The Relationship Between Self and Activity in the Context of Artists Making Art

Abstract

Art is an activity that has historically invited self-reflection, self-immersion, and self-explorationfor example, in self-portraits, exhibitions, experimentation with media-and that as such may open a window onto the relationship between self and activity. In this article, we describe two cases studies involving observation of and interviews with two artists to explore what it feels like to invest oneself in an activity emotionally, cognitively, sensuously, and reciprocally to "make oneself" through this activity. These case studies highlight the importance of authenticity in both the activity of making art and the making of self through making art. The implications for agency, emotion, and ethical activity are analysed and some of the implications for a sociocultural approach to activity discussed.

An experiential account of the psychology of art.

“…In our own work (McCarthy, Sullivan, & Wright, 2006; Sullivan & McCarthy, 2007) we have undertaken an extensive qualitative study of artists making art. This involved interviewing 12 artists about their work, shadowing their activity, looking at their notebooks, and attending art events.…”

Directed self-criticism with artist-workers: a methodological proposal based on cultural-historical psychology

“…In addition, it is fundamental for the constitution of a methodology to be coherent with the object of study, something that exposes the self-reflective process and the unity of artistwork-society. As an approximation of our interests, we highlight the research of Sullivan & McCarthy (2007) who refer to the condition of self-knowledge of the artist supported by their own work. According to the authors, from this dialogical relationship it is possible to discern feelings, responsibility for actions, recognition of possibilities and potential for future action.…”

Connected Arts Learning: Cultivating Equity Through Connected and Creative Educational Experiences

“…Identity development is intertwined with the art making process and very much part of the reviewed arts literature base. Sullivan and McCarthy (2007) describe the symbiotic process of identity development in art making, as:reciprocal, where artists simultaneously invest themselves in their artistic activity and, in the process, change themselves, perhaps by changing their sense of how their activity contributes to the world they inhabit. That is, they create who they are as a part of what they do including the affective, emotional, and cognitive sense they make of what they do.…”