The practice-led Fine Art Ph.D. — at the frontier of what there is — an outlook on what might be

ABSTRACT

In instituting the Fine Art Ph.D.s, the academy has triggered debate about the nature of artistic knowledge, and what constitutes art research. Research in the arts is increasingly being manipulated to focus on the production and commodification of knowledge, and ‘impact’ is now an evaluative component for the REF. Ongoing developments in neuroscience and cognitive science guide our understanding that it is the brain, in combination with other senses, and not just the eyes that ‘see’ — visual perception is now understood as a cognitive process. In the art world of image-making, how is this affecting views and consideration given to artworks made when undertaking artistic research in fulfilment of a Ph.D.? This article looks at the exhibition of paintings presented as Dan Hayes’ Research Statement -‘Screen As Landscape’ — to progress a discussion about the evolving nature of the Fine Art Ph.D. Explorations include discussion around ‘knowledge’, ‘transcognition’ and ‘digimodernism’, while themes associated with aesthetics, representation and creativity along with the ubiquitous presence of mediating technology are also given consideration.