From ‘or’ to ‘and’: L’écriture féminine as a methodological approach for Fine Art research

Abstract

This article asserts that the terms ‘practice-led’ and ‘practice-based’ in the context of Art and Design doctoral research are overly simplistic and maintain oppositional thinking by privileging ‘practice’ in generating knowledge. It argues instead for theory and practice as interrelated discourses and art practice research as complex, dialogical and comprising a heterogeneous spatiality. Building on my own ‘writing//painting’ methodological approach which utilises l’écriture féminine, this article highlights the importance of the specificity of individual methodological approaches and the need for a more common framework of articulation so that these approaches are accessible throughout the wider sphere of Art and Design.