The Timelessness of Arts-Based Research: Looking Back Upon A Heuristic Self-Study and the Arts-Based Reflexivity Data Analysis Method

Abstract

This theoretical article explores the author's experience of a heuristic, arts-based self-study with focus on the data analysis method that was utilized in this project and its continual development. The author refers to this method as arts-based reflexivity. A historical review of arts-based and heuristic research will be provided to give context and theoretical background to support the development and use of arts-based reflexivity. This systematic method of analysing artistic data encourages the researcher to ask various questions to him/herself and interact with the data by creating intuitive art forms as responses to internal dialogue and feelings. A template will be offered for researchers to explore and utilize for their own projects and processes. The components of arts-based reflexivity will be explored using examples from the author's graduate research project as well as recent reflections upon the topic: "What is My Artistic Centre?", an adapted short form performance piece which illustrates the steps and potential self-knowledge which can be gain through the arts-based reflexivity method.

Keywords

• arts-based research
• performative inquiry
• heuristic