Material, Process and Making | School of Arts and Cultures

Material, Process and Making explores forms of thinking, creativity and engagement associated with, and specific to, materials and processes. It is set against the background of the availability of new technologies and methods, and of critical and historical understanding of traditions and orthodoxies associated with established disciplines and areas of enquiry. The work of two ECR fellows, Masterman and Korda, (Korda’s fellowship established in partnership with BALTIC), explored the boundaries of ceramics research, while Cuddon’s Leverhulme Fellowship (2019-) resurfaces under-researched narratives connecting clay with text. Our ‘Material Memories’ conference (2014), organised by distinguished academic and PGR Gwen Heeney (1952-2016) convened international researchers working with the material legacy of the post-industrial landscape. Theoretical work here includes analysis of studio practice from the perspectives of practice-led researchers (Mieves, Jones) and art historians (Lotery, Moonie, Spalding).