Artistic Practice Research Articles

Endowed with positive values and fatal weaknesses: Public art practices in post-industrial landscape --- A systematic review

Public art, due to its convenient participatory function and strong social integration ability, is being widely used in the protection, adaptive reuse and innovation of urban post-industrial landscape. In the process of urban renewal, although different forms of public art practice have brought many positive values and benefits to post-industrial landscape, such as the preference for sustainable development of the city, the continuation of urban context or the concern for local community residents based on “top-down” and “bottom-up” cases. Meanwhile, a series of fatal weaknesses arise are ultimately attributed to fragment and single protection of post-industrial landscape. The goal of this study is to systematically review and classify articles on the involvement of public art in post-industrial landscape (a process for screening articles was designed) in order to more clearly find out the positive values and fatal weaknesses of public art practice in various process of post-industrial landscape protection based on both “top-down” and “bottom-up” models. Most previous studies have focused on case analysis and have not discussed this issue or used this method. Therefore, the study is valuable. The conclusions of the study show eight positive values and seven fatal weaknesses in the application of public art practice in post-industrial landscape. It should be pointed out that “inspiring interaction and involvement” and “strengthening community identity,” are the most important factors in the practice of public art in post-industrial landscape. In the future stage, we should focus on and address the issue of "how to establish long-term artistic practice?” and “how we can better balance interests and rights among multiple stakeholders?" within public art academic ocean.

Renegotiating the notion of artistic genius - within the frame of an institutional theatre

This exposition explores how the Betty Nansen Theatre in Copenhagen, with the artistic research project, BETTY DEVELOPS, works with spreading a collaborative practice to the infrastructure of an entire institutional theatre and how this renegotiates the notion of artistic genius and the star. The exposition offers a meta-reflection on the author’s artistic research activities at the theatre. These reflections shed light on what happens when collaborative methods of working and producing are implemented in an institutional theatre and discuss the extent to which artistic research can develop methods for collaborative co-creation as well as resistance to the neoliberal individualised performance culture. Could such methods prevent you from falling back on a modernist understanding of the artist as the original creator of an individual expression and instead support a collaborative art and knowledge practice? As opposed to defining artistic creation as something that springs from and comes from an individual (the artistic genius or star), the author argues that artistic creation is a relational act, and that art is something that comes to be between people. This exposition is a collage of empirical material, text, images, and video gathered and produced over the last five years while facilitating, documenting, researching, and sharing the development of fourteen BETTY DEVELOPS productions.

The Integration of Arts-Based Research Methods in Scientific Studies

Arts-based research (ABR) integrates creative and artistic practices into academic research, offering novel methodologies that enrich scientific inquiry. This interdisciplinary approach enables the exploration of complex human experiences, emotions, and phenomena through mediums like visual art, drama, poetry, and music. This paper examines the benefits and challenges of integrating arts-based research into scientific studies, highlighting its capacity to elicit deeper, embodied insights that complement traditional methods. While ABR fosters innovative data collection and engagement, it faces skepticism regarding rigor and validity in the scientific community. This study examines how the collaboration between scientists and artists can bridge these challenges, emphasizing best practices for effective integration. The paper concludes by offering examples of successful arts-based research in scientific contexts and suggests strategies for future implementation. Keywords: Arts-based research, Interdisciplinary research, Artistic methodologies, Scientific inquiry, Creative expression, Data collection.

Technology-Enhanced Art and Sustainable Discourse Practices

This study explored the potential of technology-enhanced art in fostering sustainable discourse practices and social connection in the digital age. As technology advances, new opportunities emerge to integrate digital tools into creative practices, particularly in the realm of art. By examining the intersection of art, technology, and discourse analysis through a sustainability lens, this research aims to uncover innovative approaches to promoting effective communication, civic engagement, collaboration, intercultural understanding, empathy, and resilience incorporating co-design processes, shared decision-making, or collaborative art-making activities. The study provides an overview of technology-enhanced art practices including social media, virtual reality, interactive installations, and digital storytelling tools, and their impact on discourse practices within diverse socio-cultural contexts. It investigates the role of digital platforms and creative processes in facilitating social connection through discourse. The research focuses on a thematic approach to technology-enhanced art interventions that promote sustainable discourse practices and social connection. Through a thematic and intervention-based approach, this research combines a review of current literature with case studies showcasing the successful implementation of technology-enhanced art interventions. So the current study argues that technology-enhanced art holds significant potential for fostering sustainable discourse practices and social connection in the digital age. By harnessing the power of digital tools and creative processes in an environmentally conscious manner, artists, educators, and practitioners can support social connections. This, in turn, contributes to personal, social, and environmental resilience in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Shaping civic values of modern youth: Evaluating the influence of the international plein air as a specially organized artistic practice

Introduction. The article investigates the problem of patriotic education of modern youth. The purpose of the research is to identify and clarify the peculiarities of the influence of an international plein air as a specially organized artistic practice on the formation of modern youth civic values. Materials and Methods. The research is based on axiological and personality-centered approaches. The main research method is theoretical (reviewing regulatory documents and scholarly literature, analysis and synthesis, comparison, generalization and data interpretation). In addition, a practical method was used (students performing search and short-term training exercises, as well as long-term artistic compositions). The project of the International Art Competition called ‘Without Borders’ that is analyzed in the article is a new format of an online professional Internet competition for students majoring in Arts for partner pedagogical universities. Results. The article analyzes the results of the international project on patriotic education and formation of civic values in modern students, implemented within the framework of cooperation between pedagogical universities of Belarus and Russia. The study convincingly proves that it is the plein air that provides an effective environment for developing students’ artistic and creative skills, implementing patriotic education of students, as well as contributes to shaping their readiness to organize patriotic educational activities in the future. Conclusions. The article concludes about the specifics of the influence of the international plein air as a specially organized artistic practice on the formation of modern students’ civic values.

The elegance of lacquer: Unveiling traditional lacquer techniques in East Asia

This research delves into the intricate world of lacquer art in East Asia, aiming to unravel the relationships among artisan perspectives, aesthetic values, and the contemporary relevance of this ancient craft. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how historical development, apprenticeship traditions, and evolving aesthetic values shape the intricate landscape of lacquer artistry. Employing a qualitative approach, this study conducts in-depth interviews with artisans and experts in the field of lacquer art. The research involves a comparative analysis of past literature, drawing upon historical and contemporary works to contextualize the findings within the broader trajectory of lacquer art. Thematic analysis is also applied to unravel the nuances of artisan perspectives, the transmission of knowledge through apprenticeship traditions, and the cultural and aesthetic dimensions embedded in lacquer paintings. This mixed-methods approach enriches the study by providing a holistic and nuanced exploration of the identified variables. The findings illuminate the enduring significance of apprenticeship traditions in preserving traditional lacquer techniques, with artisans actively navigating challenges posed by globalization and digital platforms. Aesthetic values, including symbolism and visual harmony, are revealed as integral components contributing to the narrative richness of lacquer paintings. The study uncovers the dynamic relationships among these variables, emphasizing the adaptive nature of lacquer art in a contemporary context. The implications extend to cultural preservation, heritage management, and educational initiatives, offering valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and educators involved in the realm of traditional crafts. The study contributes to theoretical frameworks on cultural continuity, knowledge transmission, and the socio-cultural dynamics of artistic practices.

Student Opinions on the Sustainable Art Practice of Printmaking Papers Converted from Waste Paper

This research focuses on understanding and addressing environmental issues through art by integrating waste paper into sustainable art practices. The unique value of this study lies in its emphasis on the fact that combining recycled paper with art carries not only environmental benefits but also social and creative potential. As part of the research, paper-making workshops were organized to facilitate the convergence of recycled paper with art, during which waste paper was recycled to produce printmaking paper. Subsequently, participants were given the opportunity to carry out linoleum printing applications by incorporating local elements into their works. In this research, implementation and examination studies were conducted in line with the stated aims and objectives. The study employed a case study design, one of the qualitative research methods, and data were collected through a semi-structured interview form. Based on these data, it was clearly demonstrated that the students who participated in the paper recycling workshop and engaged in the processes of printing on recycled materials for sustainable art practices experienced an increase in environmental awareness, and their positive impact on sustainable art was clearly revealed.

Reimagining the use of 19th-century techniques on historical piano: from the perspective of a 21st-century pianist

The difference in embodiment experience when transitioning from one piano to another is highly complex, not to mention the transition from a modern piano to a 19th-century historical piano, as playing techniques were also different. As the modern piano is very different from 19th-century keyboard instruments such as the fortepiano, it can be difficult for a modern pianist to understand the techniques used in the 19th century, and why. While it may be impossible to perfectly reconstruct the playing of 19th-century pianists, this study focused on the process of reimagining the 19th-century playing techniques on historical instruments from the perspective of a 21st-century pianist which will help develop understanding towards the potential roles and impact of these techniques, recognize the connections between instruments and techniques, as well as their influence on my playing as a pianist-researcher. Through this artistic practice, the feedback and observations from these experiences in the form of reflection logs were used to uncover the roles and effects of these techniques. This exposition will discuss a performer-researcher’s experience with references to the current literature, demonstrate how these techniques help narrow the gap between the modern and period instruments, especially in terms of touch and control, and investigate the effects of the artistic practice on dynamics and phrasing. Video clips of performances on both modern grand piano and historical instruments such as the fortepiano will also be included to better demonstrate the different approaches.

A critique of the ecological art research in China

Ecological art represents a novel artistic genre that melds the realms of creative expression with environmental conservation, reflecting the contemporary art world’s focus and allure towards the natural environment. Nowadays, scholarly inquiry into ecological art within China is predominantly categorized into four domains: educational practices in ecological art, aesthetics in ecological art, the innovation and utilization of ecological art forms, and interdisciplinary studies within ecological art. Within these areas, research in ecological art education accentuates the pedagogical approaches to artistic innovation and education.

The Influence of Curatorial Art on Visual Art

As time progressed and societal structures underwent transformation, there was a notable increase in interest in the memories encapsulated by objects. This resulted in a significant increase in the development and popularity of museums and art exhibitions, which in turn gave rise to a multitude of innovative spatial art forms, and the term “curation” was born. This research program examines the impact of the curatorial space on the visual presentation of artworks and its role in the visual arts as a whole. This is achieved using an analysis of several specific cases. Moreover, it demonstrates the evolution and advancement of the utilisation of curatorial space for the presentation of artworks. The concept of curatorial space is both flexible and complex, with implications for both the visual arts and their presentation. The utilisation of new media and technology in curatorial environments has been demonstrated to offer several advantages over physical curation. These include enhanced accessibility, flexibility, and the capacity to reach a broader audience. Consequently, curators and artists are presented with the chance to interact with audiences and cultivate innovative artistic practices and prospects in the domain of digital media and technology.

Understanding China’s infrastructure activities in Africa through artistic practice and exhibition

The infrastructure-led development model initiated by China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has faced domestic and international challenges. By focusing on a national travelling art exhibition featuring Chinese railway construction in Africa in 2023, this paper examines the role that curatorial and exhibition practices can play in (re)shaping public geopolitical understandings of China-Africa relations. Exhibiting over 200 artworks collected from both China and Africa, this art programme not only forms a nuanced, personal and storied narrative of China’s overseas development work in Africa but also tactically responds to current internal and external criticism of the Chinese government’s global ambitions channelled through the BRI. This work extends the ongoing interest geographers have at the intersection of the visual arts and critical geopolitics.

Transmission capabilities of SoulCollage in socio-pedagogical practice

Introduction. Artistic pedagogical technologies are widely used in pedagogical practice. However, a new technique, SoulCollage, is just beginning to be used in our country, and has not yet been reflected in Russian scientific publications. Scientific research devoted to SoulCollage and its use in practice has been published abroad since 2010.Purpose setting. The problem of the research is to find an answer to the question: does SoulCollage have transmission when used to form a positive mood? The purpose of the study is to search for manifestations of the property of transmission in the artistic pedagogical practice of collaging, using the example of SoulCollage. By transmission we mean a change in psychological state in response to a directed influence. The hypothesis of the study is the assumption that SoulCollage can be used as a socio-pedagogical practice when influencing the psychological state of a child in order to form a positive attitude (according to A. S. Makarenko).Methodology and methods of the study. The research methods were theoretical analysis, SoulCollage practice and pedagogical observation. Five educational practices on working with SoulCollage were conducted with students of Omsk State Pedagogical University aged 18 to 24 years. 54 people participated in the study.Results. The article reveals the historical origins of the development of SoulCollage and the technology of its application. The structure of the deck in Soul Collaging is described, which consists of deck suits: committee cards (psychological dimension), council cards (archetypal dimension), companion cards (consisting of animal guides that live in the chakras), community cards (social dimension). The technology for using SoulCollage in social and pedagogical practice is presented. Conclusions. The observation results showed that participants in social and pedagogical practice exhibit positive charge, they demonstrate increased interest in self-knowledge. The effects of socio-pedagogical practice are expressed interest: in SoulCollage cards, in participants in socio-pedagogical practice, in the study of Eastern philosophy and Jungian archetypes.

The effect of listening to music and drawing on coping with dysmenorrhea complaints in nursing students: randomized controlled trial

AimTo examine the effect of listening to music and drawing on coping with dysmenorrhea complaints of nursing students.MethodsThe study was a double-blind, three parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted between August 2023 and May 2024 at Bartın University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing. Ninety-six dysmenorrheic nursing students with regular menstrual cycles were included in the study and randomly assigned to three groups as drawing, music and control groups. Visual Analog Scale (100mmVAS of pain), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Menstrual Symptoms Scale (MSS) were applied to the students at baseline, 1st and 2nd months. The interventions were as follows: the music group listened to a 29-minute and 32-second song three days before menstruation and on the first day of menstruation in the third month composed by Juan Sebastian Martin-Saavedra, while the drawing group created art for the same duration. The pain scores, perceived stress, and menstrual symptoms were measured in all groups after the interventions.ResultsPretest, 1st and 2nd months 100mmVAS of pain score averages were 7.16 ± 1.99, 7.16 ± 1.99 and 7.50 ± 1.98 for the control group, 7.22 ± 1.64, 4.84 ± 1.80 and 2.13 ± 1.45 for the music group and 6.69 ± 1.80, 5.09 ± 1.55 and 2.91 ± 1.33 for the drawing group, respectively. Pretest, 1st and 2nd months PSS score averages were 28.75 ± 3.71, 29.09 ± 3.87 and 30.03 ± 4.16 for the control group, 29.91 ± 3.98, 14.06 ± 4.06 and 3.59 ± 3.82 for the music group and 27.38 ± 3.63, 18.13 ± 5.60 and 8.34 ± 5.46 for the drawing group, respectively. Pretest, 1st and 2nd months MSS score averages were 79.25 ± 15.41, 88.00 ± 20.08 and 90.66 ± 19.13 for the control group, 85.41 ± 10.77, 62.41 ± 15.23 and 34.00 ± 12.62 for the music group and 80.69 ± 11.07, 65.53 ± 15.37 and 47.31 ± 15.11 for the drawing group, respectively. Mean menstrual pain intensity, mean perceived stress level, and mean menstrual symptoms level in the art and music group decreased significantly at 1st and 2nd months post-intervention (p < .001). A significant increase in score levels was observed in the control group.ConclusionsBoth art and music practices are effective in significantly reducing menstrual pain, perceived stress, and menstrual symptoms in nursing students with dysmenorrhea. It is important to include listening to music and drawing on women’s health and disease nursing practices to control menstrual pain, perceived stress, and menstrual symptoms in dysmenorrhea.Clinical trials registration numberhttps://clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT06027489; registered August 30, 2023.

Self-portrait as mask. The case study of Gillian Wearing

This article examines Gillian Wearing&amp;rsquo;s Family Album photographic series (2003 &amp;ndash; 2006), relating her self-portraits to the postmodern identity theories of Fredric Jameson (1984) and Kenneth Gergen (1991) for the 1st time, as well as linking them to Hans Belting&amp;rsquo;s interpretation of the symbolism of the mask (2013). In the photographs, Wearing assumes the features of her family members through hyper-realistic masks and wigs, recreating and &amp;ldquo;wearing&amp;rdquo; the faces from the family albums. Through this process, the artist temporarily assumes the identity of another person while creating a new subject that combines and adds further characteristics to the personalities from which it is composed. The photographs from the series are compared with other works by the artist, particularly her self-portraits painted during the 2020 lockdown and those created in 2023, in which she portrays herself without a mask, marking a significant shift in her artistic practice.

Sharing Space and Time in Participatory Artistic Practice

Sharing Space and Time in Participatory Artistic Practice

Introduction: Political Ecologies of Paper in Early Modern Art, 1500–1800

Abstract This special issue examines paper as it became the definitive material for both artistic practice and jurisprudence. European paper made from pulped rags and linens to create the mythic white empty grounds for design was foundational to early modern European ideas about both sovereignty and the creative act. The materiality of paper—as a surface created from refuse—also introduced a form of ecological thinking into both artistic practice and political theory that recognised the value and revolutionary potential of the material world to create from the detritus of failed projects and revolutions. Surveying artistic production across the European continent and into the Ottoman empire, this series of essays examines paper as both a material force that redefined the limits of the creative act while also being inseparable from the consolidation of new political regimes emerging from the rise of early modern colonialism. Paper was both the tool of dispossession and also the grounds on which the potential of artistic practice was reimagined.

Digital and AI transformation in the contemporary art industry in China

This study examines the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation in the contemporary art industry in China. This industry in China is undergoing a distinct digital transition and is &amp;ldquo;ahead&amp;rdquo; of other countries, having fully integrated digital technologies and AI (digiAI) into policies, regulations, organizations, and professional practices. A systematic, large-scale national integration of digiAI has led to its widespread adoption by artists and arts professionals. However, little is known about how or when this rapid and extensive integration and subsequent adoption occurred or about its impacts on professional practices. This study draws on research conducted between 2023 and 2024, including 30 interviews with contemporary Chinese visual artists, 23 interviews with arts professionals, a survey of 110 professional contemporary visual artists, and a systematic review of government policy. Findings indicate that the government began integrating digital technology into the contemporary art industry in 2016, further promoted digital technology integration in 2021, and introduced regulations to support AI usage in 2023. The data reveal a significant spike in the adoption of digital technologies by professionals between 2019 and 2020, followed by a rise in AI adoption in 2023. DigiAI has been accepted and now used across different kinds of arts professions, various types of visual artists, and several age groups. Digital and AI tools are now being applied in both creative and non-creative aspects of arts practices.

Artistic Practices in the Anthropocene

This article reviews Western perspectives—in a fruitful dialogue with non-Western perspectives—on the climate emergency and artistic experiences amid the ongoing debate about futures currently at stake in the climate crisis or climate emergency. Moving beyond the various ways of naming this crisis, we focus on how art can communicate, envision, and activate ways of inhabiting this problem, opening communities to an other-than-human coexistence and reconfiguring matters as we understand them in a geological, natural, or material sense. The analyses indicate that, instead of aiming at a singular solution, multiple exercises and imaginative and speculative avenues of narratives can tell different stories and envision alternative futures. If the climate crisis ignited in the Anthropocene is a shared crisis—both political and aesthetic—then art, inseparable from life and hence nature, holds a crucial role in nurturing care and the potency of imagining other possible worlds.

The association between empathy and artistic practice: a cross-sectional study with medical students

BackgroundEmpathy is essential to medical practice, and efforts to cultivate it often include incorporating liberal arts into medical curricula to promote it. However, the association between empathy and engagement in artistic practice beyond the medical curricula remains unclear. This study aims to assess the association between medical students´ empathy and their engagement in artistic activities.MethodsStudents enrolled at 11 Portuguese medical schools were invited to participate in an online survey. The survey included questions about their artistic practice, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) to measure empathy.ResultsA total of 450 medical students completed the survey. 158 students (35%) were actively engaged in the arts, 118 of which practiced music (75%). Participants involved in artistic activities demonstrated significantly higher scores in the Fantasy subscale compared to their peers. Participants engaged in multiple artistic activities scored significantly higher in overall IRI, as well as in Empathic Concern and Fantasy subscales, compared to those practicing only one artistic activity. Participants who began their artistic practice earlier tended to achieve higher scores in overall IRI and on the Empathic Concern subscale.ConclusionsThe present study highlights a significant positive association between artistic practice and empathy levels among medical students. Further research is recommended to clarify this association, potentially informing revisions to medical school curricula.

Genesis of Music Video Clip as a Popular Form of Modern Audiovisual Culture: Experiments with Music Visualisation

The purpose of the article is to reveal the peculiarities of the development of the music video clip in the context of the historical interaction of musical and audiovisual culture. Research methodology. General scientific methods of cognition were applied, in particular analysis and synthesis, systematisation of theoretical data, the method of structural-functional analysis, which made it possible to reveal specific aspects of the interaction of music and various forms of artistic practices in the space of audiovisual culture; a typological method, with the help of which various features of the music video clip in the structure of modern audiovisual culture are revealed. Scientific novelty. The genesis of the music video clip as a popular form of modern audiovisual culture is studied; the problem of integration of visual images and music as part of artistic practices in historical retrospect is considered. Little-known works of foreign scientists, the problems of which are correlated with the subject area of research were introduced into scientific circulation. Conclusions. The genesis of the music video clip testifies to the significant role of artistic practices in the process of image and music interaction at the early stages, which contributed to the invention of new creative ways of representing the imaginary – animation and montage proposed by avant-garde artists; videos and video installations created by mastering the television image; music videos that opened a new dimension for experimentation, becoming an influential form of modern culture. Artistic history of analogue interactions between cinema and music during the 20th century demonstrates the antecedent conditions of production, perception, and socio-political context that were necessary for the mass popularization of the music video as an established form. Thanks to the early experiments in the formation of visualised music, the music video as a new form of audiovisual art gained cultural value, which allowed it to play a significant role at the modern stage. The music video played and continues to play a key role in the socio-cultural space. The technological evolution from analogue to digital means of production and display has accelerated the development of both the form and the aesthetics of the music video, which emphasises one of the most important roles of art in society – to provoke thought and encourage a rethinking of social, political and cultural conditions and surroundings, using this is the main means of communication, including popular music.