[9-12] The meaning of taking the role of an artist/researcher in participatory art: Concepts and methods in health humanities
Presentation language：English
As part of my PhD, I designed a participatory art project- Tapestry of Home- which included moving my tapestry-weaving studio and inviting the community of an aged care facility to co-design and co-create a woven tapestry in order to empower participation and foster creativity in elderly residents. One of the aims of the study was to disclose the meaning of taking the role of the artist/researcher in a participatory art project within the field of arts and health.
This paper explores the contextual and methodological considerations, the complex responsive involvements and the methods of a participatory art practice in health care from the artist/researcher’s perspective. Through ‘The theory of meaning making’ this paper reflects on how this concept influenced the study’s design, progression and outcomes. It also discovers the artist/researcher experience in association with the theoretical and the objective research context of the study. Specifically, reports the challenges of the non-cohesive context of art and health and that the artist/researcher’s role extends beyond delivering and evaluating the art practice in health. Finally, the interwoven connection between the practical involvement and the unique position of the artist/researcher including the participant–researcher relationship induced by the research context will be explored.