Artistic Research

What is artistic research?

Artistic research comprises a broad spectrum of investigative and reflective practices, methods and concepts with artistic roots in architecture, visual art, circus, dance, design, film, fine art, photography, arts and crafts, choreography, creative writing, media, music, opera, performance and performing arts. New knowledge is created by means of artistic practice being orientated towards research issues and generating concepts, processes, artefacts and performances. The researchers present these for peers (colleagues in their artistic field within the academy and outside it) and a wider public by means of exposition. Exposition constitutes a key concept in artistic research, and involves various forms of production, viewing, interpretation, presentation and documentation, which may include the whole of the artistic artefact or event, but can also be supplemented by other types of communication. The outcome is presented on its own terms. The encounter with the exposition of the research therefore provides a key to understanding its aesthetic, epistemological, ethical, political and social content.

About artistic research – The Swedish Research Council, The Committee for Artistic Research, 2019:

Artistic research is practice-based and comprises all forms of art. Research results take the forms of both artistic works and text-based meta-reflections. Artistic research generates knowledge about complex creative processes and develops them further; it tests and expands on methodologies, theoretical concepts and materialities; it investigates and deepens understanding of the particular potentials and challenges in the field of art, as well as how art – often in collaboration with other disciplines – contributes to increased knowledge about broader societal issues.

Exposition

Exposition is an integrated part of artistic work in SKH's research environment. Researchers present their concepts, processes, artefacts and performances for peers with the help of exposition where different artistic intentions and focuses can be clearly set out. Each research project must therefore present (stage, narrate, sing, choreograph and so on) its results in a way that is both rigorous and consistent. This means that the description of the insights and the results of the research can also be given in something other than written form. The encounter with the artistic artefact or performance becomes a central feature in the critical review of the aesthetic, epistemological, ethical, political or social dimensions contained in or demonstrated by the work. This requires research to be critically reviewed by peers who have the skills and competence to process the claims and arguments contained in the research results, often in a combination of different exposition formats. By developing different formats in which peer review can be carried out, research within the area also addresses the challenges that arise when research is formulated and presented in forms that communicate through an artistically performed experience. Research in the area thereby also contributes to pushing the boundaries that existing forms of publication and dissemination of research set for the ambitions of artistic research.

SKH's research area is eclectic in that it is open to diverse contributions. At the same time it is important to identify research trends that are not part of the area of Artistic Practices. First of all, research that is done on a completely theoretical basis or without a grounding in practical experience is not included in the area Artistic Practices. Nor can research that uses art to illustrate one or more of its concepts – or research that is primarily focused on the history of the art form – be considered a central part of Artistic Practices. Even if research that develops tools, materials or technology to support artistic practice can be crucial to support and improve artistic expression itself, that research is not characteristic of the area of Artistic Practices – insofar as the knowledge and expertise was not developed by means of artistic processes and methods.

In summary, it can be said that the area of Artistic Practices primarily includes research that is carried out on the basis of artistic methods and artistic interpretation. The practical exercise of the art form – and the relevant exposition of the research results – are the trademark of the area.

Dissemination of the results and insights of artistic research

VIS – Nordic Journal for Artistic Research

VIS – Nordic Journal for Artistic Research is a digital journal presenting artistic research, with a special emphasis on the Nordic region. It highlights the importance for Nordic artist-researchers of reflection as a mental discipline that, when interwoven with artistic practice, generates new knowledge. The journal is the result of a cooperation between Stockholm University of the Arts (SKH) and the Norwegian Artistic Research Programme (part of Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills). It is an open-access publication and uses the SAR Research Catalogue publishing platform for its submission and peer-reviewing processes, as well as for its final publications. VIS holds an open call for every issue. Up to seven expositions are selected by the Editorial Committee for entry into the collaborative peer-review process. Read more about VIS.

DIVA and Research Catalogue

SKH mainly uses the databases DiVA and Research Catalogue to disseminate, archive and/or publish artistic research.

The Publication Database DiVA contains publications produced by the university´s researchers and students. Stockholm University of the Arts publications in DIVA

Research catalogue (RC) is an international database for artistic research. SKH's researchers and students can use it for publication and as a search database.

Visit Stockholm University of the Arts Portal page in RC

More about Artistic Research

Lilja, Efva, Konst, forskning, makt: en bok om konstnären som forskare, Stockholm: Utbildningsdepartementet 2015 (In Swedish)

https://cultureactioneurope.org/news/vienna-declaration-on-artistic-research/

https://cdn.ymaws.com/elia-artschools.org/resource/resmgr/files/26-september-florence-princi.pdf

VIS – Nordic Journal for Artistic Research (Digital journal)

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Image: Screenshot from the exposition The decline of choreography and its movement: a body's (path)way, Paz Rojo, 2019.