It is a rare occurrence for two different universities from opposite sides of the globe to share an acronym. It is far rarer that the same two universities would connect and collaborate together but this fairly uncommon chance was given to Multimedia University (Malaysia) and Manchester Metropolitan University (United Kingdom).

Starting on 2nd of November, 2020, the two MMUs came together for a two-weeks exchange programme, aptly named MMU Meets MMU: North West South East. A total of 36 students participated in the programme; 18 from the Faculty of Creative Multimedia and the Faculty of Cinematic Arts and another 18 from MMU UK’s three departments – Film, Animation and Photography. Along with the students, a group of staff from the aforementioned faculties of both MMUs also joined the programme as mentors as well as guest speakers.

The exchange programme focused on the art of filmmaking where the students were given a chance to produce one short film a week in their respective groups consisting a mix of students from both universities. During the first week, students were given the task to produce a short film using the concept of found footage. Two of MMU Malaysia’s staff conducted a class during this week; Anuar Hassan on Creative Ice-Breaking and Self-Portraiture while Dr. Lim Kok Yoong touched on the concept of storytelling through archiving. They were also exposed on the topic of “Found-Footage Filmmaking” by Joseph Duffy as well as a photography and a sound design lecture. For their first film project, each group was mentored by staffs from MMU Malaysia (Nekhat Sultana, Nadia Mahmud and Syed Amar Ghazi Bin Syed Ahmad Alkugsi) and staffs from MMU UK (Kristin Marshall, Polly Palmerini, Ben McDonell, and Damon Bannister).

The second week, the task centered around sensory mapping. As an introduction to the topic, Joseph Duffy delivered a lecture titled “Sensory City Mapping”, followed by a talk on independent film production in South East Asia by Syed Amar Ghazi Bin Syed Ahmad Alkugsi and conceptual photography by Shah Azman of Faculty of Cinematic Arts, MMU Malaysia. The students were also invited throughout the week to join a second photography class, followed by a sound design lecture, as well as a rotoscoping demonstration by Damon Bannister.

On 25th November 2020, a total of 14 short films were screened during an online showcase. Each group of filmmakers were given the opportunity to discuss about their experiences and filmmaking process. Their responses to the tasks given (found-footage and sensory mapping) displayed fascinating visuals and intriguing concepts, a notable result of cultural discourse between the students.
Despite having to conduct the exchange programme online due to the ongoing global pandemic, MMU Meets MMU: North West East has created a platform for students from both universities to communicate, collaborate, share and expand their perspectives and network, as they worked together for two weeks, exploring creative methods and expressions to produce their films. This programme shows that creative collaboration is not bound by geography or face-to-face interactions between artists and thus promises an encouraging approach in producing any work remotely.

Amid quarantine and the coronavirus pandemic, we may be struggling to deliver face to face classes and carry out learning activities on the campus. At the same time, the crisis is also a strong driver for creativity and innovation. In light of the COVID19 pandemic, we feel a duty to adjust our teaching and learning strategy to meet the changing needs of the situation, because there is reason for hope and indeed optimism in facing the new norm.

Available on Artsteps.com – a virtual showcase platform, this showcase features a VR gallery and voiceover-led presentations that summarize students’ project this year. In MA Design 4 this year, students were asked to do interdisciplinary reflections on portraits, by questioning the fundamental building blocks of a portrait image, analyzing the historical development of portraiture, its aesthetic trends, its media conventions, its materiality and symbolism then experiment with the visualizations.

Portraiture is a very old art form and drawn portrait was a way to record the appearance of a person but portraits have always been more than just a record. These images represent the past, the present, and the future of visual communication used to imagine and think through the important aspects in shaping our ecology of communication, especially in the communication of aesthetics. Once digitized, the images represent endless options for manipulation. Digital imaging has become ubiquitous tools in the consumption and production of visual culture. From a former consumer of cultural products, students were asked to become participants who extract their own meanings from what they see and give new life and meaning to this medium.

This unit seeks to trace what seeing beautiful images means on a social level, both in the arts and technology. The goal is to open up discussions of image phenomena and offer landmarks to expand visual competence concerning new definition operating with technological adjustments. From the fact that every instance of pictorial representation is a process of mediation and followed by a chain of remediation, Schulz purported that ‘images are both subsequent and antecedent at the same time’. Bolter and Grusin’s principle of remediation explains that modes of representation in new media have a much older history, that can be refashioned, borrowed, or repurposed. Through remediation, the old masterpiece receives new impetus and an entirely new arsenal of options.

To visit the exhibition, please visit: https://remediationgallery.000webhostapp.com/

MMA2123 (Media Art Design 4)
Coordinator: Dr Lim Kok Yoong