Abstract

This paper presents a personal and creative reinterpretation of Henri Lefebvre’s The Production of Space, visualised through to the production of artworks as a mechanism to propose imaginary and reconstituted truths. Several key thinkers on space and place are examined to present an abstract notion of time and space that re-presents history as a series of synchronous and relational moments in time. In line with Lefebvre’s dialectic approach, I argue that his various models of spatial triads posit a differential space that is open ended and as such is accessible to artists to develop a participatory and embodied form of praxis that is adaptable and more accomodating of cultures in flux. I extend Lefebvre’s expression of trialectics towards a model of auto-ethnography for the practice-led researcher that positions them within the dialogue as participant, thus avoiding the pitfalls of othering that can occur in traditional ethnographic studies. The concept of abstract space is used to form an interdependent and embodied relationship between theory and practice that evokes imaginary worlds through which we can question the construction of cultural norms within the established framing of history and place.

Presenters

Clive Barstow
Professor of Art, Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, Australia

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Image Work

KEYWORDS

Lefebvre, Abstract, Space, Time, Art, Imaginary

Digital Media

Videos