Is It To Feel Each Limb Grow Stiffer, Is It To Feel The full Potential Of A Life?

This output is a journal article, articulating issues that have emerged from an art practice now responding to ageing and memory, both as practice-based drawing research and as research undertaken as part of a community group that has been looking at how to manage the ageing process. Research process: Barker’s practice as an artist revolves around making and drawing led conversations with people, whereby conversations held are translated into images using various making and drawing processes. As an individual, Barker is getting older and, as this very natural process becomes more noticeable (more aches and pains, a growing awareness of mortality and, of course, more conversations with people of a similar age) his drawings, artwork, and community engagements have reflected these things. In particular, Barker’s recent work has begun to embody issues that have emerged from their research into ageing and memory, both as practice-based drawing research and as research undertaken as part of a community group that has been looking at how to manage the aging process. This article documents and delves into Barker’s recent artistic engagements. Research insights: Barker’s drawing practice is based on conversation with others and is, by its very nature, a constantly evolving one and one that follows the changing nature of conversations as they unfold. The process of aging is rarely the subject of fine art practice and this body of conversations, drawings and ceramics begins to establish the groundwork for further investigation into the area. Dissemination: This article is published as part of volume 15 of Loughbrough University’s publication TRACEY. This work has also been shown in presentations to the Leeds Older People’s Forum, reflections on the work have been hosted in the Life Hacks for a Limited Future blog