[-empyre-] Research in Practice, week two, January 14-20

[Donna Leishman]

Hi Cecile

“I wanted to know if other academic-artists would have stopped reading (or any other practice)  after completing their phd and having returned to a deep-intense  practice (creation + exhibition). And if yes, how they would analyse their change.”

I did an 80% practical thesis (80% time spent on creative practice – note the written text was still up at 50,000 words all counted). So the PhD didn’t halt deep practice. However I can’t say academia and the pressures for easily digested new knowledge in the form of words rather than image hasn’t eroded the frequency of deep practice.


“About changing methodologies (or methods) thanks to/after the process  of writing/reading/analysing (doing phd) etc. I wonder how a Penone or any other great artist (without phd) teaches  'art practice' to art students. I have not had this experience as a  student. Any comment ? For me, to teach art research is easier than to  teach art practice.”

This is an interesting question, I’ve taught in two art schools – Glasgow a small specialist artschool and Duncan of Jordanstone as part of Dundee University – and have spent more time teaching in studio than teaching ‘research students’ that said I approach training both undergraduates and postgraduates how to research, how to innovate, how to reflect and how to critique divined straight down from my PhD experience - I don't edit this. This hasn’t always been easy on the undergraduate student, but even as a seasoned academic I maintain excellence is always hard fought. This resonates with Talan's description that research isn't some foreign experience to artist process.

Best wishes,
Donna

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