Experiencing research early: Undergraduate students' art practice research

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to show how undergraduate art students developed a three-semester research project using art practice research as meth- odology during the years 2011–12. They answered individual research questions through their artistic practices, presenting their results within an art exhibi- tion and academic document. The research data shared in this article comprise observations of their research development, artistic diaries, art exhibitions, writ- ten research documents and post-project interviews. Findings indicate that such research experience allowed students to generate new knowledge through artistic practice, which often cannot be foreseen as it involves incontrollable material and people that cannot be accessed through other disciplines. It also gave them trans- cognitive research skills helping them to better understand themselves as artists and to develop complex works difficult to create otherwise.