Richard Keating Artist

PhD Archive

Welcome to the Phd Blog

Keeping the blog was an important thread in weaving the research, the drawing practice and community facilitation. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy was awarded by the University of Wales Trinity St. David in 2018.

Abstract

The research considers why aesthetics, the subjective ways in which we
experience and value places, and nature’s agency are not readily included in
decision-making processes. This action research adopts a hopeful, participatory
and auto-ethnographic inquiry into the potential for developing and applying a
relational and environmental walking-art practice to overcome this disconnect; an
approach which attempts to reconnect art and life, cultural and natural systems.
Metaphor is used as a method to reflect upon an emergent art practice. The
research considers Felix Guattari’s ideas of transversality, developing an ethicoaesthetic paradigm as a critical framework, taking into account the work of relevant
practitioners and specifically Grant Kester’s arguments concerning reciprocal
creative labour. The framework is developed through a weaving metaphor and
applied to three community-led land-use change case studies; a canal restoration
project, caring for a community woodland and Landscape Character Assessment.
The weaving metaphor becomes both a process and an art work capable of
revealing and helping to incorporate subjectivity into traditionally objective
decision-making processes. As well as facilitating community-wide dialogue, the
research has, in some cases, lead to action being taken alongside nature’s
agency.
The research evaluates the transformation of the art practice and its impact, which
suggests the positive agency of art as a practical aesthetic in a social and
environmental context.

The thesis can be read here:
https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/1311/13/Keating%20R%20Landscape%20final.pdf#:~:text=As%20a%20part%20of%20post,with%20people%20in%20the%20Stroud

  • WtL exhibition, Folly Wood, Woodland Pilgrimage, The Weave, Field trip to Llanddeusant, Brecon Beacons National Park

    23rd to 28th May. Printing and framing work for the Walking the Land “WaterWay” exhibition at the Old Passage. The exhibition builds on the work of the Weave in as much as it continues to celebrate and explore the value of waterways in our lives. PV attached (RSVP). Designed by Kel Portman.

    Developing animation from the drawings made in the Brecon Beacons and adding sound extracted from video made on site. I still feel that the part of the drawing photographed as stills for the animation are not necessarily the elements I would want to include – i.e. I need to refine the drawing machine to include the whole drawing. At the moment the machine is “making” random decisions as to what is included in the animation, To an extent I’m happy about this but at other times I’d like to have a bit more influence, particularly regards composition and content. However, I’m happy to continue to explore this relationship between me and the machine. This builds on the ongoing “Train Lines” series of drawings. This concept seems to be one of the underlying issues that I want my work to address. Individual and machine. I also see the ways we organise ourselves in a similar light – enabling and at the same time restricting. Individual and community organisation. This seems to be a core issue for enabling creativity in communities and for me, both are about individuals and nature.

    Preparing for woodland pilgrimage, checking accommodation, route etc. Also developing interface with Folly Wood membership, inviting people to do their own tree rubbings. The idea being to seek “sponsorship” in the form of tree rubbings and to include any resulting work alongside the tree rubbings made every mile on the walk. Work to be exhibited at Folly Wood gathering on 19th June.

    Attachments

    waterway-pv-invitations-1308561707.pdf

  • Yoga, drawing and walking

    emailed Amanda Sultan-Black a suggested walk/yoga/drawing session for discussion. The question I’m interested in is the similarity between what Kant referred to as “disinterest” and the meditative approach taken by yoga which holds a distance between self and the world which at the same time enhances appreciation and well being.

    Attachments

    email-1306436031.doc

  • Folly Wood and WtL Woodland Pilgrimage

    Produced discussion document for Folly Wood core group meeting.

    Also developed thinking and planning for Walking the Land’s one hundred mile woodland pilgrimage.

    Attachments

    towards-a-layout-1306420266.doc

  • The Weave

    thanking speakers etc. Some discussions as to next steps.
    At the conference the Town Council agreed to consider hosting the Weave Vision. My intention is to make an animation based on the Weave Drawing and sound recordings from the symposium. I intend for this to be the start of the content for the online vision. I am then considering taking this vision out to the wider community through a series of “artwalks”, adding to it and developing a relational aesthetic.

  • Tutorial

    Tutorial with Rob Newell and Andrea Liggins. Journey by train – the River Severn still attracts my attention.
    Questions about colour and choice of Chinese paper used with the drawing machine, especially its scale and similarity to toilet tissue. Is the disposable appearance of the drawing a meaningful statement? My own reflections on the appearance of the drawing at the symposium was similar in as much as it had been very much the outcome from a process rather than a product which the meeting focused on.

    A number of analogies arise which seem to be about the role/purpose of the drawings, there meanings and their appearance :
    1. can the drawing be seen as part of the weave of activity undertaken by the local community and if so, what is its particular and maybe ongoing role? Does it play a similar role to the warp and weft? The paper is quite similar in appearance to that used in sewing/tailoring patterns.
    2. If the disposable nature of the drawing is to be emphasised, what would happen next? Is there an analogy to be drawn with flowers and their process of decay and the casting of seeds?
    3. I am aware of the line in the drawings representing life, rather as with an elector-cardiogram; both its vulnerability and resilience – taking this further in terms of environmental fragility and resilience, what might reference to disposability or weft and warp be saying?
    4. It feels to be about a creative driving force, some shared framework no matter how subtle and irregular, even invisible – maybe nature. Is it coincidence that this element of William Robinson’s landscape design is currently receiving a high profile on the Chelsea Flower Show TV Coverage?

  • Vision 21

    seasonal meeting of Vision 21 Facilitators network. Sharing writing, thinking and feelings about Pragmatism. Sue Porter, Joolz Bennett, Alison Parfitt and Jaqui Taylor.

    Attachments

    pragmatism-2-1306409529.doc

  • The Weave

    Symposium:
    images showing Elena Marco from UWE feeding back with architecture students on their Stroud based project, Cllr. Ben Spencer introducing ideas for Apple Town and traffic management and informal networking

  • The Weave

    Setting-up at the exchange, meeting with Max Comfort, Val Kirby and Tom Keating.

  • The Weave

    8th to 11th: making work for symposium. Collating photographs from various walks, transcribing sound recordings of interviews, making presentation including video, sound recordings and animation. Finalising programme, attendee list, briefing notes etc.

    Attachments

    symposium-programme-3-may-1306396997.pdf

    confirmations-and-apologies-2-1306396997.pdf

  • Walking the Land Exhibition

    making a drawing from First Friday Walk for the exhibition at the “Old Passage”.