SUPPORTING MATERIALS (thinking aesthetic thinking through aesthetic research practices) by Emma Cocker

thinking aesthetic thinking through aesthetic research practices is an artistic research project by Alex Arteaga, Emma Cocker, Nicole Wendel (with Sabine Zahn during the first phase), focused on the ways in which aesthetic research practices realise a specific form of thinking: aesthetic thinking. This exposition shares the research process of this collaborative project tracing its key phases between June 2020 - October 2022 and the gradual evolution of an original research dispositive or apparatus called Ecologies in Action. This exposition is conceived as Supporting Materials for a parallel article published in ______________.

Ecology in Action: (12.09.2022)

The structuring principle for this Ecology in Action is an enquiry into the modality, attitude or intention of relation or connection practised within the Ecology and (1) How/if the mode of connection/relation creates conditions for aesthetic thinking; how the mode of connection is constitutive for aesthetic thinking; (2) If/how the mode of connection is an emergent property of an Ecology in Action or how/whether it can be conceived as a structuring principle to be actively explored.

* Format/Focus: A 45-minute semi-structured Ecology in Action.

* Practices are not disclosed at the outset of practising.

* An undisclosed number of practices which are not identified in advance (other than being ‘not new’ - ie. they already described through "scores" in SINGLE PRACTICES), are practised as three explorations (by 3 different persons).

* Within a period of 45 minutes, each researcher agrees to transition through different modes or attitudes of connection from (A) Separation (autonomy) – that is, to practice in isolation from others’ practice, by not being affected or in touch with the other practices, but rather highly immersed/absorbed by their singular practice; (B) Parallel (Open, in Touch) – that is, to practice with awareness and openness to others’ practices but not directly interacting with them; (C) Interwoven (interaction) – that is, to be influenced by and interact with others' practices, open to affecting and being affected by the others’ practices and practising.

Organisation: No set time cues are set for transitioning from one mode/attitude of connection to another. An agreement is made to follow the sequence (A, B, C) and that this sequence is undertaken only once. Each researcher transitions from one mode/attitude of connection to the next (in sequence), spontaneously as ‘called’ by the unfolding Ecology in Action.

Notes

* The Practice of Transcription had multiple sources, including the recorded conversation taking place after the Ecology in Action from the last meeting 08.07.2022, alongside listening to the unfolding of the live practices within the current Ecology.

* The Practice of Reading uses as its source text the transcription of the Ecology in Action from 08.07.2022.

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