A-child’s-eye-view, perspectives on research-creation exploring early childhood literacies through a museum display

Abstract

In this multimodal sensation, I propose that research-creation affords the potential to create a multimodal text that operates as one outcome of collaborative arts practice and research. The usefulness of the proposition within research-creation is to orientate towards what is possible, to speculate on futures yet unmade and carry the awareness that we are never sure what a body or a mind is capable of. I begin by explaining my encounters with the concept of multimodality working as a freelance artist on research projects. I then explain how research-creation as an approach afforded an opportunity to think and write differently, drawing on traditions from art practice and philosophy. I describe how research-creation engages with concepts and art practice and affords the potential to work in new ways and generate new thoughts. I then activate some of these ideas by creating a multimodal text through my art practice. This combines images and words from a research project as cut-up, juxtaposition and collage.