As someone studying artistic research – what it is, how it operates, to what ends – I often find myself curious about the invisible line that seems to have been drawn between artistic research and activism. To what extent can a practice that is developed with the intention of disrupting ideas, processes or systems, one…

  Understanding the social happenings as co-emergent, rather than embodying a linear causality, is crucial to form productive and generative practices in a world where epistemological foundations and material basis are constantly shifting. Chris Julien started his lecture by bringing in the way in which productive and potentially revolutionary practices can be situated in the…

“Commissioning responds to a need and hinges on the presumption that the commissioned artwork can satisfy this need.” (Sørensen, TiM Lecture 21 Feb 2024) Trine Friis Sørensen’s lecture “Inquiring & Caring with the Act of Commissioning” centered around how commissioning can be debunked as a caring and inquiring process. Thus, the result of creation should…

  In a thought-provoking seminar led by Trine Friis Sørensen, the nuanced role of the curator within contemporary art and archival practices was explored, shedding light on the evolving responsibilities that extend far beyond traditional collection management. Sørensen’s insights, drawn from her own rich experience, position the curator not just as a guardian of art…

  On December 13, 2023, I attended the workshop “How to Know Things with Works: On Practical Enquiry” as part of Transmission in Motion’s seminar series “Matters of Concern” at Utrecht University. The event featured Mick Wilson, a distinguished professor of art and director of doctoral studies at HDK – Valand Academy of Art and…

  “To build is to destroy,” Charlotte Malterre-Barthes remarked at the beginning of her lecture. This echoes Marxist analyses of capitalist creative destruction. Yet, what non-capitalist potential exists for architects? What do architects do if not build? Malterre-Barthes, along with the research and design laboratory RIOT (Research and Innovation On architecture, urban design and Territory)…

The issue of overbuilding is a critical concern in contemporary society, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable development and environmental conservation. This topic has been passionately discussed by Charlotte Malterre-Barthes, whose approach to addressing overbuilding sparked both admiration and controversy in me. Malterre-Barthes, known for her persistence and commitment to environmental issues, adopts a stance…

Upon recalling the latest seminar/workshop on practical enquiry, the case which I found most relatable and familiar is the exhibition thesis Rewinding Internationalism. Both the approach and content of this project triggered my memory of a recent experience visiting the exhibition. Concerning the theme of this exhibition, its materialization and assemblage of ideas echoes the…

  General practice-based research, practice-led research, research creation, creative practice as research, arts-based research, and artistic research together form a cluster of practice-based research paradigms in the humanities. Mick Wilson started his lecture-cum-workshop “How to Know Things with Works: On Practical Enquiry” by naming these various genealogically distinct practices. Yet, in his short lecture, Wilson’s…

With this blog post, inspired by the case study discussed during Mick Wilson’s workshop “How to Know Things with Works: On Practical Enquiry,” I would like to continue the exploration of Harman’s theory of speculative realism (2018) as a lens for a practice-based inquiry into the secret lives of objects. Wilson challenges the participants to…