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: (08.07.2022)

* Format/focus:Semi-structured exploration - To explore moving from a structured exploration (with an agreed beginning of named practices) to an unstructured exploration within a 75-minute timeframe.

* Practices: Agreed to begin with 2 practices (with variations) activated by 3 persons: Practice of Material Encounter (with sound focus); Practice of Material Encounter (with video focus) and Practice of Reading (Noticing Attraction [major] and Distillation [minor]). From there the invitation was to move spontaneously from and between practices as ‘called’ by the practice and unfolding Ecology in Action.

* Enquiry: Also attend to the relation of one's own practice as an 'ecology', an ecology within an ecology.

* The option of stopping or continuing within the Ecology in Action is also proposed which we now call the Practice of Stepping Back.

* A further structural component was proposed: that if there is a ‘call’ for the Practice of Conversation-as-Material, we respond. We proposed that this practice could take place at an approximately half-way point, as a way of re-energising/refocusing.

Practices in alphabetical order

- Practice of Conversation-as-Material

- Practice of Exploratory Essay Writing (Live Writing + Voiced)

- Practice of Explorative Drawing

- Practice of Material Encounter

- Practice of Observation (Live Writing + Voiced)

- Practice of Reading: Noticing Attraction and Distillation (Text source: Transcript from previous Ecology in Action 07.07.2022)

- Practice of Stepping Back

- Practice of Transcription

- Practice of Very Slow Video Observation

- Practice of Video Observation from Physical Source

10 practices in total, practised as three parallel explorations (by 3 different persons) with points of connection. Some of these practices have defined variations e.g. Practice of Observation (Variations: Live Writing + Voiced), Practice of Material Encounter (mediated by sound and/or by video)

Additional Focus:

* In practising, exploring the relation between being-in-touch (being-with) other practices and being-apart (practising autonomously).

* Consider the compatibility and incompatibility of practices, and whether/how this compatibility or incompatibility enables or inhibits aesthetic thinking

* Consider the relation of how aesthetic thinking is practised within an individual’s practice and how it is practised within the overall Ecology in Action – and if/how this relation is causal.

Note:

* Practice of conversation (Focus/referent) - The experience of practising within the Ecology in Action (directly) and aesthetic thinking (indirectly).

* Practice of Observation (Voiced + Live Writing) (Focus/referent) - The experience of practising within the Ecology in Action (directly) and aesthetic thinking (indirectly).

* Practice of Exploratory Essay Writing (Focus/referent) - The experience of aesthetic thinking (directly) and practising within the Ecology in Action (indirectly).

* The Practice of Transcription had multiple sources, including the recorded conversation taking place after the Ecology in Action from 07.07.2022.

* Practice of Transcription has multi sources as reference (including listening to the recording of the Ecology in Action from 18.05.2022, alongside listening to the unfolding live practices within the current Ecology.

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