ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author examines some examples of artistic research where the import of the work seems to extend well beyond the immediate production concerns of the artists who undertook it. He explores some of the ways that artists have articulated an analytical understanding of their work, whether via bodies of reflective writing; in interviews, lectures and teaching engagements; or, indeed, through intellectual and creative encounters with other artists and writers. Professional practices of research can also be identified in design and architecture. There is a rich tradition of artists—painters, film-makers, writers, composers or architects—critically commenting on their own work in a series of measured reflections. Hans Obrist has embarked on an ambitious project over a number of years to interview a range of contemporary visual artists. In so doing, he has demonstrated the utility of the in-depth interview as an artistic research tool.
