Asaase Yaa: Earth’s Skin, Mind’s Mirror
Asaase Yaa honam
Asaase Yaa ho yɛ nam
Asaase Yaa honam nti—
Ɛno nti na yɛ nenam nenam
Overview
What happens on earth’s surface is a reflection of our collective minds. The experience I’m looking to create seeks to reflect this truth by taking full advantage of the Fufuzela’s versatility inside and out. In essence Earth, Asaase Yaa, embodied by the Fufuzela, is the human mind’s mirror.
Asaase Yaa honam
Asaase Yaa ho yɛ nam
Asaase Yaa honam nti—
Ɛno nti na yɛ nenam nenam
Overview
What happens on earth’s surface is a reflection of our collective minds. The experience I’m looking to create seeks to reflect this truth by taking full advantage of the Fufuzela’s versatility inside and out. In essence Earth, Asaase Yaa, embodied by the Fufuzela, is the human mind’s mirror.
Her Skin: On the Outside of Asaase Yaa
On the outside, I would like to explore a time-based ‘shedding’ of the Fufuzela’s skin. In essence, as the exhibition progresses, the material covering the Fufuzela’s skeleton will change three times over the three months. So each month, viewers get to experience a different skin which represents a different state of the Earth.
I imagine that this process of skin transformation (or Earth mutation or Asaase Yaa undressing), will be facilitated by museum staff who will swap out the skins one after the next, during the course of the exhibtion.
On the outside, I would like to explore a time-based ‘shedding’ of the Fufuzela’s skin. In essence, as the exhibition progresses, the material covering the Fufuzela’s skeleton will change three times over the three months. So each month, viewers get to experience a different skin which represents a different state of the Earth.
I imagine that this process of skin transformation (or Earth mutation or Asaase Yaa undressing), will be facilitated by museum staff who will swap out the skins one after the next, during the course of the exhibtion.
Fig. 0B
Skin Zero: Plantenna—Memories of the Past
This skin will be made of different, mostly green plants. The idea is to cover the entire Fufuzela with plants and immerse the audience in a living Earth that was not as contaminated as it is today. I imagine big plantain leaves as well as hanging plants with roots suspended in water, covering the entire structure, creating a feeling of cool within the Fufuzela.
This experience will be accompanied by a custom made soundtrack that mixes the sounds of nature with Twi poetry. The audio will be play within the Fufuzela, creating a memorable ambience that blends with the essence and the smells of the plants.
This skin will be made of different, mostly green plants. The idea is to cover the entire Fufuzela with plants and immerse the audience in a living Earth that was not as contaminated as it is today. I imagine big plantain leaves as well as hanging plants with roots suspended in water, covering the entire structure, creating a feeling of cool within the Fufuzela.
This experience will be accompanied by a custom made soundtrack that mixes the sounds of nature with Twi poetry. The audio will be play within the Fufuzela, creating a memorable ambience that blends with the essence and the smells of the plants.
Fig. 1A
Skin One: Water Plixels—A View of Today
With Skin One, what the audience will experience is a contiguous ‘fabric’ created by joining together folded squares of discarded sachet water together. This material would be draped over the Fufuzela and would speak to the man-made, plastic-driven environmental pollution we’re currently drowning in.
I imagine pairing this experience with a soundscape of urban and industrial noises which will help create an atmosphere that reinforces the role that ‘modernity’ has played in getting us—and Asaase Yaa—to this precipice.
With Skin One, what the audience will experience is a contiguous ‘fabric’ created by joining together folded squares of discarded sachet water together. This material would be draped over the Fufuzela and would speak to the man-made, plastic-driven environmental pollution we’re currently drowning in.
I imagine pairing this experience with a soundscape of urban and industrial noises which will help create an atmosphere that reinforces the role that ‘modernity’ has played in getting us—and Asaase Yaa—to this precipice.
Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B
Skin Two: Alternate Future Mindscapes—A Dream of Tomorrow
For Skin Two, a large print of retrofuturist digital artwork will be made and fitted onto the Fufuzela. Echoing Sankofa, this ‘skinprint’ will speak to where humanity could be if we were more intentional about living in harmony with Asaase Yaa.
The intention is to pair this skin with matching audio on the inside of the Fufuzela during the month which it’ll be on display. Echoing Sankofa, this ‘skinprint’will speak to where humanity could
For Skin Two, a large print of retrofuturist digital artwork will be made and fitted onto the Fufuzela. Echoing Sankofa, this ‘skinprint’ will speak to where humanity could be if we were more intentional about living in harmony with Asaase Yaa.
The intention is to pair this skin with matching audio on the inside of the Fufuzela during the month which it’ll be on display. Echoing Sankofa, this ‘skinprint’will speak to where humanity could
Fig. 3A
In Her Bosom—Inside Asaase Yaa
Inside the Fufuzela, I would like to create an experience that connects with what the skins on the outside communicate to the audience. Beyond this, I would like the experience to interact with all the human senses, barring taste. The audience will have something to touch and hold, memorable smells they can engage with, and immersive audiovisuals to interact with.
SS. Asaase Yaa—Virtual Reality (VR) Teleportation
The main interior experience will involve the audience ‘plugging themselves’ into Asaase Yaa via a suspended ‘umbilical cord’ that originates from the apex of the Fufuzela. This is meant to reinforce the idea of oneness with Earth, our home, while creating a very striking image as well.
At the end of this cord will be a pod which they’ll put their heads in, in order to have a host of experiences including a VR experience.
The main interior experience will involve the audience ‘plugging themselves’ into Asaase Yaa via a suspended ‘umbilical cord’ that originates from the apex of the Fufuzela. This is meant to reinforce the idea of oneness with Earth, our home, while creating a very striking image as well.
At the end of this cord will be a pod which they’ll put their heads in, in order to have a host of experiences including a VR experience.
Vid. 1A
Reflecting Home—Recognizing Our Oneness With Earth
I also imagine having mirrors the size of the skinprints, installed throughout the interior of the Fufuzela (or at least have a mirror as the ‘ceiling’ of the Fufuzela). This would make it such that one would see him or herself reflected throughout the space, as though they were part of the Fufuzela; part of the Earth. This thereby reinforces the idea of oneness with our home, which is the motivation of this entire exploration.