Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Interdisciplinary approaches are necessary for exploring the complex research questions that stem from interdependence in social-ecological systems. For example, the concept of biocultural diversity, which highlights the interactions between human diversity and the diversity of biological systems, bridges multiple knowledge systems and disciplines and can reveal historical, existing, and emergent patterns of variation that are essential to ecosystem dynamics. Identifying biocultural diversity requires a flexible, creative, and collaborative approach to research. We demonstrate how visual art can be used in combination with scientific and social science methods to examine the biocultural landscape of the Sahtú region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Specifically, we focus on the intersection of Dene cultural diversity and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) intraspecific variation. We developed original illustrations, diagrams, and other visual aids to increase the effectiveness of communication, improve the organization of research results, and promote intellectual creativity. For example, we used scientific visualization and drawings to explain complex genetic data and clarify research priorities. Visual facilitation during meetings helped establish accurate representations of both cultural and biological diversity by externalizing heterogeneity and avoiding standardization. Group mind mapping enhanced collaborators' ability to visualize connections between Dene concepts, like bets'erıhchá "respect" and caribou, and to recognize differences between knowledge systems that challenge translations and reduce the effectiveness of research outcomes. Collaborative visual products, like posters that represented different caribou types, allowed Dene partners to more clearly articulate subtleties within caribou intraspecific variation that are manifest through distinct dialects, place-based relationships, and cultural practices. Our results point to the potential for visual art to be used to improve communication, participation, and knowledge production in interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research collaborations and to enhance the sustainable stewardship and protection of biodiversity.

Drawn to science

“…Ultimately, these genetic analyses accorded with the phenotypes recognized by tribal elders. Drawings were at the root of this collaborative process 4 .…”

Finding CreativeVoice: Applying Arts-Based Research in the Context of Biodiversity Conservation

“…There is no correct answer for creating or discussing artworks and their meaning. Art allows for the communication of perspectives beyond language and no particular expertise is required to comment on it or develop one's own understanding and interpretation in relationship to it [9,11]. This was evident in our focus group discussions where participants could comment on the various artworks without feeling the need to have any special knowledge or expertise.…”

“…Art also offers unique ways to build bridges between indigenous knowledge and other types of knowledge, enriching the possibilities for genuine knowledge co-production and the stimulation of critical thinking [7,8]. For example, visual arts offer powerful resources for communicating complex science in understandable ways [9]. Visual arts have also shown a great capacity to foster creative solutions to complex problems, and this capacity is increased when solutions are discussed in groups [10].…”

“…Thus art-based methods emerged as potentially useful to our purposes. However, the majority of art-based research projects that we were aware of tended to involve the participation of artists and/or art expertise [3,9,[11][12][13]. Despite the significant benefits that bringing artists and scientists together can have, in this case, our purpose was to diminish as much as possible the intervention of external influences on the community and the establishment of hierarchies of expertise, allowing participants to define their own problems and strategies for change.…”

Realizing the transformative potential of conservation through the social sciences, arts and humanities

“…Let us not forget the often highly colonial, disruptive and even violent history of conservation Sandlos, 2007) -which has led to the critiques of the social impacts of conservation mentioned earlier. The arts and humanities can provide us with the concepts and techniques to innovate and re-imagine a more socially just, culturally appropriate and, indeed, beautiful way of imagining and achieving conservation (Brennan, 2018;Holm et al, 2015;Polfus et al, 2017). What we are refering to here is the full transformative potential of conservation, which is already an act of resistance.…”