A Research of Doing
Project lead: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Basak Senova and Dr.
Johan Thom
Department of Art and Communication Practices
Duration: 01.05.2021 - 30.04.2023
OeAD Africa-UniNet
and BMBWF: P017_South Africa/ A Research of Doing/ University of Applied Arts Vienna, University of Pretoria
A RESEARCH OF DOING (ARD) is a collaborative research-based artistic project that takes a joint publication
as the main activity and outcome of the collaboration. The research will be facilitated by two teams from the University of
Pretoria and University of Applied Arts Vienna in collaboration with the Centre for the Less Good Idea in Johannesburg. Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Basak Senova, Visiting Professor at Department of Art and Communication Practices at Angewandte will lead the research
and co-edit the publication in collaboration with Dr. Johan Thom, coordinator of Fine Art and Postgraduate studies in Fine
Art at UP and Bronwyn Lace, Director of the Centre for the Less Good Idea.
ARD will be executed throughout
two segments of inquiry that are designed to practice, analyse, and document: Researching by practicing—“doing”—and documenting,
analysing, and discussing by writing. Constructivism is an extension of symbolic interaction theory which proposes that social
constructs are based on relationships and interactions. This methodology serves as a qualitative research method to be followed
throughout the first segment of the project. This will be supported by a material and practice-led approach to the various
modes of artistic expressions.
The project teams will participate in the research as case studies and also
through their practice-led artistic research projects, teaching contributions to the programme and the book. With an integrative
approach, “The Octopus Programme” of University of Applied Arts Vienna and the Centre for the Less Good Idea will provide
further input to this research.