Artistic Production Research Articles

ZETGENERATION – SMILE, EMPATHY, THERAPY. THE OPPORTUNITIES OF ART AND EDUCATION REGARDING DEPRESSION AMONG GENERATION Z PREADOLESCENTS

Concurrent global events such as political changes, natural disasters, climatic changes, protests, wars, and pandemics are factors that help with defining a generation. What are the characteristics of Generation Z and what are the problems its members face? Preadolescence is a period during which individuals strongly feel the need to reflect deeply on what is happening to them. Several questions arise: “Who am I? Am I a normal person? Am I a competent person? Am I worthy of being loved?”; “How do I manage my emotions (e.g. fear, anger, and sadness)?”. Anxiety and depression disorders are two of the most common issues that arise during adolescence. The project ZETgeneration - Smile, Empathy, Therapy aims to facilitate access to culture for generation Z preadolescents affected by depression disorders, with the help of art and therapy. This is achieved through four contemporary art productions based on interviews and questionnaires conducted with 300 children from Iași. This article, an interdisciplinary perspective between art, education and mental health, explores how cinema, theater, and art therapy can prevent depression and encourage conversations between adults and children on topics related to mental health.

Genre and stylistic features of Ukrainian fiction cinematography of the period of independence

The article is devoted the definition of genre and stylistic features of fiction films produced in Ukraine from 1991 to 2022. Using the analysis of theoretical works on film studies, genre theory, semiology and film history, it is proposed to define the concept of “genre” as a set of repetitive syntactic and semantic structures, the main connections of the genre with the socio-cultural and historical context are outlined. In particular, after analyzing 949 audiovisual projects from the «Base of National Films of Ukraine», which have been created during the period of Independence, it was found that the largest number of produced audiovisual works belongs to the fiction type of cinema. The presence of syntactic and semantic structures of 46 genres has been identified according to the genre and thematic direction of fiction cinematography. It is proved that the most popular genre in production is drama – 25 % of the total number of feature films. This percentage is a significant advantage over the presence of other genres. Analysis of data from the box office of cinema distribution in Ukraine for 2020 has revealed discrepancies between the number of produced films of a certain genre and thematic direction and the preferences of Ukrainian viewers. In this way, the assumption that the predominance of certain genres in the production of Ukrainian audiovisual art reflects the cultural needs of Ukrainians has been refuted. Such a comparison also disproved the claim that the absence of certain genres in the Ukrainian media space testifies to the foreignness of the narrative structure of such films to the cultural characteristics of Ukrainians, because the top five audience preferences include, for example, the horror genre, which is minimally present in Ukrainian production. The results of the study have theoretical and practical significance for film production in Ukraine, and also form a research field for further study of the development of each individual genre present in Ukrainian audiovisual art of the period of Independence.

The Microbial Community of Natural Whey Starter: Why Is It a Driver for the Production of the Most Famous Italian Long-Ripened Cheeses?

The remarkable global diversity in long-ripened cheese production can be attributed to the adaptability of the cheese microbiota. Most cheese types involve intricate microbial ecosystems, primarily represented by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The present study aims to review the microbial community’s diversity in dairy fermentation processes, focusing on two famous Italian cheeses, Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano, produced using natural whey starter (NWS). NWS, created by retaining whey from the previous day’s cheese batches, forms a microbiological connection between daily cheese productions. Through this technique, a dynamic microbiota colonizes the curd and influences cheese ripening. The back-slopping method in NWS preparation ensures the survival of diverse biotypes, providing a complex microbial community in which interactions among microorganisms are critical to ensuring its technological functionality. As highlighted in this review, the presence of microbial cells alone does not guarantee technological relevance. Critical microorganisms can grow and colonize the curd and cheese. This complexity enables NWS to adapt to artisanal production technologies while considering variations in raw milk microbiota, inhibitory compounds, and manufacturing conditions. This critical review aims to discuss NWS as a key factor in cheese making, considering microbial communities’ ability to evolve under different selective pressures and biotic and abiotic stresses.

The ceramic vessels of the late antique and early medieval domus in the religious complex of San Pietro (Canusium, Italy): Clayey geosources, local production and imports in northern Apulia

AbstractThis study broadens our knowledge of the relationship between the clayey georesources available in northern Apulia and the artisanal production of ceramics. The focus is placed on a collection of 6th and 7th century A.D. pottery found in the domus excavated within the archaeological complex of Canosa San Pietro (ancient Canusium) in Italy. The integration of the results obtained from this study with those already available made it possible to outline conscious technological choices in terms of raw materials' exploitation, based on which the alluvial deposits were selected for the production of coarse cooking ware and the marine Subapennine clays for the production of fine common ware. This selective choice undoubtedly had a practical implication since it supplied raw materials that required little processing, being already suitable for the type of ceramic to be produced. Moreover, the compositional comparison of investigated pottery with products distributed along the Carapelle valley, rather than those from Canusium previously studied, provides new perspectives for reconstructing the microcirculation of ceramics in northern Apulia. Lastly, the imports of Classe‐type pottery, probably from the northern Adriatic area, are worth mentioning since they represent the most consistent distribution of this type of ceramic in southern Italy and may reflect the assiduous pilgrimage of the monastery after the death of Bishop Savinus.

DreamStyler: Paint by Style Inversion with Text-to-Image Diffusion Models

Recent progresses in large-scale text-to-image models have yielded remarkable accomplishments, finding various applications in art domain. However, expressing unique characteristics of an artwork (e.g. brushwork, colortone, or composition) with text prompts alone may encounter limitations due to the inherent constraints of verbal description. To this end, we introduce DreamStyle, a novel framework designed for artistic image synthesis, proficient in both text-to-image synthesis and style transfer. DreamStyle optimizes a multi-stage textual embedding with a context-aware text prompt, resulting in prominent image quality. In addition, with content and style guidance, DreamStyle exhibits flexibility to accommodate a range of style references. Experimental results demonstrate its superior performance across multiple scenarios, suggesting its promising potential in artistic product creation. Project page: https://nmhkahn.github.io/dreamstyler/

A Playground and Arts for a Community in Transition: A Circular Model for Built Heritage Regeneration in the Sanità District (Naples, Italy)

Open spaces for collective use in the built heritage of cities are the places to promote and sustain social, cultural, and economic changes. The transformation of the built environment raises awareness of following the policies and tools for the implementation of the EU New Generation Programme, redefining the framework of intervention priorities at the urban scale. Tackling the increasing physical degradation, underutilization, social disparity, and loss of the tangible and intangible culture of these types of spaces, this research identifies artistic production and social cohesion as the enabling factors of maintenance. The regeneration of areas of collective use returns an experimentation of strategic importance for the participatory and shared care of consolidated heritage contexts. The Sanità district in Naples represents a case study of a community-built custom playground, testing a co-design approach, maintaining the consolidated qualities, and awakening the responsibility of the youngest. The outcome is a circular model that focuses on the regeneration of such spaces, transforming an abandoned built environment from waste into a resource.

Microbiological profile of artisanal coalho cheese produced in the Seridó region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

The production of artisanal cheeses is generally done empirically, without strict controls on the hygiene and final quality of these products. The aim of this study was to investigate the microbiological profile of artisanal coalho cheese produced in the Seridó region of Rio Grande do Norte. Forty-five samples were collected from eleven municipalities. The results for Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella sp. were in line with current legislation. When analyzing coliforms at 35 and 45°C, more than 40% of the samples were contaminated to above legal limits. The fat content of the cheeses was below the regulated level, but the moisture content was in line with the category standards. In conclusion, the microbiological profile of artisanal coalho cheese produced in the Seridó region of Rio Grande do Norte does not yet meet the standards set by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock decree 146, since the standards stipulated for total and thermotolerant coliforms still need to be better monitored, as contamination by these microorganisms is indicative of hygiene failures in the manufacturing processes. Standardizing artisanal products remains a challenge, highlighting the need for enhanced monitoring of product quality and health standards.

Art on Mission with the Tabernacle Builders

How does art contribute to mission? How might Scripture shape the claims that Christians make about art and mission? This article addresses these questions. It argues, first, that there is a need for fresh work in this area, because existing literature on the biblical theology of mission dedicates scarce attention to art and beauty, also because such literature centers scriptural texts that lack an aesthetic dimension. Second, it provides exegetical setup for its biblical-theological proposal: it observes that Genesis 1 foregrounds beauty and the production of art, and it observes that Genesis 1 belongs integrally together with the Tabernacle texts at the end of Exodus. Third, it interprets the Tabernacle builders as a template for art on mission. Their artistry evidences faithfulness and freedom; and their practice shows the generosity of art.

Student Live Behaviour Monitoring in Online Classes Using Artificial Intelligence

The investigators have made many attempts to grab the interest of college students in their studies. The majority of these approximations are based mostly on qualitative review and lack quantitative examination. Thus, the goal of this artistic production is to bridge the gap between quantitative and subjective techniques in order to foster understudy dedication. Therefore, this study regularly uses machine learning techniques (K-manner and SVM) to classify college students into attentive and inattentive RGB-D sensor statistics. The National Academy of Engineering has conducted extensive research on this subject, and the study's conclusions can be utilized to enhance and improve instructional strategies for educators at all levels. One of the main objectives of instructors' job is the capacity to apply tailored learning approaches. This perspective makes use of contraption learning computations for instructive reasons. Keywords: Student Level, Behaviour, Monitoring, Online Class, Artificial Intelligence

Learning process of implementing a cutaneous leishmaniasis capacity-building program, using an innovative pedagogy for rural populations in Colombia.

Participatory approaches to health often link capacity building as an indispensable process for strengthening the social capital of communities, in order to develop empowerment processes that lead to social transformation at the local level. In Pueblo Rico (Colombia), a capacity-building program in cutaneous leishmaniasis and social skills for community work was implemented with school students, health workers and local leaders. This article seeks to evaluate the implementation, results, and impact of that program. Primary data were collected through participant observation, questioners, the development of artistic products, and a focus group. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed through thematic analysis, and the quantitative data were quantitively coded and analyzed. The capacity-building program had positive results in terms of the three aspects evaluated: the pedagogical model's implementation, the learning process, and the impact of the program. Three key elements that contributed to the success of the program were identified: the application of the principles of meaningful learning as a guide for the pedagogical model, the use of Social Innovation in Health case studies to broaden participant's perspective, and the creation of artistic products as facilitators for the appropriation of knowledge. Participatory pedagogical models adequate to the context and its participants allow the implementation of effective training programs that develop capacities within the communities. To achieve a significant impact, it is necessary to ensure the continuity and long-term sustainability of capacity building through transfer of knowledge with cooperation between health institutions and the community. In this way, the capacities developed by the community constitute a valuable social capital for achieving transformations within and outside the health field.

Arts and Crafts Management Model of Baan Huai Ta Community, Utttaradit Province

Purpose: The objectives of the present research on the arts and crafts management model of Baan Huai Ta community, Uttaradit province were to analyze the community arts and crafts management model; develop the community arts and crafts management model; and evaluate the community arts and crafts management model of Baan Huai Ta, Uttaradit Province. Theoretical Framework: This study employs the concept of local wisdom and product development and design. Design/Methodology/Approach: The procedures involved building a network, acquiring knowledge, developing a community arts and crafts management model, developing community arts and crafts, evaluating the community arts and crafts management model. A qualitative research was employed consisting of observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, and participatory action. Findings: The analysis of community arts and crafts management model suggested the area-based potential of Baan Huai Ta with arts and crafts abilities including weaving, wickerwork, and wood carving. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit had graciously supported people in the community to receive career development trainings in arts and crafts intended to offer extra jobs for generating more income. Their products were delivered for distribution to the Bureau of the Royal Household and the Arts and Crafts Promotion Foundation. Research Practical and Social Implication: Evaluation results of community arts and crafts works were as follow: increased value at a highest level; design concept at a highest level; selection of raw materials at a highest level; production process at a highest level; quality and beauty at a highest level; increased value added at a very high level; creating identity at a very high level; and generating value added at a very high level. The arts and crafts management model of Baan Huai Ta community, Uttaradit province comprised 4 components namely: analysis of community context; analysis of community management//network building; development of arts and crafts; and evaluation of arts and crafts management model. Originality/Value: The development of community arts and crafts management models focused on the designs with applied local wisdom to provide community products. The design concept is based on the link of science and knowledge in coordination with applied local materials to develop community products with an aim to bring about value added, self-reliance, as well as group forming. This had led to the development of products consisting of 12 pieces of fabric art and craft products, 2 pieces of carving art and craft products, and 8 pieces of wickerwork arts and crafts products, totaling 22 products.

DECORATIVE COATINGS AND METALS IN JEWELLERY AND ART PRODUCTS

The article considers the classification of precious and non-precious alloys used in the manufacture of jewellery and art articles. Alloys are considered from the point of view of necessity of using protective and decorative coatings both for protection from environmental impact during operation of articles and colour surface decoration. A diverse nomenclature of various metallic, non-metallic and conversion coatings formed by different technological methods is shown. It is shown that the use of a certain coating is largely determined by the designer at the stage of creating a rendering of the product. Necessity to take into account the colouristic characteristics of alloys and coatings at the design stage and the existence of an inseparable connection between the product design, materials used, technologies of their shaping and decoration is pointed.

Influence of Japanese Namban Lacquer in New Spain, Focusing on Enconchado Furniture

This work studies one type of artistic production from the Viceroyalty of New Spain during the second half of the seventeenth century and the beginning of the following century. Furniture decorated with the technique of enconchado is studied to point out the influence of Namban lacquer as well as the relationship with enconchado painting, a better known and studied corpus than furniture, and also its link to Mexican lacquer, maque. The identification and study of three pieces of furniture that feature the enconchado technique, and a cross, probably decorated with maque, offer a complementary vision of the art of enconchado and allow us to consider enconchado furniture an independent artistic genre.

An integrated approach to explore the microbial biodiversity of natural milk cultures for cheesemaking

The use of natural milk culture (NMC) represents a key factor in PDO Montasio cheeses, contributing to its distinctive sensory profile. The complex microbial ecosystem of NMCs is the result of heat treatment and incubation conditions, which can vary considerably among different production plants. In this study, the microbiota of NMCs collected from 10 PDO Montasio cheese dairies was investigated employing colony counts and metagenomic analysis. Furthermore, residual sugars, organic acids, and volatile profiles were quantitatively investigated. Results showed that Streptococcus thermophilus was the dominant species in all NMCs, and a subdominant population made of other streptococci and L. salivarius was also present. The incubation temperature appeared to be the main driver of biodiversity in NMCs. Metagenomics allowed us to evidence the presence of minor species involving safety (e.g., Staph. aureus) as well as possible functional aspects (Next Generation Probiotics). Statistical analysis based on residual sugars, organic acids, and volatiles' content allowed to correlate the presence of specific microbial groups with metabolites of great technological and sensory relevance, which can contribute to giving value to the artisanal production procedures of NMCs and clarify their role in the creation of the characteristics of PDO Montasio cheese.

Diversity of Culturable Yeasts Associated with the Technification Level in the Process of Mezcal Production in the State of Durango

Durango State has the denomination of origin for the production of mezcal, which is made from Agave durangensis, mainly in an artisanal way; therefore, differences in the fermentation process affect the quality of the final product. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the diversity of culturable yeasts involved in the artisanal and semi-technified process of mezcal production in the State of Durango. Three distilleries with different production processes were monitored at different fermentation stages (beginning, mid-fermentation, and end of fermentation) in the spring and summer seasons. A greater diversity was found in the distillery of Nombre de Dios in both the spring and summer production seasons (H’ = 1.464 and 1.332, respectively), since it maintains an artisanal production process. In contrast, the distillery of Durango, where a Saccharomyces cerevisiae commercial inoculum is used to start fermentation, presented low diversity indexes (H’ = 0.7903 and 0.6442) and only S. cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and, sporadically, Pichia manshurica were found. Results suggest that the yeast microbiota involved in mezcal fermentation during the different seasons is affected by the type of inoculum; changes include the presence of some species that were only identified during a specific season in alcoholic fermentation, such as Torulaspora delbrueckii and Pichia kluyveri.

The Origins of the Abbey: 1947–1950

One of the new models for thinking the production of art in a new decolonialised art history might be the artist colony. Certainly, in Australia, one of the revolutions Aboriginal art has brought about lies in the way it takes place in a series of artist colonies: self-identifying and -regulating cultural centres that have little or nothing to do with any imagined national art. Australian artists have been involved with any number of artist colonies throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, not just in Australia but around the world. This article will address just one: the Abbey Art Centre in New Barnet, just outside of London. Owned by gallerist and ethnographic art collector William Ohly, the complex of studios operated from the late 1940s until the late 1950s as the base for a generation of Australian artists and art historians, who enjoyed an entrée into the English art scene offered to no others either before or after. In particular, we examine the artists Robert Klippel, James Gleeson and Mary Webb, who stayed between 1947 and 1949, and the art historian Bernard Smith, who stayed between 1949 and 1950.

Research on Chinese Dragon Totem Art

The Chinese nation has a long history and a rich traditional national culture. In Chinese culture, the dragon is a unique art product of China, which is closely related to the culture and history of the nation, forming the most widely spread and influential "dragon culture". The dragon is the soul of the Chinese nation and the symbol of the great tradition of the Chinese nation. The dragon is a symbol of the cohesion of the Chinese nation, which has been endowed with a noble image and eternal vitality, and has been transformed into a god in people's hearts who can call the winds and the rains, signify misfortune, and be good at transforming the heavens. The image of the dragon also penetrates into all levels of social life, the beauty of the dragon's majesty and dignity, the ideals and spirit of the people, and become a rich cultural symbols and hard to part with the feelings connected to the blood, forming a very rich and valuable national cultural heritage.

Aspects scientifiques et cliniques des médiations thérapeutiques : quelle prise en soin pour les victimes de l’explosion du port de Beyrouth ?

ObjectivesAfter reviewing current research in art therapy, this article discusses the therapeutic effectiveness of clay workshops in cases of individual or collective traumas. Specifically, it advocates for the interest and specific indication of this method, which promotes health-generating creative processes. How do these processes facilitate identity reconstruction and psychological repair for the victims? MethodIn a clay workshop, 10 group sessions, spread over a year, were offered to four women and four men who survived the explosion on August 4th, 2020, at the port of Beirut. Using a case study involving the analysis of a patient's artistic productions, the psychic processes facilitated by this type of therapy were highlighted. Determining inclusion in the group, clinical progress was assessed using Traumaq, which provides a comprehensive evaluation of clinical aspects related to trauma, such as anxiety, depression, memory disorders, and difficulties regaining a sense of security. Administered at the beginning, midway, and at the end of treatment, the PCL-5 Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist aimed at identifying different trauma characteristics, allowing for a quantitative assessment of the patient's clinical evolution. Finally, six individual sessions, combined with the analysis of productions in the group workshop, provided qualitative elements necessary for a clinical understanding of the patient. ResultsNotably, symbolization through clay and the independence of art therapy from language skills were highlighted as key factors in helping heavily traumatized individuals overcome mutism, depression, and shock. Thus, resorting to non-verbal expression allowed patients to avoid re-traumatization through an immediate narrative of the explosion. Their PCL-5 scores significantly decreased at the end of treatment, indicating an important clinical improvement. Heightened self-esteem and the return of the ability to relate to others were observed, supporting the patients’ desire to recommit to new projects. DiscussionEmotional and behavioral reactions such as avoidance, hypervigilance, dysphoria, and flashbacks in the patient were alleviated through the secure, relaxing, and sensory experience of working with clay. In the workshop, the group dimension emerged strongly, demonstrating the importance of sharing the experience of both the medium and the traumatic event. ConclusionThese encouraging results invite further research into creative processes in art therapy. By expanding the studied cohorts, diversifying the media and the evaluative tools used, and by extending the indication to other pathologies, the effectiveness of art therapy will be even better demonstrated.

Otkriti nâs nama samima – Josef Strzygowski i Ljubo Babić

Ljubo Babić (1890-1974) - one of the pivotal figures in twentieth-century Croatian art and culture - frequently addressed the research and theses of Josef Strzygowski (1862-1941) in his writings on various topics, directly or indirectly. Babić’s interest in the work of the renowned Austrian art historian and theorist primarily revolved around formulating ideas that emphasized the significant role of art in shaping national identity. In essence, Babić’s complex views on the role of art in moulding a distinct artistic expression - as a central and constitutive part of cultural identity - can be traced, among other things, to his contemplation of Josef Strzygowski’s though-provoking yet contentious theories on Croatian preRomanesque art and national cultural heritage in general. This paper investigates Strzygowski’s impact on the comprehension and appreciation of Croatian cultural heritage during the interwar period, i.e. on the overall atmosphere in which a broader discourse emerged on the relationship between artistic centres and peripheries, while the pursuit of national artistic expression began to dominate a major part of the Croatian cultural landscape. Consequently, the paper examines connections between Strzygowski and the Croatian cultural milieu between the two world wars. Finally, Strzygowski’s importance to Babić is highlighted, delineating the aspects of his theoretical work that the Croatian artist, critic, and art historian used to support his own viewpoints. Josef Strzygowski’s influence on Croatian culture was undoubtedly profound. Besides positioning himself as a connoisseur and advocate of Ivan Meštrović’s art, this Viennese scholar centred his interest on art-historical material from Croatia. Despite often eliciting direct counterreactions from the professional community - exemplified by Ljubo Karaman’s early theoretical writings on “ancient Croatian monuments” as a critique of Strzygowski - his focus on “our” material secured him an important place within the national cultural milieu of the time. Ljubo Babić, who was at the peak of his creative prowess in the late 1920s, approached Strzygowski’s work without critical detachment, integrating certain segments of the latter’s assumptions into his own theoretical framework. While direct influence cannot be unequivocally asserted, it is apparent that Babić found substantial support for his formulation of the “our expression” strategy in Strzygowski’s views. Both scholars believed that the characteristics of a specific body of art were crucially determined by the geographical area of its creation, with the national component being a pivotal aspect. Consequently, they embraced the concepts of soil, race, and blood, which makes them apologists of cultural nationalism. The relevant ideas of the distinguished Viennese art historian lent Babić additional confidence in presenting his own thoughts as indisputable and firmly established, thus framing the hypothesis that the Croatian people had inherited distinctive features of artistic production from their ancestral homeland - regarding them as a form of “our expression” in the past. Moreover, Babić endorsed Strzygowski’s call for further scholarly research into the history of Croatian cultural heritage, viewing adherence to the principles of geographical and national predisposition of artistic production as facilitating the consensus on “our expression” in contemporary times. Additionally, he concurred with the suggestion to investigate folk art, incorporating the interpretation of colours on folk costumes into his strategic framework. Through his writings and artistic oeuvre, Ljubo Babić strove to help us “reveal ourselves to ourselves,” and the work of Josef Strzygowski provided significant support in this endeavour. The prominent position of the renowned Viennese art theorist within Croatian culture certainly lent credibility to this support. Therefore, the relationship between Strzygowski and Croatian culture should not be solely construed as a kind of rivalry with Ljubo Karaman or as merely stimulating the formulation and development of a significant theoretical scope within Croatian art history, even if devoid of scholarly foundations. Rather, it can also be understood within the context of cultural nationalism during the Croatian interwar period. Such a perspective reveals that Josef Strzygowski and Ljubo Babić inhabited the same intellectual universe, which played a vital role in shaping modern European culture.

The Asharshylyq in Contemporary and Public Art of Kazakhstan: The Politics of Commemorating the Kazakh Famine of the 1930s

Abstract: This article explores the politics of the commemoration of the Kazakh famine of the 1930s by analyzing the commemoration strategies employed by visual artists in the period from 2012 until 2019. It identifies two types of art production on the topic—governmental public art, which avoids politicizing the famine and reads it as the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of the Soviet period, and art projects by independent artists who call the Kazakh famine a genocide. Although these two positions seem to be ideologically opposed on a rhetorical level, the article shows that the difference in the visual language used to express these opposite political positions is not always as pronounced as one would expect, and proposes several explanations for this incoherence.