Eighty-Seven Questions on Artistic Research

Abstract

After more than ten years of experience with research at art schools in Switzerland – and internationally since the beginning of the 1990s – scholarly statements and visions about the future development of artistic research have become well known. SARN’s aim is to investigate the impact of artistic research with a focus on non-school protagonists in Switzerland and abroad – by collecting questions. In a first step, and inspired by the book by artists Fischli/Weiss, Findet mich das Glück?, we looked for questions – straightforward, multi-layered, enigmatic, inspiring – presenting the personal experiences of artists, curators, researchers, and observers of the field or representatives of a funding organisation. The present notebook includes 88 multi-faceted questions and is the starting point of a long-term project dealing with the impact or ‘added value’ of artistic research in society. We invite you to step into the flow of questions in order to enable a deepened reflection. By accepting the current ambivalent situation in which there might be no (simple) answers, we would like to keep the discussion going. In a second step, after the conference, SARN will continue the project by including various points-of-view. The space left in the notebook is provided for you to sketch your thoughts. You are very welcome to send further questions, remarks and answers to SARN under the following address: camille.dumond@hesge.ch. Get inspired!