Friday, January 25, 2008
So with my project I want to be able to recreate this structure in a new way that still preserves the meaning of the symbols of a stupa. The symbols I will work with have to do mainly with the shape and structure of the stupa. The reason I want to focus more on the shape of the stupa than on the imagery because the idea of images having some sort of meaning (being symbols) is something we are used to, but the idea of architectural elements telling a story by themselves is more rare. The main elements in Buddhist architecture that have stayed in some form are the hti (the spire at the top), the harmika (square underneath the spire), the anda (the hemisphere or dome), and the base of the structure (sometimes called pesavalallu). One of the interesting thing about stupas is that they can be interpreted through different ways. The ones I will work with are:
- How the proportions of the stupa represent the individual and universal aspects of spirituality.
---- The amount of sides and the proportion of the height of the elements in a stupa are controlled so that the of the elements is preserves
---- The height of the main elements represents a third of the height and the number 3 in turn represents the universal elements of Buddhist spirituality
---- The ground plan on the other hand incorporates the number four and this represents the individual aspects.
- How the different parts represent the process of the relic being “born” in the heart of the Buddhist
---- The Dome or dhatu-gharba (womb) is where the relics are stored, then they are born through the harmika (cremation altar) and born as the hti (tree of life)
- And how the each element represents the path the Buddhist takes toward enlightment.
---- The base represents the preparatory steps to enlightenment, the dome the psychic element of enlightenment and the harmika/spire represent the realization of enlightenment.
I will make 3D model of three types of stupas and use each of them for one of the interpretations of a stupa. The video will use still images and sounds to represent different aspects of the stupas (for example, to represent the path to enlightenment interpretation each part will be substituted with images of what each part symbolizes).
Note: This is the end of my proposal series, I hope that you have learned a little bit more about the project. Right now I'm working on trying to post some of my sketches and on finishing a preliminary storyboard. If anyone out there has information on Buddhist artwork that might relate to this, please leave a comment about it.
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