kleanthis Michail

ProduciNG imaGery aNd visual comPositioNs

dePictiNG the Power of semi-Precious stoNes aNd crystals

http://kleanthis3rdy.gdnm.org/category/fmp-proposal/Board 1 of 3

the Power of crystals

POWER OF CRYSTALSANALYSIS - EXPERIMENTATION

Examination of the gap between science and spirituality and their individual attitudes towards the power of crystals through analysis of crystals and stones.

Field of Study

The project is situated on crystals in relation to spirituality and science and also proposing them as a new media tool to produce beautiful moving imagery bringing closer the two conflicted areas of science and spirituality.

Beliefs situate crystals as the first life-forms on earth and also as healing tools using their energies which can affect body and mind. However, scientists are opposed to that and ignore any healing power or energy, stating that crystals are just crystallized minerals and chemical compounds.

Considering both theses, “Power of Crystals” presents a series of vivid crystal optical effects in movement as semiotics or metaphors for any crystal energy and vitality.

Methodology

The project collects and offers information about all the areas around crystals including their structure as well as uses, through primary and secondary research.

Questions related to this subject were sent to people who practise with crystals and minerals even as therapeutic or scientistific tools in order to have a clear view on how spirituality and science act on crystals. I got two replies with totally different, opposite answers; one from an energy crystal therapist and one from a mineralogist.

Moreover, searching for artists who situated on crystals really helped as an inspirational source, providing me with view of how my work and development could be innovative. There have been

very few incidents where graphic design and new media was concerned with the properties of crystals. Almost none of them associated with the debatable aspect of their energies.

Finishing all the research, I started to experiment with the optical effect of crystals and some of their chemical reactions. Some very interestingly colourful, beautiful photographs as well as video footage were taken and studied in order to come up with design ideas and the final piece.

kleanthis Michail kleanthis3rdy.gdnm.org/category/fmp-research/kleanthis3rdy.gdnm.org/category/fmp-experiments/

Film Footage Links:vimeo.com/62748282vimeo.com/62752614vimeo.com/62748281

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POWER OF CRYSTALSFINAL OUTCOME - EVALUATION

Crystal application in design as tools to produce visual compositions as well as photographic elements and videos influencing the conflicted areas of science and spirituality.

kleanthis Michail kleanthis3rdy.gdnm.org/category/fmp-final-idea/

Outcome

In wanting to present crystals as something alive, I have built a device that gives movement to the crystals and their colourful effects. With the addition of sound and by performing several tests, the results were used as footage for the “Power of Crystals” video.

The video begins with a clear Quartz hexagonal crystal, which starts turning with a bell sound. What follows is beautiful crystals in several positions which come along with mysterious sounds, turning in same speed producing stunning shapes of light and colours. At the end, the crystal stops while the scene is letting the observer know what it was that he/she has watched.

Final Video Link:vimeo.com/65000961

The Power of Crystals

This project offered an opportunity to study crystals as well as the problem of the gap between science and spirituality and find a solution by the practice of Graphic Design and New Media.

All the information I collected also provided me with the important experience of finding a new creative way to produce the “Power of Crystals” and discover or even create some connections between spirituality and science without trying to forcibly persuade the viewers into believing.

Either way, the optical effects of the crystals seem powerful, stimulating the mind of believers, crystal therapists, mineralogists even designers. Anything that motivates your mind is useful…

Board 3 of 3