“Artistic Practice as an Alternative Research Method: Investigating Non-representational, Nonlinguistic, and Affective Forces in Technology Through Artmaking” presented by Nam
Symposium:
Session Title:
- Virtual (short papers)
Presentation Title:
- Artistic Practice as an Alternative Research Method: Investigating Non-representational, Nonlinguistic, and Affective Forces in Technology Through Artmaking
Presentation Subtheme:
- Speculative practices
Presenter(s):
Venue(s):
Abstract:
During the pandemic, we were compelled to migrate our lives to the digital space. Despite technological advancements, it became evident that virtual experiences cannot fully replace real-life, in-person interactions, exposing the limitations of digital representations. Nonrepresentational and affective aspects are often undervalued, disregarded, as most human experiences are digitized. This paper contends that these ephemeral and intangible phenomena deserve further attention, particularly for cultivating a sustainable relationship with technology. Recognizing these challenges due to their nonlinguistic and invisible natures, the author proposes artmaking as an alternative research method to overcome such obstacles. Drawing on personal experiences as an artist, the author demonstrates affective experiences and cognitive interactions with technology—beyond consciousness and digital representations. The paper highlights that media artists are in an advantageous position to investigate such intangible and nonrepresentational aspects in technology. They can examine their first-hand experiences in the artmaking process and demonstrate them through artworks in nonlinguistic ways. The author also posits that such bodily experiences with digital media lead to an affective and sustainable assemblage of human-technology cognition.
