Artistic Practice Research Articles

Epicurean phantasía in the Art of the Early Modern Period: An Explorative Approach

This paper offers an explorative analysis of traces of Epicurean phantasía in Renaissance art, with a particular focus on the reception of ancient ékphrasis and Epicurean perception theory. It raises the question of whether an Epicurean phantasía did exist, what it was like, and how to recognize traces of it in the art theoretical literature and the artistic practices of the Renaissance.

AI-based generative image production systems in the artistic problematisation of the past: the thematisation of memory and temporality in "AI art"

Abstract This text analyses how generative AI systems are being employed in current artistic practice to question certain historical visual narratives, creating representations that challenge some conventional perceptions of the past and thus opening up new perspectives on the experience of temporality. In this regard, special emphasis will be placed on some artistic projects based on generative historical photography practices. These are works that develop new ways around ‘archival aesthetics’ (Sekula in October 39:3–64 1986; Buchloh in Deep storage. collecting, storing and archiving in art [Exhibition catalog]. P.S.1, Nueva York, 1999; Guasch in Arte y archivo, 1920-2010. Genealogías, tipologías y discontinuidades. Akal, Madrid, 2015, etc.) by producing visual archives that do not exist or are alternatives to others. We will therefore analyse works that critically examine how these generative systems can contribute to a revision and re-evaluation of the past, as well as to the problematisation of the ways in which photography has been used for the historical record. These poetics invite subtle reflections on the role of the visual archive in the processes of shaping subjectivity and personal and communal identity. In the final part of the text, we will deal with the study of some artists who, through appropriationist strategies and remakes assisted by generative AI models, revise artistic works from the past, specifically from the photoconceptualism of the 1970s. In these strategies, the thematisation of the relations between photographic register and temporality also plays a leading role.

SHARED1: Building a network of arts and humanities-based initiatives in mental health and well-being across the globe

This article reports on the learning from a series of workshops organized by the Seeing Arts Health Research EnacteD (SHARED) project that aimed to establish an international network of researchers, arts and health providers and practitioners. Online workshops were designed to provide a platform for exchange of best practices in arts in health research and to encourage a dialogue between various international arts in health researchers and practitioners from six countries across the globe. This exchange was built on participant contributions (three practice-based presentations for each workshop highlighting alignment with community assets, inclusion and partnerships), followed by reflective group discussions. Results show that arts in health initiatives in different contexts globally often share similar strengths and face common challenges. Participants noted the need for networks such as SHARED, where researchers and practitioners can come together to exchange best practice, collaborate on future initiatives and work out solutions for shared challenges.

The Intersection of Art and Technology: Digital Creativity

The intersection of art and technology represents a compelling field of exploration in contemporary society. Digital creativity, as a product of technological advancements, has redefined artistic practices, transforming traditional mediums such as painting, sculpture, and photography into innovative digital forms. This paper investigates the historical relationship between art and technology, focusing on key technological developments that have reshaped creative processes. By analyzing digital tools, techniques, and the integration of artificial intelligence, the study examines how digital media fosters collaboration, inclusivity, and accessibility. Additionally, ethical and relationship social implications, including copyright challenges, authenticity concerns, and the democratization of art, are discussed. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the transformative potential of digital creativity and its role in shaping the future of artistic expression. Keywords: Digital creativity, art and technology, artificial intelligence, digital tools, creative expression.

Developing Climate Literacy through Artistic Practice

Developing Climate Literacy through Artistic Practice

Nanoscale Probing of the Organic Binder in Artists' Paint Layers: Organic Phases and Chemical Heterogeneity.

Understanding paint structures at the nanoscopic level can address key questions related to artistic techniques, paint formulation, and long-term preservation of artworks. This involves examining spatial chemical complexity, the formation of molecular networks, and interactions between organic and inorganic constituents. Depending on the paint preparation methods, proteins and drying oils, the most common binders in traditional artistic practices, can be integrated to produce paints with diverse structures and nanoscale chemical intricacies. In this study, we utilize atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) to investigate the spatial chemical complexity and reaction pathways of organic species in artists' paints, including oil, tempera, and mixed-media tempera grassa. By analyzing these paints at the nanoscale, we established connections between their structural organization, chemistry, and formulation.

Artistic and Creative Development Through the Integration of Contemporary Artistic Practices into the Primary School Curriculum

In the educational standards, creativity is named as one of the key competences in education. However, not enough is being done to promote creativity in the education system. In this paper, we present the results of a study that used a pedagogical experiment to investigate how the inclusion of contemporary artistic practices can successfully influence the development of artistic-creative skills in eighth graders. The results show the success of the pedagogical experiment, which confirmed that by including the PISUPOŠ programme (Programme for the Implementation of Contemporary Art Practices in Primary School), which covers the content of contemporary visual arts, all of the identified factors of artistic creativity were successfully developed.

Hardcore music ontologies

Abstract Hardcore increases the speed, intensity, and contradictions of punk rock. Considering prevailing theories of rock music ontologies in the light of hardcore art practices provides reasons to rethink what we thought. Hardcore shows how recording-centered ontologies, underemphasizing what goes into playback, miss the materiality of some recording artworks. Hardcore art practices also show how performance-centered ontologies force us to divorce the played music from its full, embodied performanced artwork. In both cases, I highlight hardcore art practices and how they conceive of artworks in a more multi-faceted fashion than either predominant view can fully capture.

Fenomena Pergelaran Seni Pertunjukan Era Media Baru Sebagai Roll Model Pembelajaran Seni Budaya Di Sman 5 Kota Bukittinggi

This study aims to discuss the development of digitalization planning (design) learning models in the subject of Cultural Arts in the New Media Era in class XII at SMA Negeri 5 Bukittinggi. This learning model was developed due to the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic which required all learning processes at SMA Negri 5 Bukittinggi to be carried out online. This policy raises problems in learning materials in the field of performing arts practices which require students to learn art practices in class. The method used is the Zoom and YouTube applications as connecting media in connecting material from teachers (writers) to students and between students' performing arts creations and the wider community who will watch the performing arts. The results of this study can be of benefit to the public by analyzing every phenomenon that occurs in the world of education in the New Media Era, and as input or a roll model for arts and culture teachers at SMAN 5 Bukittinggi to be able to improve learning outcomes so that students are more active and enthusiastic in learning arts and culture .

A performative approach to wool felting : Rhizomatic relations in visual arts making and art education

This exposition documents the doctoral dissertation “A performative approach to wool felting : Rhizomatic relations in visual arts making and art education” from the University of Agder, Faculty of Fine Arts, 2023. The exposition consists of a PDF of the printed dissertation and a list of the media (film or sound) that is part of the dissertation. As the first combined dissertation in Fine Arts with the specialisation Arts in context submitted to the University of Agder, comprising artistic and scientific works, this research evolves between artistic and written acts. It is a performative exploration of a performative approach to the ancestral technique of wool felting. The dissertation includes six explorations: three public exhibitions, three articles, and a 7th element consisting of a series of ongoing ‘minor’ moments related to the topic of the thesis that I carry out in my everyday practices as an artist, teacher and researcher. Alongside with that, I provide a mantle that is a metatext of the dissertation. In dialogue with the works of Deleuze and Guattari (1980) and Barad (2007), I use concepts that denote a theoretical and philosophical position inspired by an ontology of immanence and agential realism. The pedagogical stance of this research acknowledges Atkinson’s (2015) ideas on the adventure of pedagogy that brings forward the notion of the ‘not-known’. The rhizomatic network connecting the seven explorations is transmitted through four interconnected parts that I call ‘strata’, which is in accordance with my research design. A diffractive reading of the explorations suggests a performative pedagogy that actualises questions related to artistic, pedagogical, and research practices. It underlines the emerging knowledge creation in situ as not-isolated and not pre-existing entities and/or thoughts. Moving between the de-stabilisation–re-stabilisation, de-forming–reforming, and de-territorialisation–re-territorialisation of my practices brings a fruitful in-coherence. My doubts, interrogations, and experimentations might affect the reader, and provoke new thoughts. The mapping of my explorations can create resonance in readers, also in their own contexts – being similar or different. Maybe this could inspire more persons to explore further how one could teach, not only how one should teach. This dissertation is dedicated to those that doubt and ask questions, but also to those that work with certainty, in artistic, pedagogical, and/or research contexts.

E-Sahitya, or the contested emergence of the electronic within the literary in India

ABSTRACT This article examines the existence(s) of Electronic Literature (e-lit) within the larger ambit of English Literary Studies in India. Despite it being a nascent field, there has been considerable engagement that shows two patterns. One shows a distinct collaboration/acknowledgement with the scholarship and artistic practices of the Electronic Literature Organization (ELO) community. On the other side, Sahitya Akademi’s engagement with e-lit remains dominated by the paradigms of print. The article takes stock of the engagement around e-lit in India and then conducts a study of the scholars affiliated with Sahitya Akademi and the panels they have organised. The study consists of conversations and interviews with stakeholders and a visit to the main office in New Delhi to understand the collections in the Library. These understandings, taken together, form a basis of what Sahitya Akademi might understand as e-lit and why it does the way it does. It has been put into historical context within the rise of English Literary Studies in India and the establishment of the Sahitya Akademi after Indian independence to ground the argument contextually. The article concludes with a call for investment in the study of electronic literature.

Manyone: (A) History?

Ten years ago, the artists Juan Dominguez, Mette Edvardsen, Alma Söderberg and Sarah Vanhee started dreaming about a way of organizing their artistic practices differently. In 2015 their artist-run structure Manyone started as a subsidized organization. Now it no longer exists. Why does an artistic organization come to an end? What lessons can we draw from its existence? What traces does it leave?

Construction of a "Four-in-One" Extracurricular Practice Education System for Landscape Design Majors

The paper analyzes the current state and issues of practice-oriented education in landscape design majors, and based on theories, principles, and methods related to practice-oriented education, it elaborates on the basic situation, development trends, and advantages of the "four-in-one" practice-oriented education system, which integrates party construction, social practice, competitions, and traditional culture and arts. It summarizes the experience and significance of the practice-oriented education system as a model for landscape design majors, providing a reference for related professional educators to construct practice-oriented education systems and engage in research on practice-oriented education.

“Devouring The Soil’s Words” – Margaux Schwab from 'Foodculture Days' In Vevey on Multispecies Curating as Grounded Practice and Entangled Metabolisms

Founded in 2017 in Vevey, Switzerland, by Margaux Schwab, 'foodculture days' is a publicly funded cultural format that provides a platform –understood in the broadest sense of institutional framing– to share and build knowledge around food as a medium for convivial practices of nourishment for all species. By fostering longstanding relations and collaborations between local practitioners, such as farmers, cooks, gastronomes, winemakers, activists, and gardeners, with a globally interconnected network of artists, scientists, philosophers and researchers, the complexities of environmental and social justice in the realm of food are addressed in different strands and activities of the initiative. Its main project, a ten-day long festival that emerges every two years in the town of Vevey, is a moment of reflection, gathering and dialogue that allows the public and practitioners involved to rediscover the urban space and everyday locations, such as markets, streets, cafes, shops, agricultural initiatives, museums, and galleries, from a perspective where food, art and ecology intersect. Our conversation about the emergence, the different strands of 'foodculture days' and their vision for the future is based on a shared conviction that cultural programming attempting to address global topics rooted in a local context and focussing on more-than-human timescales and process-oriented art practices needs formats within different spatial and temporal regimes. Keywords: multispecies curating, radical hospitality, conviviality, grounded practice.

Performing social unease

By drawing insights from artistic practice and utilizing conceptual and methodological approaches from the philosophy of embodied cognition, my purpose is to investigate the transformative possibilities embedded in creatively exploring social unease. To do so, I will present an art project, Biston betularia carbonaria, which involves the performative activation of a cast of a moth chrysalis through the waving of a flag and the ignition of a black smoke grenade. Biston betularia is a lepidopteran of the family Geometridae; the most widespread species is the typica, whose white color, in the course of its evolution, has enabled it to camouflage itself on birch trunks and thus escape predators. In nineteenth-century cities, air pollution caused by industrialization darkened the bark of trees, therefore promoting the survival of the melanic species called carbonaria, characterized by its black color. As pollution diminished, the typical form gradually regained its status as the dominant species.

Enhancing aesthetic and creative skills through innovative pedagogical approaches: integrating mandala thinking and multisensory techniques in advanced dessert design

PurposeThis study aims to explore the integration of mandala thinking and multisensory techniques into advanced dessert design courses, investigating how these innovative pedagogical approaches enhance students’ creative and aesthetic skills. The research seeks to address the evolving needs of higher education in the face of technological and pedagogical disruptions.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a mixed-method approach, including a detailed literature review, implementation of mandala thinking and multisensory methods in the course curriculum and quantitative analysis of student outcomes. Data were collected through pre- and post-course assessments, focusing on students’ creativity and aesthetic competencies.FindingsThe integration of mandala thinking and multisensory design principles significantly improved students’ creative and aesthetic skills. The findings demonstrate that these methods effectively enhance the educational experience in culinary arts, offering a novel approach to curriculum design in higher education. The study highlights how these innovative techniques can address current pedagogical challenges and improve student engagement and performance.Practical implicationsIntegrating mandala thinking and multisensory techniques can significantly enhance creativity and engagement in higher education, offering a practical model for modernizing pedagogical practices and addressing current educational challenges.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the field by applying mandala thinking and multisensory techniques to advanced dessert design, an area not extensively covered in existing literature. It provides a unique perspective on enhancing educational practices in the culinary arts, reflecting the broader trends of incorporating innovative pedagogical strategies in response to disruptive educational challenges.

Research on Innovative Models of New Media Art and Personalized Education

This paper delves into the synergy between New Media Art and personalized education, assessing how the fusion of digital art and educational practices can revolutionize learning experiences. New Media Art, characterized by its use of digital technology and interactivity, offers a dynamic platform for engaging students in a more personalized and immersive educational environment. The study underscores the significance of personalized education in the 21st century, where the demand for creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills is escalating. It examines the cultural impact of New Media Art, which extends beyond the art world to influence societal values and norms, and how it challenges traditional definitions of art to foster a more inclusive dialogue. Technological advancements such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence are reshaping the landscape of New Media Art, providing new avenues for artistic expression and educational engagement. The paper discusses the challenges and potential solutions in implementing New Media Art in educational settings, emphasizing the need for overcoming technological and pedagogical barriers. In conclusion, the integration of New Media Art into personalized education models is posited as a promising direction for educational innovation, capable of transforming learning experiences to be more engaging, relevant, and effective, preparing students for the dynamic digital world.

Cultivating Slow Curating in Times of Acceleration

This paper introduces key ideas and issues in the changing debates on heritage practices and sustainability. It draws attention to the capacities of heritage to activate and unfold new meanings and increase the resilience of territories and landscapes—namely depopulated ones—through slow curating processes. We will argue that slow curating processes cultivate ‘slower’ ways of knowing, act as seedbeds of emergence and as catalysts to transformation that recuperate the pieces of a fragmented territory while also helping to re-locate its existence—its past, its present and its future—in balance with and within a constellation of living networks. Through heritage criticality, we will investigate territory interpretation and intervention examples that adopt disruptive, cross-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary approaches, including artistic, architectural, urban, performative, and curatorial practice, as effects and methods of slow curating taken as a public activity. We will pay special attention to its production contexts (reasons, subjects…), to what and how resonance dispositions and axes are produced within these non-linear public acts, and how the co-presence of past and the future is extended so heritage public acts may engender new forms—of knowledge, being…—and become a resource for current times.

Innovative Strategies for Environmental Education in Educational Institutions

The Ana Paez Educational Unit faced environmental problems derived from the lack of preservation of green spaces and the disconnection of the educational community with its surroundings. With 1,198 students and 72 employees, the institution was located in Latacunga, Ecuador, and experienced difficulties similar to those observed in Argentina during 2023. In both contexts, pollution, poor waste management and deforestation affected the environment. Despite initiatives such as the creation of vegetable gardens and reforestation activities, these actions lacked continuity and maintenance, resulting in the progressive deterioration of green areas.Educational institutions in Ecuador and Argentina showed a low commitment on the part of students and teachers, who prioritized obtaining grades over environmental care. In Argentina, the environmental campaigns promoted in 2023 did not achieve genuine participation, generating situations of abandonment in recreational and green school spaces.Faced with this reality, the Ana Paez Educational Unit designed an innovative campaign that sought to involve the entire educational community. This initiative proposed participatory strategies, artistic practices and the use of technology to promote collective responsibility and the formation of environmentally conscious citizens. The need for inter-institutional collaboration and the support of governmental and non-governmental organizations was emphasized to ensure the success of the actions

Virtual Images of Plants: Contemporary Theory and Art Practices

Virtual Images of Plants: Contemporary Theory and Art Practices