#art ecosystems

[commonmodule-ay2526]

WOII | Week 12 - Art Ecosystems

During Week 12, we were tasked with looking at pieces of artwork from Open Studio and documenting our observations. I chose "Inked in Chant" by Jerome Ang and relate it to Visual Journalism or Storytelling as it contains a wealth of cultural narrative through interconnected visual elements that are displayed.

This particular project contains tattoo related imagery composed in several layers as part of a collective of symbols, creating a network of symbols for identity, tradition, and shared history. The meaning of this work derives from the visual connections made among the various images as opposed to deriving from written text. 

This process demonstrates the fundamental elements of art ecosystems and how meanings are created through networks and the interaction and interconnection of meaning versus existing as independent ideas (Czetwertynski). In addition, the repeated motifs of this work form a collective visual language as each motif creates a larger narrative while maintaining its own unique identity. 

Viewer interaction is reflected through the work's pluralism and communal nature. As they engage with the arrangement, the viewer interprets it in their way, thus creating a new meaning altogether meaning will change as the viewer interacts with and engages with the arrangement, indicating that contemporary art ecosystems rely on participation and exchange to create impact (Taylor & Francis).

The activity has shown that design is a network of relationships rather than a series of independent results. By considering how interconnection, community, and interaction can help form a visual narrative in an artistic ecosystem that is occurring continually over time, the arrangement demonstrates how visual narratives can be realized within the contemporary artistic ecosystem.

(270 words)

Czetwertynski, Alex. “The Business of Future Art Ecosystems. 2023

Taylor & Francis. Art, Ecology, and AI: Envisioning More-Than-Human Landscapes. 2024

[anawashere05]

WOII Week 12 || Art ecosystems

You may have heard of ecosystems, but have you heard of art ecosystems? At first, I thought ecosystems only referred to nature, but there is also an ecosystem in art. It is a dynamic network of people, organisations, and resources that support the creation and sharing of art. It also depends on how well artists present and communicate their work to audiences and communities, shaping connections and influencing how art is experienced and understood across contexts. 

Charr mentions “As the sector experiments with new materials, new workflows, and new value systems, pioneering organisations are showing what sustainable practice looks like in action”.

PHUNK Studio is an example of a art eco-system in Singapore. I chose PHUNK studio because I like their illustration style and storytelling. I selected some of their works as examples to better represent their visual approach (Fig 1) and creative design process in detail.

Fig 1. Some examples of PHUNK Studios works (PHUNK).

A successful art ecosystem depends on collaboration. “Embracing collaboration, and the, ‘creative meeting of the minds’, their joint efforts have resulted in the establishment of a studio and gallery that works with a range of artists and brands to produce innovative.” (Root)

In Year 2, I intend to join the Illustration specialisation course, as I believe it will further develop my skills. I have a strong passion for illustration and storytelling, and I hope to pursue a career as a comic illustrator in the future while continuously improving my creativity, experimentation over time, and building stronger visual communication skills and expression through practice.

(250 Words)

Works cited

Charr, Manual. “Designing for the Planet: Lessons on Sustainable Exhibition Design.” MuseumNext, museum next, 17 Nov. 2025, www.museumnext.com/article/lessons-on-sustainable-exhibition-design/.

PHUNK. “Collections.” PHUNK Studios, www.phunkstudio.com/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

Root. “Phunk Studio.” Friends of Friends / Freunde von Freunden (FvF), 15 Dec. 2025, www.freundevonfreunden.com/stories/phunk-studio/.

[aimanhdyt]

WOII: WK 12 // Art Ecosystems

Working together with my classmates this semester helped me better understand what it means to be part of an art ecosystem as a future designer. I realised that design is not something you do alone all the time. It often involves working with others, sharing ideas, and learning how to communicate clearly. At first, I was more used to working independently, but through group projects, I learned how important collaboration is in the creative process.

By working with my classmates, I was able to see different perspectives and approaches to design. Everyone has their own style and way of thinking, and this helped me expand my own ideas. Sometimes, I had to adjust my designs based on feedback, which was challenging, but it taught me to be more open-minded. I also learned how to give feedback to others in a helpful and respectful way.

This experience showed me that being a designer is not just about having good skills, but also about working well with people. Communication, teamwork, and understanding others are just as important as creativity. There were moments where we disagreed or had different opinions, but working through those situations helped me grow and become more confident.

Overall, working with my classmates helped me understand that design is a shared process. As a future designer, I know that I will need to collaborate with others, and this experience has prepared me for that. It taught me to be more flexible, patient, and open to new ideas. word count (243)

[joeunlee]

WOII_Wk12 - Art Ecosystems

In this class, I learned to view design not simply as a final product, but as an ecosystem in which creators, consumers, educational institutions, and support groups interact and influence one another. This perspective shows that design is not an isolated act, but a relational and interdependent system shaped collectively by context and participation.

Based on this perspective, I explored Claire Boon’s The Twin Twist at Open Studios 2026 in connection with the Visual Journalism (Storytelling) stream. This project goes beyond mere graphic decoration by reconstructing the complex narrative of twin identity into a unified visual language. By translating the lived experiences of real twins into glitch art and experimental typography, the work creates a form of visual storytelling that communicates deeply human experiences.

What impressed me most was the way the project expresses the characteristics of twins through mirror-like symmetrical layouts, while simultaneously revealing their independent identities through intentional glitches. While the symmetrical structure creates visual balance, the overlapping typography and visual distortions emphasize the individuality hidden beneath the surface. The bold complementary contrast of neon green and red modernizes the concept of “living glitches,” while interactive elements such as the Twin Match cards and paper dolls invite the audience to participate directly in the narrative, increasing immersion in the work.

As Don Norman states, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works” (Norman, 2013). Through this project, I realized once again that design is not simply about creating beautiful outcomes, but about shaping how audiences interact with and are affected by them. At the same time, it led me to reflect on the kind of design ecosystem in which I want to work in the future. South Korea’s design ecosystem is characterized by rapid digital transformation and a strong visual culture, while Singapore’s design ecosystem stands out for its multicultural environment and active international collaboration. I hope to learn from the strengths of both environments and grow into a designer who understands local contexts while communicating through a global perspective.

This experience became a meaningful opportunity for me to think not only about choosing the ecosystem I will belong to, but also about what role I want to play and what value I hope to contribute within it.

Reference:

Norman, D. A. (2013). The design of everyday things: Revised and expanded edition. Basic Books.

(292 words)

[samanthawidjaja26]

Art Ecosystem (WOII Week 12)

The Impact of Design Communication

Personally, I think design communication and experiences not just give an aesthetic, but it also builds ‘meanings’. With designs, people could visualize something and it was easy to understand by looking at the visual communication. Design communication is how we deliver messages by a visual or look.  For example, one of year 3 student from bachelor, she delivered and visualised her works about pamali (superstition), by creating a cute illustration.

I wish to make an impact on illustration and know about it deeper. I found out drawing really fascinated me. From the design students' open studio, I saw a lot of cool works and bachelor works that really caught my attention. I really like one of the works from a bachelor student from Indonesia, in which she relates her design with Indonesian culture. The work is called ‘visualizing pamali’. Pamali is an Indonesian word that means superstition. I really like how she made the illustration very unique. What makes it unique is the eye, she made it a very big cute eye.

Illustration Things

As someone who likes illustration, I really admire a Japanese illustrator that made an animation for Ghibli studio. He is Hayao Miyazaki.  I love how the art style stays very consistent, from the 80’s until his last ghibli animation production in 2023. I also love how he visualises the background and everything, very recognizable as Japanese culture. One of my favorite movie from ghibli studio is Spirited away. I really love how he visualize the ghost character, which is very iconic until these days.

Total words: 256 words

References:

The Legacy of Hayao Miyazaki (so far) -The Asian Cut , article, https://theasiancut.com/post/the-legacy-of-hayao-miyazaki-so-far/ accessed on 13 April 2025.

Spirited Away, article, https://broadway.org.uk/whats-on/spirited-away-dubbed-supportive-environment , accessed on 13 April 2025.

[yeonie05]

WOII: Week 12 - Art Ecosystems

An art ecosystem is a network where art organizations, platforms, and individuals—whether directly involved in art or not—interact and influence one another. Similarly, a design ecosystem is a space where designers and design platforms connect, supporting collaboration and growth within and beyond the creative community. As part of a class activity, we visited the final exhibitions of third-year diploma and bachelor’s students, where we observed and photographed the projects that stood out to us. It was inspiring to see the diverse and unique approaches students took in their work. The range of mockups and presentations made it easier to engage with their concepts and appreciate the thought behind each project. Events like these are important for building a strong creative community, expanding our network, and guiding us as we find our own paths in design.

One project that really stood out to me was by Valencia Barbie Huisaini, who redesigned Indonesia’s currency. Her point about how the current design doesn’t reflect Indonesian culture really stuck with me. I hadn’t paid much attention to currency design before, but after seeing her work, I understood and resonated with her perspective. It also made me reflect on how many currencies, like the Korean Won or USD, don’t necessarily represent their culture visually.

This experience made me reflect on what I enjoy most in design. I’ve always loved drawing, and seeing so many beautiful illustrations reminded me of that passion. One illustrator I really admire is Jisu Choi from South Korea. I researched her in semester one, and her work continues to inspire me. That’s why I plan to take illustration as my elective in second year.

Citation

Life After Human

Choi, Jisu. “Life after Human.” JISU CHOI, 2022, www.jisuchoi.net/life-after-human/.

World Heritage Festival Poster

Choi, Jisu. “World Heritage Festival Poster.” JISU CHOI, 2022, jisuchoi.net/world-heritage-festival-poster/.

Word Count: 273

[kohlrabi-official]

having thoughts about this insane art symbiosis i have going on with a friend.

first of all, i don't think we've had a single conversation. deadass. we know eachother over another friend's misc discord server that is (currently a bit dormant and) used for saving scraps. in this discord server the friend sends words they want to save into a channel just for this exact purpose. and every time the number of new words exceeds like, 20, i make poems out of them. i don't know how this started but it's a thing now. at first it was a coincidence that these were all one month apart from each other but now i try to at least look into what she sent into the channel last month and what i can use.

it's such an ecosystem, truly.

i have 6 poems currently on my pc. all are great. sometimes they translate the poems i do and it gets WILDER, because i judge the words on their vibes, how they sound between others or at the beginning/end, but they know what they mean, what they respresent. poems get mixed messages suddenly. insane.