Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 10:42:52 +0100
From: Michael A R Biggs <[log in to unmask]>

[apologies for multiple postings]

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS (deadline 2 February 2004)
AND
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR EXHIBITION PRESENTATIONS (deadline 15 September
2003)

***RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE 2004***
http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/research/res2prac/index.htm

The third international biennial conference on the foundations of
practice-based research in art and design will be convened at the
University of Hertfordshire, UK, on Friday 2 July 2004.

The theme of RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE 2004 is:

         What is the role of the artefact in art and design research?

Practitioners, theorists, critics and audiences all agree that the artefact
(including objects, images, sounds, performances, etc.) has a vital role in
the subject area of art and design. It is therefore no surprise that
researchers also claim that artefacts have a similarly vital role in the
development and communication of knowledge in the subject. But how do
artefacts do that? How are artefacts used as part of the research process
and what do they contribute in comparison with words and thoughts, etc? How
does one communicate using artefacts and what kind of communication is
facilitated that would be more difficult or impossible using other means?
How much knowledge do we gain from the interpretation of artefacts from
other cultures or historical periods, compared with the amount that is
projected onto it from the culture in which they are interpreted? What is
the role of the artefact in art and design research?

Topics for analysis might include:

         * Can an artefact do more than simply illustrate a concept?
         * Do artefacts merely stimulate linguistic reasoning?
         * What differentiates artefact-based transactions from linguistic
ones?
         * Under what conditions could a successful thesis be presented
non-textually?
         * Can one reason with objects?
         * Is research, by definition, linguistic?
         * Are there special conditions for achieving synergy between
artefacts and texts?
         * What is the instrumentality of the exhibition?

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR EXHIBITION PRESENTATIONS

In association with De Montfort University we are considering extending the
scope of the conference to include exhibited presentations in addition to
the presentation of papers. The aim is to contribute to the establishment
of protocols for alternative presentations for art and design research. We
are particularly interested in the artefact as an integral part of the
research process and the artefact as an integral part of communicating the
outcomes of research, where for example text plays a supporting role. We
regard such presentations as having the capability to be as informative and
rigorous as traditional conference papers, and an equivalent selection
process will be applied to contributions in either format. Selected
exhibitors will be asked to archive their presentation for publication on
the web alongside papers in the peer-reviewed journal Working Papers in Art
and Design.

In order to determine the demand for this alternative presentation we now
invite Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from potential contributors. To
register an EOI you should send a 150-word description of your proposal and
the media that you would require to present it to the conference organisers
before the DEADLINE OF 15 SEPTEMBER 2003. We will use these EOIs to measure
demand and to plan the conference. Registering an EOI does not commit the
contributor or the conference organisers to anything at this stage, and we
hope that you will use this opportunity to let us know how the community
would like R2P to develop.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The conference website is now available and will be updated as arrangements
are confirmed.
Notification of updates will be sent directly to subscribers to the
RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE mailing list.

http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/research/res2prac/index.htm

To subscribe to the mailing list please send your contact details to the
conference organiser at [log in to unmask]  If you are already a
subscriber you will have been "blind carbon copied" this announcement (your
email address will appear in the "Bcc." section of the header).


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Dr Michael A R Biggs
Reader in Visual Communication

Faculty of Art and Design, University of Hertfordshire
College Lane, Hatfield, Herts. AL10 9AB
United Kingdom

Telephone  +44 (0)1707 285341
Fax  +44 (0)1707 285350
E-mail  [log in to unmask]
Internet  http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/research/creac/html/intrombiggs.html

Coordinator of the Centre for Research into Practice
http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/research/cr2p/index.htm

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