(IN)TANGIBLE HERITAGE(S)
Abstract
In a technologically driven world of experiences, the question of the future of heritage spaces has shifted focus towards re-examining the existing materiality between the artefacts and the communities. This recent attention towards cultural preservation and heritage studies has positioned design to redefine cultural experiences in the contemporary context. Against this backdrop, design is marked by an ability to transform and revitalise cultural practices to change and alter perceptions, generate and disseminate knowledge, and create new value through the curation of experience. A case-study on temple architecture in Tamil Nadu, India presents the tensions posed by globalisation to discuss and explore the development of design tools. This experimentation into cultural reinvention employs tactics such as taxonomy and storytelling, to curate digital and virtual experiences that utilise the tangible and intangible aspects of heritage with the goal of increasing interactivity and engagement. This, therefore, also provides a glimpse into an interdisciplinary design approach to incorporate new mediums for the purpose of sustainability in heritage. The results from these experiments allow for the evaluation of design processes and the creation of a design-based framework for intangible culture and heritage. This paper introduces a future mode for designing cultural experiences through community engagement by identifying four key design principles guiding the preservation and sustainability of endangered cultural traditions, practices, and spaces.
Ramya Chandran is an illustrator and a graduate of Master of Arts in Design, School of Design Communication, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. With a diverse background in Fine Arts and a specialisation in graphic design, Ramya has worked in the field of advertising for over 6 years, as a visualiser on various projects all over India. She is a firm believer in using art and design in all walks of her life, ranging from her profession to her spirituality. She also runs an art shop on social media with her sister, focussing on popularising the nuances of traditional Indian folk art and ancient temple architecture in the contemporary world. Her interest in cultural heritage, therefore, began through illustration and gradually manifested into design. Research, additionally, provided her with a direction to understand culture and tackle issues close to her heart. Design, to her, is that universal platform that has the ability to connect experts with communities, ultimately facilitating the creation of a new and improved world.
Dr. Harah Chon is a design practitioner, researcher and educator. She is currently Programme Leader for the MA Design programme at LASALLE College of the Arts and her current research advocates the furthering of discourses on design and cultural sustainability, social design, and design knowledge. She holds a PhD in Design Epistemology and MBA from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and BFA from Parsons School of Design.
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Friday 17th June, 2022