A Metaphorical Methodology: Embracing Complexity in Doctoral Artistic Research

Kevin Skelton

About this exposition

This exposition invites you to reflect on the various things you do in your doctoral artistic research and to consider how these activities might form an interconnected system — a methodology. In a guided tour of words, images, and visits to my garden, I reconsider several research models I encountered as a PhD student investigating transdisciplinary performing practices. However, my primary aim is to carve out a pathway — from model to metaphor — one that offers a viable means of seeing your doctoral project existing within a terrain of complexity rather than utter chaos. Throughout the exposition I employ metaphors inspired not only by my artistic work, but also by my garden in Abruzzo, where I lived throughout my PhD studies. To fully discover Abruzzo, it is necessary to slow down — even allow yourself to get bored — before inevitably being revitalized and inspired by its natural beauty and ever-welcoming ambiance. I hope you will embrace this exposition’s journey. Permit yourself to be a rural-Italian wanderer, enjoy the breaks, and take extra ones so you can also enjoy an espresso or glass of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Download Accessible PDF

type	research exposition
keywords	artistic research, methods, methodology, singing, dance, breathing, metaphor, place
date	29/12/2025
published	29/12/2025
last modified	29/12/2025
status	published
affiliation	Zürcher Hochschule der Künste
copyright	Kevin Skelton
license	CC BY-NC-ND
language	English
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/2951879/3702271
doi	https://doi.org/10.22501/jar.2951879
published in	Journal for Artistic Research
portal issue	37. 37
external link	www.kevinskelton.com

name	1. Amandine
copyright	KEVIN SKELTON
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usages	picture

name	A. GerminationA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture, picture

name	B. Lay of the LandA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	C. DigressionA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	D. Observing the FieldA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	E. SeedlingA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	5. Tomatoes
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	5. Broom
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture

name	F. Planting the SeedsA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture

name	Onto-epistemological model for Practice Research
copyright	Robin Nelson
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usages	picture

name	Pro-Create Cycle
copyright	The University of Leeds and Jessica Lucy Walker
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usages	picture

name	Video 1 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	F. Video
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	image

name	8. Embodiment Cycle
copyright	University of Leeds and Jessica Lucy Walker
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usages	picture, picture

name	G. FlowerA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	7. Almond Blossoms
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	H. Growing and HavestingA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	Video 2 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	I. ReflectionA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture

name	9. Looking over mountains
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	J. CultivationA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture

name	10. Spiral of Experiential Learning
copyright	New Zealand Ministry of Education
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usages	picture

name	Video 3 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	J. Video
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	image

name	K. IntersectionA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture

name	11. Bike on street
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	L. Dance BreaksA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	Video 4 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	Video 4 (JAR) preview
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	image

name	M. FruitA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture

name	M. Couch Grass
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	M. Asparagus
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	N. Weeding and PruningA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture

name	N. Collage of cycles and spirals
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture

name	N. Constellation of praxical spheres
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture

name	N. Iterative cyclic web
copyright	Hazel Smith and Roger T. Dean
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usages	picture

name	Video 5 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	Video 5 (JAR) preview
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	image

name	O. ImaginationA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture

name	O. Bike ride Sirente Velino
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	P. SeedA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	Q. AssemblageA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	Video 6 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	R. The Second DanceA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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name	Video 7 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	S. Means and EndsA
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture, picture

name	Video 8 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	Video 8 (JAR) Preview
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	image

name	Video 9 (JAR)
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	S. Video Breathing
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	image

name	Breathing, Dancing, Singing
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	C. Breathing, Dancing, Singing
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	image

name	PULSE
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	video

name	C. PULSE
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	image

name	How trees secretly talk to each other - BBC News
copyright	BBC News
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usages	video

name	P. Olive trees
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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usages	picture

name	0 Map
copyright	Kevin Skelton
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A Metaphorical Methodology: Embracing Complexity in Doctoral Artistic Research (2025)

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