Of
the
thesis
entitled: Dreaming Space: Exploring
the
Transformative
Power
of Immersive
Art
and
Architecture
Abstract:
The role
of
art
is
to
transform
our
experience
of
reality.
This
process
often involves
a
quality
of
rupture;
of
breaking
through
the
boundaries
of
our habitual,
conditioned
modes
of
perception
in
order
to
experience
new
and unexpected sensations.[1] Gilles
Deleuze
and
Felix
Guattari
write
that architecture
is
the
first
of
the
arts.
Art
does
not
begin
with
the
body
but with
the
house;
with
the
experience
of
space
and
light,
and
the
constructed environments
which
mediate between
our
bodies
and
forces
of
the
universe.[2]
This thesis
follows
the
physical
and
affective
journey
of
a
group
of
artists
over many
years.
This
journey
involves
challenging
forces
of
social
and
cultural conditioning;
breaking
through
boundaries
of
fear
and
habit,
as
well
as artistic and
architectural
convention.
We
have
a
need
to
explore
aesthetics without
limitation.
The dreaming
space where
this journey
is
taking
place
is
a
studio
on
a
property
in
my
hometown,
Sarnia, Ontario.
This
is
where
I
live
and
work
with
my
uncle/mentor,
and
three companions.
Both
the
studio
and
the
experience
of
the participants
are
in
a continuous
state
of
transformation.
The
space
has
become
an
ever-evolving immersive
collage
of
paintings,
sculptures,
architectural
constructions, mirrors,
video,
projections,
and
compositions
of
magical
objects. The
expansive, dark,
earthen,
dream-like
quality
of
the
space
is
immediately
affecting.
It
is a
place
for
dreaming
and
composing;
for
channeling
visions
and
exploring altered
states
of
sensory
awareness.
We
are
exploring
the possibilities
of
what art
and
architecture
can
do:
specifically,
how
it
can
facilitate
sensorial encounters
which
transform
our
experience
of
reality.
This thesis
takes
the
form
of
a
series
of
reflections
on
this dreaming
space.
It
has
a
personal history
with
a
cultural
context.
It
has
caves,
grottos,
and
tunnels; ever-changing
compositions
and
installations,
surrounded
by
the
underworld and built
up
over
time.
Within
the
dreaming
space
we
are
continuously
exploring
the incredible
possibilities
of
the
transformative
power
of
art
and
architecture.
[1] O’Sullivan,
Simon.
Art Encounters
Deleuze
and
Guattari: Thought
beyond Representation.
2006.
p.
1
[2] Deleuze,
Gilles,
and
Félix
Guattari.
What
Is Philosophy? 1994.
p.
180,
182, 186
The examining committee is as follows:
Supervisor:
Dereck Revington, University of Waterloo
Committee Members:
John McMinn, University of Waterloo
Robert Jan van Pelt, University of Waterloo
External Reader:
Jonathan Tyrrell
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
The
Defence
Examination
will
take
place:
Thursday
July 27,
2017
3:00
PM
BRIDGE
Centre
for
Architecture
+
Design
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.