Reading Notes – Art-based action research in the development work of arts and art education’, Action Research

English Version

Jokela, T. and Huhmarniemi, M. (2018) ‘Art-based action research in the development work of arts and art education’, Action Research, 16(2), pp. 131–153.

In this article, Jokela and Huhmarniemi introduce the concept of art-based action research, arguing that artistic creation can serve as both a mode of expression and a research method. They suggest that art is not merely an outcome but a process that facilitates reflection, dialogue, and co-creation among participants, thereby generating new knowledge.

The paper draws on case studies from art education and community development in Finland’s Lapland region. In one project, local residents were invited to participate in environmental art initiatives, using natural materials to create installations in public spaces. Through this process, participants expressed their views on the environment and community life, while the collaborative act of creation enhanced social cohesion and redefined cultural identity. These outcomes demonstrated that artistic practices can be powerful tools for participatory knowledge production.

This approach strongly informs my third intervention. In my workshop, participants used brainstorming, collage, and mannequin-based prototyping to translate Chengdu’s food culture into fashion silhouettes, patterns, and textures. The process, as Jokela and Huhmarniemi describe, was not only about producing visual artifacts but also about generating dialogue and reflection on cultural identity. In this sense, the workshop outcomes are both design prototypes and forms of research knowledge.

This point is highly relevant to my research. My project focuses on how Chengdu’s local culture can be used to shape a distinct fashion identity for the city. Therefore, I believe that my interventions also need to adopt an art-based approach: through brainstorming, collage, and mannequin experiments, participants are encouraged to translate “Chengdu elements” into silhouettes, patterns, and material explorations. In this process, the works produced are not only outcomes but also records of participants’ reflections on Chengdu’s culture and fashion identity. As Jokela and Huhmarniemi argue, art is both a result and a research method, which further strengthens my confidence that my approach can generate both academic and practical value.

Chinese Version

Jokela 和 Huhmarniemi 在这篇论文中提出了“基于艺术的行动研究”（art-based action research），强调艺术创作不仅是一种表达方式，也是一种研究工具。作者认为，艺术实践能够在过程中促进参与者的反思、对话和共创，从而在艺术作品的生产中生成新的知识。

论文的案例来自芬兰拉普兰地区的艺术教育和社区发展项目。在其中一个案例里，研究者邀请社区居民共同参与环境艺术创作，例如使用当地材料在公共空间搭建装置艺术。这一过程中，居民们不仅表达了他们对自然环境和社会关系的理解，还通过共同创作增强了社区凝聚力。最终，这些作品既是艺术成果，也是对社区文化的再定义。

这一点和我的研究有高度相关性。我的项目是关于如何运用成都本土文化去塑造属于成都自己的时尚身份。因此，我认为我的干预同样需要采用了基于艺术的方式：通过头脑风暴、拼贴和人台等实验，让参与者把“成都元素”转译为廓形、图案和材质实验。在这个过程中，作品本身不仅是成果，更是参与者思考成都文化与时尚身份的过程记录。正如 Jokela 与 Huhmarniemi 所说，艺术既是结果，也是研究方法，这让我更加确信我的研究方法能够同时产生学术价值与实践价值。