About
Autonomy of Practice explores an embodied and creative understanding of the relational aspects of autonomy and how this relates to participatory arts practices.
The quality and nature of the invitation we make to others ensures that this is done with care, and in a way that supports the autonomy of the people we collaborate with and our own as individuals. This influences the aesthetic quality of that engagement. The act of participation alone is not intrinsically good. It’s important we ask: on whose terms has this invitation been formed.
By aesthetically developing the theoretical ideas of care and autonomy we aim to encourage creative dialogue and embodied understanding. Time together to research and develop this fundamental aspect of participatory practice has nurtured our practice as artists, as well as the potential for shared learning and creativity supporting creative communities in arts and participation.
To reach this point our work has been informed through creative collaborations and conversations with artists, a voice coach specialising in the connection between voice and the body, a philosopher, a doctor, a mentor and young people living with complex disability and life-limiting illness, many of who communicate without using spoken language and a week-long residency at Cove Park, Argyle.
This is a project by artists Jeni Pearson and Kirsty Stansfield, funded by a Creative Scotland Open Fund.
