Engaging audiences to value and invest in participatory art practice through reciprocal and relational interactions

Abstract

This research project examines certain forms of exchange and reciprocity in participatory art from a practitioner's perspective. It refers to aspects of Nicolas Bourriaud's Relational Aesthetics, touches on the food works of Rirkrit Tiravanija and uses practice-led research to examine audience interactions. In each research event the audience was given the opportunity to participate in some form of exchange, mostly involving food. Eight small research events and one larger work (staged in four editions) were produced. These works are examined as a means of gaining further knowledge of the stagecraft involved in my research practice and developing theoretical frameworks that can be used to better explain the inteactions occurring between people during these events. The outcomes from this investigation include a practical body of technical knowledge in making participatory art. The development o fthis expertise in practice-oedresearch can be seen in the increasing complexity of the research events, culminating in the final participatory event for examination. Tools were also developed, which focus on the indirect and direct reciprocal outcomes expected by participants ande artist, based on their engagement. These tools can equally be applied to the deconstruction of existing works to examine the mechanics of interaction or for the planning of future works.