered are including luminosity, air quality, sounds, and visuals and so on; whether it is at work or in homes.

Art therapy is the use of artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and enhance mental health. The goal of art therapy is to utilize the creative process to help people explore self expression and, in doing so, find new ways to gain personal insight and develop new coping skills. Some research suggests that just the presence of art can play a part in boosting mental health; viewing and creating art also helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. A 2017 study found that art displayed in hospital settings contributed to an environment where patients felt safe. It is proven that art display brings benefits to patients, many medical spaces have adopted it and put in efforts to decorate and install art pieces.