DAY 82: Use What You Have Around You To Make Your Dreams Come True
By Sandra Suubi at The Dream Lab, Eindhoven, Netherland, 23 October 2017
Making Dream Symbols during World Design Event, with Age of Wonderland’s 100 Days of Learning.
A dream lab: A space of thought, discussion about our dreams as well as experimentation with the different materials around us to create dream symbols.
A Dream Symbol: A simplified physical representation of one’s dream/ dreams
Hosted by the Van Abbemuseum, the Dream lab in Eindhoven had fifteen dreamers that came on the journey to make physical representations of their dreams. We started off with an introduction of the Dream lab and what the goal for the next one and half hours would be. The dreamers had been encouraged online to carry different materials from their community that they felt they could re-use to make their dream symbols.
The tables were set up in a U shape to encourage togetherness as we discussed and worked. At one end of the U set up, materials collected by one of the lovely organizers Renee and those brought in by the different participants, were set up. The joinery and painting materials were set up on the other end.
We then stated by writing down what our dreams were on a sheet of paper. This was followed by each person presenting what they had written to the rest of the team. The team was then tasked to brainstorm and help create the dream symbol that was representative of each dreamers presentation. After each dreamer’s symbol was conceptualized on paper the making session began.
This session allowed each dreamer to build a symbol putting into consideration what the others has contributed to their dream. As the drivers o of their dream, they would then make the decision on what material to use to create their symbol. There were different found objects available and each dreamers used what they preferred.
Each one of the dreamers, then shared with the rest their dream symbol. They showed how the different feedback from the team had impacted on the making of their symbol, but ultimately presented what they had made and why they had used that particular material. Each dreamer then mentioned each of the things they were going to do towards their dream.
“I AM REMINDED OF MY DREAM, WHAT I WANT”
SO I MADE IT LIKE WE DISCUSSED IT, AND IT TURNED OUT THAT I HAD A DIFFERENT VISION SO ITS UPSIDE DOWN
WHEN WE FIRST DISCUSSED IT , I SAW SOMETHING ELSE, WHEN I LOOK AT THE PICTURE, I SEE SOMETHING ELSE, WHEN I LOOK AT THE SYMBOL, I SEE SOMETHING ELSE.
It was interesting to see the importance of self in this discussion about dreams and the future. A lot of emphasis was put on the individual/ dreamer, what they wanted, how they saw their future which was very powerful. In a time where there are so many things coming at one from so many directions, it is key that we sit for a moment and ask ourselves what we want. The more we share, people with similar visions and dreams come along and resources are availed because then people clearly understand how they can contribute.
“WELL ITS FUNNY BECAUSE YOU MAKE IT CONCRETE, I MEAN, YOUR DREAMS ARE ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT’S PART OF YOU BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT OF THEM YOURSELF, um, AND I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU HAD TO MAKE IT CONCRETE IN VERY SHORT TIME SO YOU HAD TO THINK, OKAY, WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IN FIVE MINUTES, SO I WANT TO BE WISER, SO I HAVE TO THINK OF THINGS I NEED TO DO TO MAKE ME WISER”
It was interesting to the different dreamers, how the materials they used to make such powerful symbols were normal found objects which otherwise might have been rendered useless. The choice of material, application and description of why this particular material had been used was one of the most powerful moments in this workshop.
“I THINK ONE POWERFUL THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT ITS COMPLETELY CLEAR. ITS SUPPER POWERFUL, FOR SOMEONE WHO DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MY DREAM, THE SYMBOL, THE MATERIAL AND ITS APPLICATION AND THE WHY”
“WHAT YOU NEED IS ALREADY AROUND YOU”
Its always surprising, how clean trash in Eindhoven is in comparison to my country. It never gets old and I think it will always fascinate me.
Everything we see now was once a dream, it does not take much to start, you simply decide, start with what you have on the inside f you and around you and get on your way, everything else will fall in place.
“FLOAT YOUR DREAMS”
#DREAMLAB17
#Ageofwonderland
#100daysoflearning
