Im struggling with trying to come up with an area for my research essay/project.

I think its to do with the fact that my interests, what I make art about, are internal, rarely external.

Therefore I think i need to find an external subject to challenge myself.

Im aware that my practice is self-indulgent. Im aware that art is being kept alive, relevant and valid by artists that work in the political realm (small ‘p’ political)

eg yesterday I streamed a symposium #workingacrossdivides

with Alisdair Hudson (Middlesboro Institute of Modern art) and Barby Asante (artist) at the Goethe Institute

where a whole other world (real world) of art practice was described that takes place within communities, enabling marginalised people through art.

It makes me feel old fashioned and stuckist. However I am 52 and on my own journey and I am constantly challenging myself.

However here is an opportunity to research unfamiliar territory.

The plinth and the hierarchy of art presentation? (reflecting my current explorations)

Hamada pottery? (gesture, the unconscious, alchemy, art object)

Is all art (including political) illustration? When is art not illustration? (eg when it describes, explains or reflects it is illustration so all pre-religious art, religious art and much of modern art is illustration. Discuss)

How have artists sought to address antagonistic political movements? (thinking of the failure of humour and head-on resistance art to the rise of Neo-Populism in US and here) (quite like this one).

Id love to come up with an idiosyncratic Cabinet style area that is ‘alive, relevant and valid’.

Looking at Barbaras proposals im quite awed and intimidated!