Kateřina Štěpánková

2.49 Redefining the Portrait by Gen Z: An Art-based Study (Paper)

Kateřina Štěpánková – board member of the Czech Section of INSEA | Department of Art, Visual Culture and Textile Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Abstract:

Technological development and global ecological changes have transformed the way we view humans and their place in the world. The rethinking of human boundaries has also been reflected in the approach to the genre of portraiture. This study explores how art students perceive their own boundaries, the boundaries of the human in general, and how they reconceptualize portraiture on this basis. For the study, an art-based research method was used to monitor the entire process of creation from concept to realization and reflection. Students used traditional art media, contemporary media and AI to explore identity and their own boundaries, and kept art journals to reflect on the creative process and the way they thought about the theme. The study shows that students perceive identity as a fluid and evolving construct, just like human boundaries. The art-based approach allowed students to discover an authentic way to approach portraiture, to explore the social construct of identity and their own boundaries. The study underscores the effectiveness of arts-based methods in art education by encouraging creative exploration, critical thinking, self-reflection, and empathy in students. It allows educators to reflect didactically on the process of creation. The study also contributes to the discussion on the importance of art education for the contemporary young generation.