Metaphors as Design Approach « Spatialdesign’s Weblog

What is metaphor?

Metaphor from literature perspective is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated objects.[1] The concept of metaphor is the first subject being the second subject. First subject is described by the implicit or explicit character of the second subject. Metaphor is known used in poetry to relate one context with the other and give deep meaning.

Metaphor is a powerful tool to direct our way of thinking and conceptual development. Using metaphor make us to think deep and sometimes, slowing down to discover details and look at things in a new way. By doing so, we may even find new metaphor of something ordinary and it will change our way of thinking.

For understanding the meaning of metaphor in design, first of all it is important to look at how metaphor is applied in the literature because its application in literature, particularly in poetry is most familiar and it is the root of metaphor application. From literature concept then stretch to be applied in visual dimension such as artworks, object design and eventually, space design.

According to I.A. Richards, in the Philosophy of Rhetoric (1936), metaphor consists of two parts, tenor-subject to be described, and vehicle-characteristics which are borrowed to describe first subject. Metaphor is further analyzed in terms of ground and tension. Ground and tension are the characteristics (similarities and dissimilarities) between tenor and vehicle.1 For example, a well known quote from William Shakespeare:

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances; — (William Shakespeare, As You Like It) [2]

In above example, the world is compare to a stage, the world is the tenor and stage is the vehicle. In the second line, men and women are secondary tenor and “players” is the vehicle for secondary tenor. The third line is the tension for secondary tenor.

Metaphors can be identified into 3 categories:

Tangible metaphors. Those in which the metaphorical departure for the creation is a concept, an idea, a human condition, or a particular quality (individuality, naturalness, community, tradition, culture), e.g. this city is a garden city.
Intangible metaphors. Those in which the metaphorical departure stems strictly from some visual or material character, e.g. a house as a city.
Combined metaphors. Those in which the conceptual and the visual overlap as ingredients of the point of departure, and the visual is excuse to detect the virtues, the qualities, and the fundamentals of the particular visual container (e.g. the computer, the beehive, both being “boxes” of relevant proportions, yet having the qualities of discipline, organization, and cooperation).

Translation of metaphors from literature language into visual dimension is a creative and useful approach in conceptual development for design. It depends on the imagination and response to the needs and situations. However metaphor gives soul to design work.

Concept of metaphor is also explored in fine arts. Artist who uses metaphor in his works such as, Rene Magritte, Belgian surrealist artist shows juxtaposition of ordinary objects in unusual context, giving new meanings to familiar things.[3] The Golconde, painting of freezing rain drops in forms of floating people. With this painting he tries to blurring the image of rain, which means make it transient moment. What intention lies behind the position of people in rain drops context is left to be mystery that must be interpret by the viewers.

Rene Magritte, Golconde (1953)

Concept of metaphor also gives new meaning when it is applied in 3 dimension objects. In terms of contemporary interior design and furniture, metaphor also can be derived. As an example, ribbon stool. This series of stool created by Japanese design firm Nendo are embodied with the same lightness of spirit as ballet ribbon shoes. The legs are formed from ‘ribbons’, which actually single sheet of steel, cut by laser and cross in such a way that perfect stability and structural integrity is maintained (metaphor of lightness).

Ribbon stool, Nendo-Japan

Another example of furniture design is bone chair designed by Dutch designer, Joris Laarman. This chair is inspired from the efficient way that bones grow, adding material where strength is needed and taking away material when it’s unnecessary. This concept is translated for the chair’s construction, forming the chair’s legs, and create unique but structural and functional piece of furniture (metaphor of strength).

Bone chair, Joris Laarman

In terms of architecture and space design, metaphor is strong device to express underlying meanings. For example, Daniel Libeskind’s The Jewish Museum, Berlin. This museum is Libeskind’s first project and it was started as a competition project. This museum is very distinctive because it is not merely fulfill its functional program but constructing spaces that tell story about Jewish suffering back at World War 2.

Jewish Museum, Berlin

The Jewish history of Berlin is not separable from the history of modernity, from the destiny of this incineration of history, they are bound together. But no bound by means of any obvious forms, rather through faith, through an absence of meaning and an absence of artifacts. Absence therefore serves as a way of binding in depth, and in a totally different manner, the shared hopes of people.[4]

The concept of between lines, the history of Jewish in Germany, straight line but broken into many fragments, the other is tortuous line but continuing indefinitely. It is applied in the building form. Strong design element of this museum is play with voids, as resemblance of emptiness, embodiment of absence. There are 3 Axis that lead to different spaces (spatial experiences), Axis of continuity that connects the old buildings with main staircase to the exhibition levels. Axis of Emigration, that leads to daylight and Garden of Exile. Axis of the Holocaust is dead end.

All those elements incorporated by Libeskind make the Jewish museum shows metaphor of memory, and metaphor of hope. Metaphor of memory because through the emptiness and construction of spaces in axis, bring back the memorable journey of Jewish during Holocaust. Concentration camp is expressed as dead end in Holocaust tower. Also, one of the towers called the memory void filled with “fallen leaves” an installation of 10.000 coarsely made iron faces. Visitors are permitted to walk on the work. Doing so creates an almost ‘industrial noise, something that can make people remember about the war. Metaphor of hope because space in Holocaust tower that is formed in high void, with small opening at the top, allows slit of sunlight penetrates through the space. It represents hope of the Jews during that time. Another part of the museum, Garden of Exile shows the disorientation to the visitors, resonance of the Jewish feeling who was driven out of Germany, also Oleaster plants grows on the top of the pillars represent hope.

Another museum building from Daniel Libeskind is Imperial War Museum North, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Imperial War Museum North, Manchester

Basic concept for this building is fragments of the world and reassembled them as a fundamental emblem of conflict. These fragments or shards of history are in turn assembled in this building. The museum is a constellation composed of three interlocking shards. The Earth Shard forms the generous and flexible museum space. It signifies the open, earthly realm of conflict and war. The Air Shard with its projected images, observatory and education spaces, serves as dramatic entry into the museum. The water shard forms the platform for viewing the Canal with its restaurant, café, deck and performance space. These three shards, earth, air and water concretize twentieth century conflicts which has never taken place on an abstract piece of paper, but has been fought on dramatic terrain by the infantry, in the skies by the airforce, and battled with ships in the sea.[5]

It is metaphor of conflict in form of interlocking and conflict shapes, and experience of conflict (war) during 20^th century exhibited across the museum spaces.

Difference between Metaphors and Symbols

All illustrations about metaphor show that it has rich meanings and depends on our interpretation, in another word, subjective. Compare to symbol, which means objects, characters or other concrete representations of ideas, concepts, or other abstractions[6], metaphors comprise deeper meaning. Example of symbols can be found from the most familiar things, such as cross symbol for Christian. This symbolic cross has been used since ancient times, in religion, culture, and even in architectural context. Cross as symbol of church is very familiar, and become part of the architecture design. Cross cannot be apart from church design, it is universal and strongest symbol in Christian society. As we can observe in Renaissance architecture (early 15^th -17^th century), in Europe, which was a period of revival classic architecture. One of well known architecture during that period is, St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. The largest classical church building, it covers an area of 2.3 ha, and has a capacity of over 60.000 people.[7] The church has cross form layout plan for the main space as a symbol of Christian religion. This is typical layout plan of churches were very common back at that time. Design uses symbolic approach has limited meaning, however most people use symbol as a design approach because it is obviously shown and has universal meaning (common).

Church of Good Shepherd, Singapore

St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome

Relevant metaphors in light design

The research that is conducted dealing with light design which can evoke memory and context of research is the National Museum of Singapore. Museum is relevant context because it is a space where history is recorded, stored and where there is history, memory is required to make it alive. In broader meaning, history also as connector to the future, memory helps to record history in order to create historical events that guide us to the future. Metaphors exist inside museum space are:

1. Metaphor of memory (Light of memory)

Museum as a space where people recall memory of old times through artifacts and record of history. It is where people can have encounter with the flow of time and experience nostalgia. The building itself is a light of memory, an awareness about past times (history) because it stays as it was when it was first built. It makes us remember and aware how history cannot be apart from our present life, it is where we come from. Memorable historical events and artifacts of Singapore that can be experienced in this museum is the metaphor of memory. Memory of ancient culture and tradition of society, struggle and war that the nation had to endure in the old days, reveal important memorable moments of Singapore.

National museum of Singapore

2. Metaphor of re-discovery

Museum gives experience of re-discover the facts about past times and history. The act of finding and discover things and events from the past convey the metaphor of re-discovery. Artifacts as dumb witness of history contain stories and history of past times. Those stories are waiting to be discovered. The museum is filled with stories of nostalgia, and it is a place to discover all those nostalgic stories. This metaphor is connected with metaphor of memory because when people re-discover historical facts, he will remember and recall the memory of past times.

3. Metaphor of learning (Light of learning)

Museum provides records of history and artifacts also artworks from present time. In every exhibition and artifacts display, we can learn and get new light and insight of history. All exhibition items here are source of knowledge and information. From the history we can learn, and develop sensitivity towards historical heritage and even artworks. Particularly for students, the museum is a place of observation, learning and even history research. Museum is an illumination for education purpose. Illumination means inspirations, a place where people can learn and extend their knowledge. This education function is crucial for youngsters to make them appreciate history, heritage and their own country.

4. Metaphor of continuity

Existence of the original colonial building preserve the history of the site, and the new building extension shows that the history will continue to be created. Since history has assumed a sense which is broader than being solely the true narratives of human past. History is not just the past as an object of systematic knowledge or the discipline that produces knowledge out of that object; history also carries a sense that is implicit in the expression ‘making history’. Thus History often signifies the production of events having transformative potentials that ushers in the future.[8] As long as human exist so does the history. Besides preserves the old artifacts and collections that represent history, the museum exhibit artworks and evidence of present time. It shows how society and culture has grown, every artworks and evidence mark the history of human. What we do right now is the continuity from the history.

Possible Design strategies

National Museum as context of light design research because it is a space filled with memory and history of the city. It is meaningful because the memory is living inside it. This strong point will be beneficial for light design setting. Identified problems (opportunities) in this museum are:

Lack of young people who visiting the museum. The task is how to attract more of young crowd to appreciate, experience and learn meaning of history and art.
Mission of the museum: “still making history” is opportunity to create light space installation as media to explore history and as continuity from the past. This mission carry message for making history more than being merely narratives of the past, but history explore potential creations and events that lead to the future.

Possible design strategies to address these opportunities related to all poetic meanings embodied inside the museum are:

Light projection of the old collections from Raffles Museum and zoological artifacts. These artifacts used to exhibit when the museum was first opened as Raffles Library and Museum. Scenario of this strategy is showing collection changes from the past until now. It shows how this museum develops and plays part in Singapore’s culture and society.

Artifacts and Zoological collection from Raffles Museum

Jade and ceramic collections (1980s), National Museum

By showing changes in artifacts collection it’s a way to relate with metaphor of memory and re-discovery because for people who have seen it before he can recall to the old times and those light projection brings back nostalgia. It is also related with museum’s metaphor of learning for students, children, and young people to be aware and appreciate old heritage of their nation.

Light projection of the changes of Singapore skyline from old times until now in form of moving outlines. The scenario is showing growth history of the city, how it first started off until become what we see now. This light silhouette shows the movement of the city, make people remember how the development occurred in this city since beginning. It shows that history is important narrative journey of a nation.

Skyline sketch

Incorporating artificial light that is moving and flashing this strategy is derived from approach metaphor of memory and continuity. Metaphor of memory because it makes people remember how Singapore when it was first built. Metaphor of continuity because it shows how past events relate with present time.

Light installation that can represent important historical moments of Singapore. The installation is arranged in a journey of different experience in light. Each experience of light is resonance or expression from crucial historical moments. The script or story of the installation comes from the history timeline since the beginning of Singapore until it becomes independent country. There will be five different light that represent different momentum of history, first newborn Singapore as port city, British colonial rule, Japanese occupation as the darkest period of Singapore, communist and riot period as struggle to be freed from British, and finally moment of freedom when Singapore become independent country. Through this installation history is explored in different way, a poetic way. This strategy reveal light concept using metaphor of memory, re-discovery and learning as design approach. Metaphor of memory and re-discovery because light installation is experienced in narrative journey according to history. Illumination journey from the history gives inspiration and knowledge, especially for students and researchers (metaphor of learning). Those five light installations are divided into five different spaces which each of them display different play of light, so people will explore light in five poetic light designs.

Light installation sketch

Conclusion

Metaphor as literature concept which is translated into design concept. It shows this crossover concept application and development as creative way to design.
Metaphor is subjective and powerful to direct our way of thinking.
Metaphors as conceptual approach toward design initiate new and deep meaning for design works. Metaphors make design works possible to be translated in many layers of interpretations.
Symbol is an object to represent concepts or ideas which has limited meaning.
Metaphors related to light design in museum context explore poetic side of light that will recall and tell a journey of time.
Generally the intention of light design in relevance with all museum’s metaphors is to connect people with history through memory.

Bibliography

Libeskind, Daniel. (1997). Radix-Matrix. Munich: Pretsel-Verlag. p. 34

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Magritte

http://www.juedisches-museum-berlin.de/site/EN/05-About-The-Museum/03-Libeskind-Building/03-Voids/voids.php

http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/jewish-museum-berlin/

http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/imperial-war-museum-north/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Singapore

http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg/post/singapore/history/chew/founders.html

[1] Quoted from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor

[2] Quoted from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_ages_of_man

[3] Quoted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Magritte