Patara Nimmol
Abstract :
The “Classroom No.02” project is a continuation of last year’s “Classroom” animation project, which explored the rigid structures of classroom environments and the teacher’s authoritative role in shaping student interactions. In this iteration, the focus shifts to the voices of the students themselves, highlighting the individuality and uniqueness of each participant while still illustrating the constraints imposed by educational systems. Through a video installation technique, “Classroom No.02” presents nine animated characters, each embodying different movements and expressions but confined within the same structured space. The animations are projected onto unconventional surfaces such as market boxes, fruit boxes, and bubble wrap—materials symbolizing fragility, standardization, and commodification. Accompanying these visuals, the recorded voices of students during their presentations will serve as an auditory layer, reinforcing the theme of diversity within imposed uniformity. This project aims to engage the audience in a critical dialogue on the standardization of education and the suppression of individual identity within institutionalized systems.
Objectives :
- To explore the limitations imposed by modern classroom structures on student individuality.
- To amplify students’ voices as a means of showcasing their unique perspectives within an educational framework.
- To utilize animation and projection techniques to symbolize the contrast between imposed uniformity and individual expression.
- To create an immersive and thought-provoking experience that invites audiences to reflect on the balance between structure and personal identity in education.
Conceptual Framework :
The project is grounded in themes of standardization versus individuality within education and aligns with the overarching theme of the 13th International Arts & Design Symposium: “Work in Progress – BANI WORLD.” The BANI framework—Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible—describes the instability, unpredictability, and uncertainty of modern societal structures. “Classroom No.02” integrates this concept by portraying how rigid educational systems struggle to accommodate the complexities and uniqueness of individuals, often forcing students into predefined molds that do not account for their personal growth and differences. The use of confined animated movements within a structured box reflects the brittleness of the system, while students’ voices introduce a nonlinear and incomprehensible element that disrupts uniformity and highlights the anxiety created by these limitations. The projection onto fragile materials like market boxes and bubble wrap further emphasizes the instability and unpredictability of standardized education, echoing the volatile nature of the BANI world. Through this project, audiences are encouraged to reflect on how traditional learning environments may need to adapt in response to the complexities of modern society.
Process / Methodology :
- Designing and animating nine distinct characters representing different student personalities.
- Confining their movement to the same structured shape to represent the constraints of educational systems.
- Recording student voices during their presentations to highlight their individual differences.
- Projecting the animations on market boxes, fruit boxes, and bubble wrap to reinforce themes of commodification and fragility.
- Experimenting with placement and lighting to enhance the immersive experience.
Techniques and Materials :
- 2D animation for character movement and expression.
- Video projection mapping onto found materials such as market boxes, fruit boxes, and bubble wrap.
- Sound design incorporating student voice recordings.
- Mixed media approach combining animation, video, and physical installation
Result / Conclusion :
“Classroom No.02” aims to provoke discussions about educational structures and their impact on student identity. By juxtaposing movement, restriction, and voice, the project offers a reflective experience on the tension between individuality and conformity. The use of projection surfaces further emphasizes the metaphor of students as products shaped by systemic constraints. By integrating the BANI framework, the project invites viewers to consider how modern education may be failing to adapt to an ever-changing, complex world. Through this immersive installation, the audience is encouraged to question the role of education in fostering or suppressing personal expression in an environment that is increasingly unstable, unpredictable, and difficult to comprehend.
References :
Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison (A. Sheridan, Trans.). Pantheon Books.
จันทรสุข, อ. (บรรณาธิการ). (2562). ย้อนแย้งแยบยล: บทวิเคราะห์ประเด็นการศึกษาไทย. 144 หน้า.
