Of young birch – duodji research and artistic work in a phenomenological perspective

Abstract

This article is based on a research and development project conducted at the Sámi University College from 2010 to 2012. The artistic part of the project forms part of the empirical data in this article.

Production of knowledge is a crucial aspect of the discussion on a starting point for the development of indigenous methodologies. This article deals with the possible approaches to an artistic investment within duodji (Sámi arts and crafts). At the development stage, I started with the idea of using young birch trees in a design process. I examine this process employing a phenomenological approach which proves useful when discussing the Sámi and the indigenous perspective.

The challenge that researchers face is to consider that elements of the empirical material form part of the overall research material. Locations, materials and experiences are all crucial to the artistic result, which is often different from the initial idea.

The research deals with the question of how the creative process and the artist’s experiences meet and what this meeting leads to in terms of artistic outcome. Just like other research in artistic work, with emphasis on artistic activity and theoretical analysis, research on duodji can be a challenge, as researcher and practitioner are one and the same person. Research that includes artistic activity describes the researcher’s experience and understanding from first person point of view, and as such, the phenomenological approach provides a good basis.

When elaborating on the world of life and bodily experience, my basis is Merleau-Ponty’s interpretation of bodily phenomenology (Merleau-Ponty 1994, 2012 (1962)). This I transfer to my own creative experience.