! !

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN

ARCHITECTURE

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

(ARC61303/ARC2224)

SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2017)

Name: Nor Syarianna Neo ID No.: 0318236

Lecturer: Mr. Prince Tutorial Time: 10-12pm

Reader/Text Title:
Synopsis No: No. 2 ( Text 3 )
The Eyes of the Skin Author: Juhani Pallasmaa

The painter takes his body with him - Paul Valery.

Indeed we cannot imagine how a mind could paint - Merleau Ponty.

!
The dialogue between Valery and Merleau Ponty creates an important conversation as to how form
of arts can only have the capacity of elaborating existential thought through characteristic medium
of sensory engagement. We could never paint a true picture of a tree if we have never engaged
physically with a tree ; We can only paint an extent of picture of tree of the extent that we
remembers the tree. The mind can only reveals what the body already knows.

Likewise, Pallasmas narrative in the chapter of The Body in the Centre conceptualise the idea of
body. Merleau-Ponty philosophy of Body and Perception is one that Pallasma oftenly brings into
conversation. Merleau-Ponty focuses on the primitive nature on the body to grip reality gestalt,
in which the physical body with its realms of skills is the one that allows one to relate to things via
intercorporality, the body is always geared toward the world. The body is the central schema that
unifies all the separate sensations, the portal through which we perceive the world.

But, the flaw in the development of architecture is the isolation of the body and the mind. The
world is reflected in the body, but the mind fails to reflect the world in the body, rather it reflects
only the world in the eye. And what architecture produces then is not a multi-sensory perception of
the world but rather a collective visual imagery of the world. One could not architect a clear picture
of mans being in the place if one is detached with the full embodiment of the place. The act of
constructing consciousness of a place/space establish upon the basis of the engagement and
translation of the unconsciousness of the body.

Whats interesting in the future development would be to see the dialogue between these two
entities, consciousness and unconsciousness. Not only does the unconscious influences the
consciousness, but the consciousness can also mould the identity of the unconsciousness, to
strengthen it, control it, frame it according to the perceived intention. To reveal the echoes of the
world in space, then beyond that, to use space to amplify the qualities and melodies of the echo.

Word Count: 380 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date Page No. 2