Storytelling Workshop:

The year is 2500, its a rainy night in August. In an abandoned apartment buildings on a brand new colourful plastic spike couch sits Garold, a 30-something chubby man, with floppy ears. He is reflecting, like he has been doing for most of his days, of the times where he wasn’t so alone. Back in the days, before his injury things were better. But ever since, he can’t bear long exposure to light and sound. The only two things that still keep him going are his fast collection of Mr. Bean movies, that his great grandmother has left behind for him. Next to him Stewie. Stewie is the only one that did not leave him after his injury, Stewie always stayed. He picks up his soft plush, and looks at his very realistic human face and pulls him in close. He’s been sitting so long on this couch, Garold can not remember if it’s day or night.

Garold takes a deep breath and sits up straight. Confused he looks around, and then sighs out of relief. Stewie is still sitting next to him. For a while Gareth wants to crawl back into a spiral of despair but then he looks at the tv and sees his favourite fictional friend Mr. Bean. Mr Bean seems to look back, and winks at Garold. Garold winks back and slides off the couch on to the ground. Stewie doesn’t want to get left behind, so Garold puts him safely on his shoulder. Garold starts a slow, long journey crawling towards his tv. Along the way ont he carpet he encounters yesterdays leftover, or were they from last year? Along the sticky long wool, and crumbs of the carpet he starts making his way towards the tv screen. Mr bean reaches out his hand, Garold put his face against the cold hard screen trying to get closer to Mr Bean. He sticks out his tongue and gives the tv a good lick.

There’s a spotlight on the ground, Harold falls down a smacks to the ground. He looks up and there he is, Mr Bean, reaching out his hand. Garold takes it and get up, he is now wearing a suit, everyone laughing and clapping at him. It fills his heart with a warm feeling. Next to him is his best friend, Stewie. He looks around, all of his long lost friends are there. And Mr bean, and another mr bean, and another mr bean, and another, and another and another. I never want to leave, thinks Garold to himself!

Creative Writing Workshop:

As I walked the street I noticed a tile that was tilted, and trough the tilted tile I saw a patch of grass, growing green. The green growing grass contrasted the gritty and grey ground floor garage I was standing in front and thought the open door I asked the first mechanic I saw, which way it was to greener grass and the greg the garageman answered; ‘Look ahead’. So I looked ahead but all I saw were buildings, I looked further ahead and saw another tiny sliver of greenery. I walked along and tripped over the tilted tile SMACK, only to see that the greenery had turned to a red light.

Our project on the theme of sanity and confinement provided an opportunity for us to explore the nuances of mental health through the medium of an interactive installation. From the early stages of brainstorming to the final execution of the project, we were constantly challenged to think critically about how best to communicate our message in a way that was both engaging and thought-provoking.

At the heart of our installation was the metaphor of shattered glass as a representation of disintegration, which we used to create a sense of claustrophobia and confinement. We also incorporated abstract elements such as color, shape, and sound to create a more immersive and open-ended experience for viewers.

One of the most exciting aspects of the project was the opportunity to incorporate interactivity into the installation. We wanted to create a sense of togetherness and shared experience among viewers, which we achieved through the use of colored paper and phone flashlights to collectively create a mesmerizing light display on the wall.