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ART BASED PRACTICE AS CREATIVE INQUIRY: INNOVATION IN AND EDUCATION

Ngene Eze, Ph.D Dept of Fine and Applied ,

Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State.

Abstract The paper takes critical look at practice based research which is used in art disciplines in the universities and by professional . The paper explains that although modern philosophy is the interpreter of research and organisation of research findings in natural and social sciences, the significance of art practice based research cannot be ignored in the processes of some research. The paper states that art based practice research is a positive shift from the use of scientific methods. It uses multiple to link between processes and standard academic research represent ation. The paper further explains that art based practice methodology when used in research creates knowledge that is new and shared among recipients as visual knowing. The paper discusses that the processes of art practice based research have generated new things, and products that their knowledge is not just to the researcher but the recipient. The methodology also lends credence to the development of reflective thinking capacity. The paper states that when art based practice research is used in conducting res earch it becomes an inquiry. It involves scholarly presentation that gives insights to emotional and intellectual understanding. The paper concludes that art based practice research finding provides information which helps the recipient in the understanding of the world in a new and different perspective through visual art knowledge.

One might say that where research findings presented in a concise statistical in the contemporary world is associated format. with scientific investigations which lead to The art is subjective, it creates the discovering of facts for a better meanings rather than discover facts. It has understanding of an issue and problem become an innovation that is integrated solving, art activities engaged in different into ways of conducting research which ways are being recognised as processes of involves human experience. Eisner in research because they give insights to Knowles and Cole (2008) states that “in problems solving in the society. The this sense, the products of this research are is in variance with the closer in function to deep conversation processes which the art uses to conduct and insightful dialogue than they are to research. The reason is because the error-free conclusions”. Since the art is scientific methods of conducting research subjective and openly gives out its work emphasises in the literal sense that as a novel invention, reality and symbol to research should be predesigned and its the sense of the viewer the issue of bias is Journal of Teacher Perspective, Volume 11 No. 2, December, 2016, ISSN: 2006 - 0173

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Art Based Practice As Creative Inquiry: Innovation In Research And Education -Ngene Eze, Ph.D not ruled out in its processes. The sciences and behavioural sciences to plausibility and recognition of bias in art generate knowledge that solve problems in research has often made those in science the society rather than depend on the disciplines to regard art based research as universal scientific methodology to create being incapable of creating new knowledge. The type of research problem knowledge, a conception which has that is being solved determines the continued to hinder the numerous impacts methodology to be used. Methodologies which the art has on the conduct of used in research have diversified which research. Eisner in Knowles and Cole enables art based practice to become (2008) holds that Plato was of the opinion innovative process of engaging research. that the sensory side of human experience Eisner in Knowles and Cole (2008) states belonged to and that the sense is a that we can embark on those studies of hindrance to the achievement of that human experience and behaviour that exalted state in which forms could be intuitively are difficult to deny. known. Furthermore Eisner maintained that art in Whereas Plato’s philosophy for research has limits of evocation, even construction of knowledge emphasised the when it has aspects of it that are removal of bias ‘sense’ in the conduct of descriptive in character. It entails that Art- research created the scientific based practice research is an innovation in methodology, but the scientific research methodology which addresses the methodology which quantifies materials different experiences and changes in does not suit disciplines in that humanity. create new knowledge by experience. Debates about the impact of Leavy (2009) states that traditional foundational knowledge by science on methods which are grounded in scientific ways to carry research without bias are method suit some, traditional qualitative viewed as having short comings. Sullivan research methods create a working space (2010) states that when science became for others, but that there are others that the manifesto of the Church of reason. It these research conventions make in which introduced a period that logical reasoning what was once a passion starts to feel became institutionalised as the way to gain more like it is a job. Thus research has knowledge. But the logic of the mind becomes a routine and boring process. which fits the logic of the physical world It necessitates that the conduct of has proved inadequate. Thus it is research should have innovation in its important to create innovations which methodology and processes for use by the diversify research processes in order to other disciplines which the traditional give opportunities to other disciplines scientific methodology does not suit. which conduct research that are based on Thus, innovation in research methodology human experiences, and social changes in and education are being carried out in the society. Wilson in Sullivan (2010) disciplines such as; humanities, social affirms that educators in the creative Journal of Teacher Perspective, Volume 11 No. 2, December, 2016, ISSN: 2006 - 0173

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Art Based Practice As Creative Inquiry: Innovation In Research And Education -Ngene Eze, Ph.D practices are inspired by the vision that Research therefore, entails the use they are agents of dynamic change, critical of insights acquired from previous renewal and bearers of cultural values experiences, ideas and activities to create which are beyond the exchange system of new knowledge in a new way that is the market place or some human forces. novel. The implication is that Art plays The issue here is the question of important innovative role in research as a art becoming an innovation in research methodology. In conducting research, it methodology in order to create new applies ideas, experiences, materials and knowledge. In Nigeria the prevailing activities to create visual images which notion around Universities, Polytechnics serve as data for solving the research and Colleges of Educations is that art has problem. The visual images which are no methodology in conducting research. It imagined in the processes of research as is because of this notion that their students data provide visual information that are are compelled to conduct art research presented in theory and practice. using scientific and educational Gustavsen in Reason and Bradbury (2006) methodologies. But the idea is that the supports that in the 1960s Norway Fine Arts Departments in those recognised the relation which exists institutions have failed to present to the between idea and field with quality assurance and curriculum planners new forms and structures that emerged of the different institutions that art plays because of the influence of Lewinian important role in different and assumption. Visual images such as; it is a methodology on its own. To , cartoons, film, video understand the creation of novel photographs, cyber graphics, signs, knowledge clearer in this way entails that symbols, diagrams and three dimensional one should understand that the knowledge models became processes which involved which art creates is unique and cannot be theory and practice in the conduct of reproduced. Rather it answers research research in most disciplines. This is questions through reflection, evaluation, because the processes seem to involve and analysis with the entire processes aspects of research that Gutavesen regards being revisited in order to give new as field . Visual images insight. Sullivan (2010) supports that therefore are engaged as innovation in the “while the meaning may be an elusive conduct of research in some disciplines construct, the processes of coming to such as: anthropology, psychology, know something involves accessing and biology and ethnographic research. using new knowledge”. Thus the art has The paper therefore examines art the attributes that create new knowledge based practice research methodology as a through processes of exploration of new innovation in research. Method of materials and idea which end in research research analysis such as and findings that are subjective. intuitive inquiry are discoursed.

Journal of Teacher Perspective, Volume 11 No. 2, December, 2016, ISSN: 2006 - 0173

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Art Based Practice As Creative Inquiry: Innovation In Research And Education -Ngene Eze, Ph.D Art Based Practice Research practice are some of the terms that have Methodology been used to describe studio Methodology is “a set of methodology. Smith and Dean (2010) methods, and principles used to perform explain that “creative work within, the a particular activity” (Hornby, Turnbull, University environment is now, often Lea, Parkinson, Phillips, Frances, and referred to as practice-led research, Ashby, 2010). Thus, methodology practice-based research, creative investigates and compares, different research or practice as research”. In research approaches and the various furtherance, they maintained that the methods which are used to generate terminologies are means to knowledge. It enables a researcher to characterize the way, in which practice structure strategies on how to proceed can result into research insights, such as and gather existing information about those that arise out of making a creative the research. work, documentation and theorisation of Kaplan in Gray and Malins (2004) state art work. This suggests that, the method that is being used as innovation to research The aim of methodology is to in some Universities, Polytechnics and help us understand, in the broadest Colleges of Education. Sullivan (2010) possible terms, not the products of speaks about this issue of arts - based inquiry, but the process itself: to practice research in a chronological describe and analyze methods, throwing order of their history. He states that: lights on their limitations and In the early year of the resources, clarifying their Enlightenment, the idea of the artist- presuppositions and consequences, as-analyst, or artist-technologist, relating their potentials to the twilight flourished. By the middle of the 20 th zone at the frontiers of knowledge. It is century, the artist- as- teacher was to venture generations from the success prominent and vision and voice of the of particular techniques, suggesting new creative iconoclast held sway. Following applications…suggesting new the social upheavals of the 1960s, a formulations. generation of artists infused art schools The above explanation with a new sense of openness and emphasises that the stages or processes, creative freedom. During the 1970s which a researcher employs in carrying and 1980s, places like Goldsmith out research should be clearly defined. College in London and Cal Arts in Los Art practice based research methodology Angles became hothouses of popular is one of the innovative processes which culture. Inspired by artists who saw is used in conducting studio research. teaching in art school as social process; In studio research; Arts-based students were encouraged to freely research, Art-practice as research, explore the excitement of being artist. Practice-led research, Research-led Journal of Teacher Perspective, Volume 11 No. 2, December, 2016, ISSN: 2006 - 0173

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Art Based Practice As Creative Inquiry: Innovation In Research And Education -Ngene Eze, Ph.D This suggests that art based management of the information practice research methodology is a gathered. The methodology is used to research innovation that provides create new knowledge in visual form. different possibilities, approaches and Thus the processes of art based practice information, about creative process of research methodology is inter-subjective, conducting research. McNiff in content and the context bound. The Knowles and Cole (2008) defines arts reason is because the methodology is based practice research as the flexible, creative and non-verbal form. systematic use of the artistic process, art Smith and Dean (2010) as well as making, and artistic expressions in all of Sullivan (2010) opine that critical the different forms of art studies as a imaginative and creative investigations primary way of understanding and which take place in the studios, examining experience by both galleries, on the internet, in higher researchers and people. It entails that institution and the community space are art practice based research offers systematic inquiry which creates opportunities which have become a knowledge which is taken as being methodology for conducting research. knowledge given. A researcher using art Leavy (2009) holds that, based practice research methodology as interdisciplinary arts-based practice has an innovative process in conducting developed to service all phases of research tries to understand research research endeavour; data collection, problems through multiple ways that are analysis, interpretation, and based on different research insights. representation. She further states that Art based practice research arts based practice research, allows the methodology is phenomenological and researcher to question and restructure empirical. It creates knowledge the research questions in new ways and consciously and sub-consciously from to reach new non-academic audiences. human experience, practice and direct It creates opportunities for particular of knowledge. The use of projects that aim to explore, describe art based practice research which or discover through a process. involves multiple methodologies within Thus, since art is emotive, it the studio environment enables a has a characteristic that is pluralistic in researcher to proffer solution to the approach and uses a multi-method research problem through theory and technique that is tailored to the practice. In Nigeria Irokanulo individual project (Gray and Malins, Emmanuel Ikemefula, (2014), Sani 2004). On this premise, art based Mazu (2014), Blaise Gundu Gbaden practice research when used as (2014), John Oyedemi (2014), Amos methodology, finds solutions to the Osakor Akprar (2015), Wale Olusegun research problem by recording the Ajayi (2015), Eze Ngene (2015) and progress made in the organisation or Lamidi Lasis (2015) adopted art based Journal of Teacher Perspective, Volume 11 No. 2, December, 2016, ISSN: 2006 - 0173

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Art Based Practice As Creative Inquiry: Innovation In Research And Education -Ngene Eze, Ph.D practice research as an approach, in