Asst. Prof. Dr. Arttawut Changvittaya
Abstract :
Counter-BANI Thinking (CBT) introduces a structured, adaptive framework that mitigates the disruptive effects of the BANI paradigm. Unlike conventional resilience models, CBT incorporates cognitive flexibility, redundancy, and structured adaptability, offering practical strategies for navigating uncertainty. This framework proposes four counter-responses: Brittleness vs. Built-in Redundancy, Anxiety vs. Active Adaptation, Nonlinearity vs. Navigable Complexity, and Incomprehensibility vs. Iterative Learning.
This study explores the application of CBT through an artistic intervention—specifically, a sculptural form designed to embody resilience principles. The artwork presents a fragmented human face segmented into organic planes, symbolizing the cognitive restructuring required to counteract BANI’s destabilizing effects. The form integrates layered composition and material experimentation to reinforce stability, demonstrating how structured redundancy can counteract brittleness. Additionally, the exaggerated eye motif emphasizes heightened awareness as a cognitive mechanism for resilience.
Through a combination of theoretical discourse and creative practice, this study establishes CBT as a dual-faceted approach—both conceptual and material—that transforms resilience from passive endurance into an active, adaptive process. By demonstrating that resilience can be intentionally designed, this research contributes to both psychological resilience theories and artistic methodologies, offering a new paradigm for navigating an unpredictable world. It further establishes that resilience, when actively engaged and constructed, leads to greater stability, adaptability, and long-term sustainability in the face of uncertainty.
Objectives :
The primary objective of this study is to conceptualize Counter-BANI Thinking (CBT) as an intellectual and artistic methodology for resilience. CBT is structured as a systematic approach to counteracting the effects of BANI, integrating psychological adaptability with structured redundancy. The study examines how resilience can be actively constructed rather than passively endured, with a particular focus on its material representation in sculptural form.
The artwork serves as a tangible exploration of CBT principles, presenting a fragmented human visage that reorganizes disorder into structured perception. Each angular segmentation symbolizes cognitive restructuring, demonstrating how complexity can be navigated through modular organization. The artwork’s composition is informed by interdisciplinary perspectives, integrating cognitive psychology, complexity theory, and artistic methodology. Additionally, the design incorporates an enlarged eye motif—an evolution of existing visual structures to highlight the importance of perceptual awareness in resilience-building.
This study contributes to resilience discourse by bridging conceptual frameworks with material practice. By demonstrating how structured redundancy, adaptability, and perceptual acuity can be intentionally embedded into artistic expressions, it establishes CBT as a multidimensional model that extends beyond theoretical analysis into practical application. The integration of art and resilience theory enriches the understanding of how cognitive strategies and materiality can collaborate to design environments capable of thriving amidst uncertainty. The inclusion of psychological adaptability as a key feature in this framework encourages a new way of thinking about individual and systemic resilience, empowering future explorations in various domains including design, psychology, and the arts.
Conceptual Framework :
Counter-BANI Thinking (CBT) restructures the core elements of BANI through four counter-mechanisms:
- Brittleness vs. Built-in Redundancy: In both systems and individuals, the application of redundancy helps prevent failure when faced with stress or disruption. In the BANI world, systems often collapse when exposed to stressors. By embedding redundancy into structures, these systems can maintain functionality even under extreme pressure, fostering resilience (Taleb, 2012).
- Anxiety vs. Active Adaptation: While anxiety often paralyzes decision-making in uncertain conditions, active adaptation enables a proactive response. This principle emphasizes the importance of engagement with the present moment, acknowledging that the ability to adapt is not just a passive response but an active, intentional process (Folke, 2016).
- Nonlinearity vs. Navigable Complexity: In the BANI world, uncertainty arises from nonlinear systems where cause and effect are not immediately obvious. Navigable complexity entails transforming unpredictability into manageable systems through structured frameworks. This process allows individuals and systems to find coherence within chaos, thus making complexity an opportunity rather than a threat (Meadows, 2008).
- Incomprehensibility vs. Iterative Learning: As the world becomes more complex, incomprehensibility can overwhelm individuals. However, iterative learning enables the recognition of patterns and the acquisition of understanding over time. Cognitive flexibility allows individuals to develop resilience through repeated attempts and refinements, reinforcing the idea that no knowledge is permanent, and learning is a continuous process (Kahneman, 2011).
In artistic representation, these principles manifest through form, structure, and material interaction. The fragmented composition of the sculptural face symbolizes the fractured perception induced by BANI, yet its modular reassembly illustrates how structure can counteract disarray. The use of an amplified eye—reinforces the role of heightened awareness in navigating complexity.
By merging cognitive resilience theories with creative practice, CBT emerges as both an analytical tool and a material intervention, offering a structured approach to counteracting instability.
Process / Methodology :
This study employs an interdisciplinary methodology, integrating theoretical analysis with material experimentation. The key phases are as follows:
- Theoretical Synthesis: CBT principles were constructed from cognitive psychology (Beck, 1976), complexity science (Meadows, 2008), and resilience theory (Folke, 2016). These theories form the foundation for a deeper understanding of the principles that underpin the Counter-BANI framework. Through this synthesis, the study examines how human cognitive resilience can be adapted to face the unpredictable nature of the BANI world.
- Visual Concept Development: The sculpture’s form was designed to reflect fragmentation and structured redundancy, incorporating layered organic segmentation. This form is based on theoretical principles, representing the breakdown of perception and the ability to reorganize cognitive processes. The inclusion of an enlarged eye, developed from existing visual frameworks (Millet, 2018), reinforces the concept of perceptual awareness in resilience.
- Material Experimentation: Various casting methods and reinforcement techniques were tested to ensure structural stability, aligning with the Built-in Redundancy principle. This phase involved experimentation with materials that reflect flexibility and strength, allowing the sculpture to maintain stability under various conditions while simultaneously adapting to changing environments.
- Assembly & Integration: The sculpture was assembled using modular construction techniques to demonstrate how Navigable Complexity transforms disorder into structured adaptability. The modularity of the sculpture mirrors the adaptive nature of resilience, allowing parts to be reassembled and reorganized to respond to different challenges.
This method ensures that the theoretical integrity of CBT is preserved while allowing for an innovative material translation of resilience principles. By blending theory with practical application, the study highlights the significance of artistic practice in shaping complex systems of adaptation.
Techniques and Materials :
This sculpture utilizes techniques and materials that align with the principles of Counter-BANI Thinking (CBT), emphasizing the importance of structural redundancy and active adaptation in addressing the challenges of a BANI world. The following processes demonstrate how these principles are incorporated into the design:
- Layered Structure and Modular Assembly – The sculpture’s modular construction is designed with segmented components that allow for flexibility under stress, ensuring stability while also being able to adapt to various conditions. This approach reflects the idea of “navigable complexity,” where parts of the structure can be rearranged or replaced depending on external factors. The layered design enables the artwork to respond dynamically to shifting circumstances, reinforcing the CBT philosophy of active adaptability.
- Laser Cutting and Organic Forming – The design incorporates organic, flowing forms that are created using laser cutting techniques. This method provides precision, which is essential for achieving intricate and highly detailed elements within the sculpture. These organic shapes are intentionally crafted to represent the natural flow of adaptability, capturing the fluidity of the Counter-BANI framework, where structure and form evolve in response to external stimuli.
- Powder Coating – To enhance the durability of the materials, powder coating is applied to the sculpture’s surface. This technique offers protection against environmental elements, such as moisture, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring that the sculpture maintains its aesthetic and structural integrity. The powder coating reflects CBT’s focus on resilience by providing an external layer that shields the sculpture, yet remains flexible enough to accommodate the changes in the surrounding environment.
- Material Experimentation and Reinforcement – Materials with high strength-to-weight ratios and excellent functionality are chosen to minimize brittleness. These materials embody the principle of active adaptation by allowing the sculpture to absorb forces and recover from stress without permanent damage, ensuring long-term durability while maintaining the ability to evolve as needed.
This combination of advanced manufacturing techniques with the conceptual underpinnings of CBT results in a sculpture that serves not only as an artistic expression but as a practical demonstration of resilience. The structure embodies the balance between form, material, and adaptability, making it a testament to the power of designed resilience.
Result / Conclusion :
This research demonstrates that Counter-BANI Thinking (CBT) can transcend theoretical concepts, becoming a tangible framework for understanding and confronting uncertainty. The developed sculpture stands as a physical manifestation of intellectual resilience, translating abstract principles of recovery and adaptation into a form that actively embodies these concepts.
By deconstructing facial elements into organic components, the artwork reflects the intricate nature of the BANI world, where chaos and complexity constantly disrupt stability. The simplified yet symbolically rich design of the eyes within the sculpture serves as a representation of perception—eyes remain the constant point of reference even as the world around them becomes increasingly unpredictable. This visual simplification speaks to the human need to focus and maintain clarity in a world where nothing remains constant.
The integration of psychology, complex systems theory, and art presents a new understanding of resilience. In the context of CBT, resilience is not simply about surviving or enduring; it is about designing adaptive systems that can evolve. The sculpture embodies this principle by employing materials and structures that can withstand varying environmental challenges while maintaining core functionality. Each component, from the modular design to the material choices, works in unison to demonstrate the resilience of a system that can recover and reorganize itself when necessary.
Through this artistic exploration, Counter-BANI Thinking is positioned as a viable and creative approach to navigating uncertainty—not merely through passive survival but through structured, intentional adaptation. This research ultimately provides insight into how CBT can be applied not only in theoretical frameworks but also in practical applications, from design to larger societal contexts.
References :
Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. International Universities Press.
Folke, C. (2016). Resilience (Republished). Ecology and Society.
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Meadows, D. (2008). Thinking in Systems: A Primer. Chelsea Green Publishing.
Severin Millet. (2018). Les Facettes. Available in the artist’s portfolio archive.
Taleb, N. N. (2012). Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder. Random House.
