Material, Process and Making | School of Arts and Cultures

Material, Process and Making explores forms of thinking, creativity and engagement associated with, and specific to, materials and processes. It is set against the background of the availability of new technologies and methods, and of critical and historical understanding of traditions and orthodoxies associated with established disciplines and areas of enquiry. The work of two ECR fellows, Masterman and Korda, (Korda’s fellowship established in partnership with BALTIC), explored the boundaries of ceramics research, while Cuddon’s Leverhulme Fellowship (2019-) resurfaces under-researched narratives connecting clay with text. Our ‘Material Memories’ conference (2014), organised by distinguished academic and PGR Gwen Heeney (1952-2016) convened international researchers working with the material legacy of the post-industrial landscape. Theoretical work here includes analysis of studio practice from the perspectives of practice-led researchers (Mieves, Jones) and art historians (Lotery, Moonie, Spalding).

Questions about material and process act as departure points for research relating to content, intention and form; the relationship of practice to 'tradition', 'craft' and the notion of discreet 'disciplines'; issues of collaboration with other artists or with technical specialists/manufacturers and reliance on the expertise of others; the impact of new knowledge and technologies on practice and the relationship of theory and history to practice. Researchers whose work overtly or otherwise engages with this territory are Andrew Burton, Katie Cuddon, Richard Talbot, Catrin Huber, Chris Jones, Christian Mieves and Erika Servin.