Month: August 2021

Cooperation, partnership, alliance, and synergy are all words that describe ‘collaboration.’

The etymology of ‘collaboration’ is a combination of Latin and French phrases that come to represent the “act of working together, united labour”

Collaboration is a word that I have used from the beginning of my research: wanting to work with the artist to create a space for information to be available for audience when viewing their artworks in the everyday.

My research applies a Heidegger concept of ‘crossing the threshold’ (1927/1962). This threshold moment is created by a disruption of thought. I argue that this disruption of thought occurs when you view artworks unexpectedly. One minute you a walking down the street thinking of one thing and next you see a mural that has turned the urban landscape into a canvas. The viewer may be captured and wonder about the meaning behind the work? The ‘affect’; Do I like what I see?

My project, Refracted Cubes, is about curating a space for audiences to find out more about artworks that penetrate the everyday – with a specific focus on street art murals. This research allows viewers to delve past the imagery and into the space of understanding the artist’s concept behind the work.

I documented and curated Refracted Cubes with three artists as they created their murals. The documentation aspect was a journey of discovery for me. I learnt that artists who work in the urban environment can find conditions difficult to negotiate: the weather, the facilities, and the interactions with audiences – sometimes friendly but potentially volatile – all need to come into play when creating murals.

I want to discuss three insights that emerged.

Continue reading “Working with artists in the urban environment” →