Ouvrir la chambre noire de la photographie d’art : méthodes visuelles et analyse du travail artistique

Abstract

This article advocates for visual methods in researching work practices in the field of art photography. On the basis of an ethnographic study of two artists in Zurich, it emphasises the methodological creativity enabled by a visual approach to artistic production. After a review of the literature, the field is presented, as well as three techniques of inquiry. These are commented visits, photo documentation and video elicitation that were used at different moments of the study (negotiation of field access, relations of inquiry, analysis, restitution). We show that visual methods not only offer technical tools to “suspend” the flow of artistic work and gestures, but also permit to follow and highlight how artists make sense of what they are doing in moments of decision-making and creation, which lead to an art piece. Finally, and from a reflective stance, the authors discuss the heuristic value of a camera and a video recorder as sources of interaction between researchers and visual artists.

Keywords

• art photography
• visual methods
• ethnography
• art in process
• commented visits
• photo documentation