Emese Hall

Soul Dusting: A/r/tographic Reflections on Art and Art Education for Wellbeing

Emese Hall – University of Exeter, UK

Abstract:

Taking inspiration from Picasso’s famous quotation: ‘‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’’, in this presentation I will draw on my experiences as an artist/ researcher/ teacher – an a/r/tographer (Irwin & de Cossin, 2004) – to share my latest thinking and making on the topic of art and art education for wellbeing. At the heart of all my professional interests, pedagogically and research-wise, wellbeing has always been a constant even when I have not explicitly used that term. According to the World Health Organization, ‘‘Well-being encompasses quality of life and the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose’’ (WHO, 2021, p.10). This definition accords with my recognition of art and art education’s capacity to enhance our lives in a variety of ways. Both micro and macro lenses will be used in my reflections. On a micro/personal level, I will discuss wellbeing through the ‘‘mindfulness of making’’ (Stein, 2021, p. 9) in my own recent studio practice, as well as exploring the theme of professional identity through a heuristic art exchange project with a friend and colleague (e.g., Hall & Payne, 2024). On a macro/societal level, I will consider the role and value of art and art education within the context of a Wellbeing Economy. ‘‘In a Wellbeing Economy, our definition of societal success shifts beyond GDP growth to delivering shared wellbeing’’ (WEALL, 2022, para. 2). As a degrowth advocate, concerned with highlighting and seeking to address the social and environmental injustices brought about by excessive consumption (e.g., Hall, in press), I will illustrate how art and art education has unique potential to promote wellbeing for all, including the more-than-human.