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Finalist for Ithaca
A little while ago i participated in a poster design contest, called; Ten Images for Ithaca. This years theme was “labels”, as in; the labels we put on everything around us (including people), in order to make some sense of this world. Out of the +1700 submissions to the contest, my poster (created in less then an hour before deadline) was selected as one of the 146 finalists. Although i didn’t came near to any of the prizes, it will exhibited along with the other finalists in two expositions. The first one on the Island of Ithaca (Greece) from the 17th till 30th of July, the second one in Athens(Greece) somewhere in September.
Should anyone be planning on visiting Greece for the holidays, be sure too check it out! There were some pretty awesome posters among the finalists.
What’s it gonna be?
That’s it then. I did it. It’s official, no way back and a lot of ways in front of me. I graduated. From now on Sander de Leeuw is officially an Human Technology Engineer. Less then a month ago i delivered my thesis. About two weeks ago i gave my final presentation to the members of the graduation board. And today i got my degree. I graduated, so kudos to me then, i am (or was) a graduation student. Graduation is in fact just the last thing one has to do when getting a degree. Nothing more, nothing less. Don’t be mistaken though, it was a long, long ride with plenty of blood, sweat and tears. Still i can’t help myself feeling somewhat empty. The day after i heard the news a was graduated, i expected the world to be totaly different. It wasn’t. Nothing changes, only the fact that i am no longer a student. Which is kind of funny. Being a student was, apart from my more creative activities, my full time occupation the last five years. And suddenly it stopped. Not because i stopped, but because i was finished. Most people congratulated me on that fact. But really, it feels like a big black empty hole. Like the ones in outer space. At first i kind of liked that black hole. Call it an instinctive curiosity. But i soon realized that it gets comfortable, and it’s gonna suck you up eventually. The day i graduated i was soring, like a rocket towards the sky. But i have to realize that i will have to land again in some time at some place.
So, what’s it gonna be then?
Printed and delivered
Today was D-Day, or actually; last Wednesday was D-Day. All the stress, all the blood,sweat and tears, all the weeks of complete social isolation. It’s over! My thesis is written, printed, delivered (and printed and delivered again in proper form, thanks Theo). So it’s over now, I’ve completed most of my thesis work. Next tuesday i’ll be doing my thesis presentation, and after that i’m an graduated student, that is, if all goes well. After all this time and work, one could place questions. What should have been done more? What went well, what went wrong? How could the results be put to practice? Questions which inevitably raise doubts. Doubts about the delivered work. Put i’m not going down that path. I’ve done what i’ve done, i’ve delivered what needed to be delivered.
It is written, and almost done.
to go or not to go?
Today was an important day. Today was the day that the draft of my thesis project got reviewed. Boy oh Boy…. How wrong was i to assume that if one would work hard and work visionary-style, one would get rewarded. I guess that’s what they mean by saying that assumption is the mother of all f#ck-ups. Based on today i’m getting seriously worried. Not about my thesis however (i already got inquiries about publishing options). I’m worried about the final examination. Worried that the judges don’t “get it”. That they don’t see what i’m seeing. This is difficult; on one hand i want to say; “You know what, you’re absolutely right, and i will change the whole framework”. On the other hand i want to say; “You know what, i don’t care about my final examination grade, i care about this project. I don’t care about how you think about it.” I know i’m in the right track. That’s implicit knowledge. The fact being that i’m not the only one who knows and sees that, ensures me in that opinion. I guess it all comes down to the first week of february.
And yes, it does mean i got the ‘go’. A doubtful go, but hey; i know i’m on the right track, right?
We’re halfway there
This presentation serves as an halfway update on my current graduation project. It’s in dutch only, but i haven’t got that many english readers (yet?) anyways. It’s halfway there, in terms of available time. My personal feeling says i’m just getting started. But hey, work is never finished i guess. In this presentation i lay-out the fundamental building blocks for my project. Up until now i focused mainly on the philosophy of Aristotle. Reason for that is that he wrote so much fundamental issues that deal with; What it means to be a human being. For the second half i also want to incorporate the works of Descartes. The person who wrote: “I think, therefore i am”. Also referred to as : Cogito ergo sum
The next update will probably be somewhere around next week.