Performing aphantasia: complementary systems to document a live event

This paper will embed reflective ideas on the documentation of the live event as a pedagogic strategy. Bracey and Morrad will engage in this both as an active (live) event, which they will invite the audience to document; and as a recorded film that discusses artist-lecturers methodology and findings of their artistic research to date. Aphantasia refers to a condition where the individual cannot visualise in their mind. This becomes a metaphor for the creative act, teaching art and this activity of collaboration. A reproduction of a historically important painting is presented in the conference arena at the same size as the original. A layer of clear gesso is applied, which then reacts with the photographic print by a painter (Bracey), whilst a saxophonist (Morrad) improvises to create a sonic landscape, which influences and is influenced by the act of painting. The audience is invited to document the activity in any way they feel is best. Alongside this live event a video presentation by the artist-lecturers will be shown. This includes: • Documentation of previous performative actions. • A critical unpacking of the methodology of the work. • A reflective stance on this approach as a pedagogic strategy for learning and of research engaged teaching. • Questions of the collaborative process. • The role documentation plays in the performative. This a Mobius strip-like process, where the learning is ongoing. The presentation at Provocative Pedagogies will fold back into this ongoing research; the reflectiveness of itself is mirrored back and back again