Enigmatic epistemic things

The epistemic role of artworks in artistic research doctorates

Authors

  • Anne Solberg University of Southeast Norway

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7577/formakademisk.3543

Keywords:

epistemic things, experimental systems, artistic research, doctoral research, hand-built porcelain

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss epistemology, focusing on the epistemic role of artwork in research projects. Porcelaneous is the initial phase of a three-year artistic research project with an artistic component comprising the making of porcelain boards. The  porcelain boards and the making process in this initial phase are used as examples from practice. At the core of the epistemological discussion is Hans-Jörg Rheinberger’s theory on experimental systems and epistemic things. Rheinberger advocates for an objective and practice-oriented approach rather than a theoretical approach to experimental research. In his setting, epistemic things are material. This article has concluded that Rheinberger’s theory is about attitudes rather than research methods and that this attitude to epistemological questions is relevant for artistic research.

Author Biography

Anne Solberg, University of Southeast Norway

Avdeling for estetiske fag, folkekultur og lærerutdanning, Institutt for forming og formgiving.

Stilling: Førsteamanuensis

References

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Published

2020-09-25

How to Cite

Solberg, A. (2020). Enigmatic epistemic things: The epistemic role of artworks in artistic research doctorates. FormAkademisk, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.7577/formakademisk.3543

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