The Value of ArtScience: improving the balance in collaboration practices between artists and scientists can impact knowledge production

Kuchner, Ulrike

Abstract

In a time in which scientific knowledge is in danger of being discredited, we return to the responsibility of art and science. There is widespread optimism that collaborations between artists and scientists can develop solutions to complex problems, co-create new knowledge and contribute to discovery and understanding. However, art-science pairings are often based on similar subject areas alone, and without structured efforts to enable cooperation. For artists and scientists, the path towards meaning-making is not guided by the same principles. The artist is not bound to scientific goals or facts and there is no obligation to produce truth, which makes art-science collaborations unique within inter- and transdisciplinary research. For scientific institutions or organisations, such collaborations are often perceived as ‘art in the service of science’ where outcomes of art-science collaborations are primarily seen as a means to communicate difficult scientific concepts to the public. It is rare that art becomes an acknowledged, integral ingredient in the production of scientific knowledge. This is surprising given the special psychological relationship of humans with art: experiencing art can lead to new ways of understanding and meaning-making — crucial for solving the complex and ‘wicked’ problems we are facing in the world today. Combining insights from the ongoing academic debate and my personal experience as an astrophysicist — and artist — who has actively worked in art-science collaborations for the past 12 years, this paper argues for a deep familiarity of the history and methodology of the other discipline as well as confronting one’s own prejudice and biases towards the other discipline.

Citation

Kuchner, U. (2022). The Value of ArtScience: improving the balance in collaboration practices between artists and scientists can impact knowledge production. Writing Visual Culture, 10.0, 23-42

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 8, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 28, 2022
• Publication Date: Feb 28, 2022
• Deposit Date: Dec 22, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 22, 2022
• Journal: Writing Visual Culture
• Electronic ISSN: 2049-7180
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10.0
• Article Number: 10.3
• Pages: 23-42
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/15167858
• Publisher URL: https://www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/349300/TVAD_WVC-Volume10.pdf
• Related Public URLs: https://www.herts.ac.uk/research/groups-and-units/tvad-theorising-visual-art-and-design/writing-visual-culture