A Discussion Paper on Research in the Visual Fine Arts Prepared for the Birmingham Polytechnic, England, in 1978

Abstract

The paper deals with the problem of defining how an artist teaching a visual fine art subject in a Polytechnic can be said to be engaged in art research. The problem is of practical importance to a large number of artists teaching in Britain. The concept of research in other fields is briefly considered in order to arrive at a useful definition of the concept. Research in visual art is found to be a cognitive rather than an expressive activity and can therefore be compared with types of scientific and scholarly research. Reference is distinguished from research by the element of time. By citation of works by past and contemporary artists, research in the visual arts was found to be of three types: research into art, research for art and art as research. Rather than being a manifesto, the report aims at clarification of the subject. It is not suggested that visual art should be considered as research but that some such art can be research and should be so considered.