The Expanding Field of Artistic Research: Beyond the ’Bogdan Case’
The recent surge in discussions surrounding artistic research is a welcome development. However, limiting the discourse to the singular, lesser-known case highlighted in the SVT documentary "Fallet Bogdan" is problematic, especially for a field that has existed in Sweden for nearly 25 years. The lack of diverse examples in these discussions reveals a widespread lack of knowledge about artistic research among those who hold strong opinions about it. Critics often express concerns about the supposed "academization" of art, fearing a perceived threat to the autonomy of artistic practices through their association with universities. Their critique often stems from ideological and art-political stances, seemingly disregarding the actual work produced within artistic research. To foster a more nuanced understanding, it is crucial to showcase a broader spectrum of artistic research projects and improve the field’s visibility.
Diversity of Artistic Research: Methods, Practices, and Interdisciplinarity
Artistic research is not a monolithic entity but rather a diverse field encompassing a multitude of subjects, methodologies, and theoretical perspectives. It empowers practitioners across various artistic disciplines to delve deeper into their chosen areas of inquiry than previously possible, leading to the development of innovative methods and practices, and the integration of new knowledge. Public discourse often fixates on dissertations, which, being formal academic exercises, do not fully represent the dynamic landscape of post-doctoral research. Nevertheless, several dissertations offer compelling examples of artistic research. Cecilia Grönberg’s "Händelsehorisont/Event Horizon. Distribuerad fotografi" (2016) explores the transition between analog and digital photography, employing a montage of texts and images inspired by the workings of octopus tentacles. The book’s physicality contrasts with the ephemeral nature of digital imagery, functioning simultaneously as a dissertation and a standalone artwork.
Mara Lee’s dissertation "När Andra skriver. Skrivande som motstånd, ansvar och tid" (2014) examines writing as an artistic and theoretical practice. Lee, now a professor of art, aims to develop linguistic and theoretical tools that can be employed as "concrete resistance practices." Her work investigates literature and art, including Christer Strömholm’s photography, while challenging the perceived dichotomy between theory and practice. Artistic research frequently engages in interdisciplinary collaborations, as exemplified by the "The Seed Box" research program (2015-2022). This project, merging environmental humanities and artistic research at Linköping University, explored innovative approaches to integrating climate change and biodiversity concerns into everyday life. The exhibition and book "Sex Ecologies" (2022), curated by Katja Aglert and Stefanie Hessler, investigated the role of eroticism in the interconnected world of humans, animals, and the planet.
Tyrone Martinsson’s decade-long research, in collaboration with climate scientists, examines the melting glaciers of Svalbard and the potential of photography and other visual media to enhance our understanding of climate change. His work explores both the extent of these changes and the effective communication of this knowledge to increase awareness of the underlying causes.
Impact and Reach of Artistic Research: Bridging Academia and the Public Sphere
Many artistic researchers operate both within and outside academia, leading to projects with broad societal impact. Mia Engberg’s "Hypermoon," part of her artistic dissertation "Darkness as material" (2023), was screened in cinemas and on SVT. This project is the culmination of a three-part study, which includes "Aesthetics of absence. Belleville baby" and the Vetenskapsrådet-funded "The Visual Silence," ultimately resulting in the experimental film "Lucky one." These works challenge traditional cinematic expression and have been disseminated through film festivals, theatrical releases, and television broadcasts. Matts Leiderstam, a pioneer in artistic research, has achieved wide recognition for his projects, exhibiting in prestigious institutions and galleries both nationally and internationally. His latest work, exploring the relationship between painting, abstraction, and technology, culminated in the award-winning book "Sett genom rutnätet" (2023).
Another example of artistic research’s public engagement and interdisciplinary approach is "The Fountain. An art-technological social drama." Led by Maddie Leach and supported by Formas and the Swedish Arts Council, this project investigates the potential for revitalizing and reimagining "failed" public artworks, focusing on the malfunctioning LTH fountain at Lund University’s campus.
Establishing Legitimacy and Gaining Recognition within the Academic Landscape
While the importance of basic research should be defended, artistic research initially faced skepticism even within the scientific community. When the Swedish Research Council was tasked with funding artistic research in the early 2000s, representatives of more established disciplines expressed reservations. However, such questioning of emerging research fields is not uncommon, often revolving around issues of scientific validity and competition for resources. Fields like gender studies and journalism, which initially encountered resistance, are now well-established within academia. As historian of ideas Sven-Eric Liedman describes in his text "There will always be those that slam on the brakes and say this is wrong…" (2008), new fields often face initial skepticism and opposition before gradually gaining acceptance within the "academic circle."
Despite its relatively small size, artistic research enjoys a significantly stronger position within the scientific community today. The Swedish Research Council’s decision to fund an artistic research environment as one of its Centers of Excellence in 2024 exemplifies this growing recognition. This center (CAPIm), operated by the Royal Institute of Art and HDK-Valand at the University of Gothenburg, aims to deepen our understanding of how political ideas are formed and represented in society, exploring the potential of artistic methods to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Artistic Research and the Future of Art Education
Being a Center of Excellence provides artistic research with enhanced opportunities to develop its methodologies and perspectives, and to establish collaborations with other fields driven by similar interests. This strengthened position is strategically important, particularly in a time when the arts, humanities, and aesthetic subjects are often undervalued compared to STEM fields. Artistic research is undeniably part of the ongoing academization of art education, offering postgraduate research opportunities to artists across various disciplines. However, the vast majority of art students, like graduates of most other disciplines, will continue to work outside academia. Academia and the independent cultural sphere have always been interconnected, constantly enriching each other through a dynamic exchange, as exemplified by the projects discussed above. Artistic research provides a new platform for artists to practice, develop, and collaborate with actors from diverse fields, further strengthening the vital link between artistic practice and intellectual inquiry.
