Do and document - Phase 1

This research is about harmony, you can find the key points in the text below.

In this basic exposition, you will find the investigative activities and interventions that were carried on during phase 1 of the research.

 

All activities were based on the updated Design document sent to my SF and research mentor on the 26th of October, once the feedback on the first document was applied.

 

I followed a phenomenological approach and I selected the following formats of documentation: photography, video, audio recording, zoom feedback loops, writing in a word document and a notebook that hybrids personal log, sketchbook and journal. Inspired by the book Embodied Inquiry by Celeste Snowber, I inserted my research activities within my already existing morning routines and kept a daily log of the work. Click here to go to the description of methodologies, documentation and reflection.

 

The amount of photographic, video and written material is too big to be uploaded. In this exposition, I submit only some photographs of those documents and a short description of it.

 

Arrows indicate a temporal progression, geometrical containers close to text is a visual reference and dotted lines as linking indicators between the items.

 

Area of inquiry


The core interest of this research is the concept of harmony. The expected outcome is a deeper understanding of the key elements of harmony and how those could be integrated and manifested into my artistic work. 


Once that Design 1 was updated and the planning was done at the end of October 2020, I started the process from a rational state with a literature review about the origins of the concept and selected those keywords that were more adequate to my artistic interest.


Harmony can be studied in different fields, however, I am focusing my attention on the following aspects: agreement of ideas, feelings, or actions, or a pleasing combination of different parts, a combination of separate but related parts in a way that uses their similarities to bring unity


It is important to point out that I am sharing this document as a practice-led researcher under an artistic scope, and not as a theoretical-philosophical approach.


Later in this exposition, you will find that I decided to work with paper and the human body, the reason for this is because I find potential in exploring possibilities of harmony (unity) through the possible functional interaction of those 2 elements with incredibly different material properties. Its a metaphor for human nature and the fragile, restrictive, uncomfortable conditions in which life develops in 2020 and the urge to find grace and possibilities within the conditions.

Key elements (words)

 

Harmony: Agreement of ideas, feelings, or actions, or a pleasing combination or arrangement of different parts, combination of separate but related parts in a way that uses their similarities to bring unity. Relationship between the parts in practical combinations. To flow, no resistance to the conditions and finding the way to still achieve a purpose.


The conditions: Metaphorically, the conditions refer to the context in which somebody is living. In practice, the conditions are represented by the costume.


The body: The body of the person understood as an unity of the sensations, thoughts, feelings, shapes, desires and memories. This body/person should be willing to suspend the intellect and allow the shape and properties of the costume informs about the development of the experiment. I think on this body as the soul which gives life to the costume/body.


The intention: The purpose, aim, motive or objective of the body/person.


The costume: The costume symbolizes the conditions, it should be understood as the skin of a different body, a container with its own characteristics, possibilities, and limits. It is a body that needs a soul to experience life and pursue its purpose.


The material properties: Literally talking about the characteristics of the materials, weight, elasticity, fragility, resistance, shape, etc.


Embodiment: Bodily mechanisms that allows the dancer to accept the material properties of clothes as their own body. Awareness, incorporation, constant negotiation between the agency of the body and the adaptation to the conditions. Negotiation between move and being moved.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY INITIAL LITERATURE REVIEW AND REFLECTIONS

Some of my initial notes and mappings to direct my attention in the research

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UPDATED DESIGN DOCUMENT

Initial mapping about the concept and key elements