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Thesis Info
- LABS ID
- 00646
- Thesis Title
- Epistêmê, technê and poïesis visualisations of evolution and extinction in Queensland flora
- Author
- Dr AK Milroy
- E-mail
- akmilroy AT greenvalegallery.com
- 2nd Author
- 3rd Author
- Degree
- Doctorate
- Year
- 2017
- Number of Pages
- 105
- University
- Central Queensland University
- Thesis Supervisor
- Dr Ashley Holmes, Professor Donna Lee Brien, Dr Andrew Rozefelds
- Supervisor e-mail
- a.holmes AT cqu.edu.au
- Other Supervisor(s)
- Language(s) of Thesis
- English
- Department / Discipline
- Art/ Palaeontology/ Physics
- Copyright Ownership
- AK Milroy
- Languages Familiar to Author
- English
- URL where full thesis can be found
- dx.doi.org/10.4226/145/59f7d14260640
- Keywords
- art, science, palaeontology, visualisations, evolution, extinctions, synchrotron
- Abstract: 200-500 words
- Epistêmê, technê & poïesis
visualisations of evolution and extinction in Queensland flora
Experimental intra-disciplinary praxis forms the basis of this research, specifically
bridging the domains of art-science and utilising innovative imaging technologies. The
research addresses the following questions:
In what ways, if any, can the outcomes of a practice-based visual arts researcher
significantly contribute to the development and communication of knowledges in
scientific practice?
And conversely:
In what ways, if any, can scientific research practices significantly contribute to the
development and communication of knowledges in artistic practice?
Significance is measured through contributions to knowledge including, but not limited
to, the development of: new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings.
Over a period of four years, the researcher, a professional practising artist,
documents and creates intra-actively with scientific practitioners in the fields of fine
art, palaeontology and physics. This emergent inquiry results in outcomes significant to
both art and science domains as it provides a critical examination of each discipline’s
standard research practices and knowledge making paradigms. It subsequently proposes
a paradigm shift, as a direct result of working collaboratively within disciplines and
sparked by creative and innovative methods of knowledge production.
In responding to the questions posed, the researcher applies a Bohrian philosophy
of physics and this is strongly influenced by Karen Barad’s interpretation of it. Quantum
theory provides a rich source for rethinking knowledge creation in both artistic and
scientific domains. It also suggests the application of a diffractive, rather than reflective,
methodology as the research investigates Bohr’s notion that we are a part of that nature
we seek to understand.
The art-science experimental procedures and outcomes are additionally theorised
by integrating and supplementing them with ideas about agency, epistemology, ontology,
and praxis from theorists such as Donna Haraway, Estelle Barrett, Barbara Bolt, Andrew
Pickering and Bruno Latour.
This thesis comprises visual and textual components inspired by the researcher’s
scholarly engagement with the palaeobotanic type collection at the Queensland Museum.For the first time ever, the exhibited visual outcomes utilise and interpret type collection
data using state-of-the-art imaging technologies from the Imaging and Medical Beamline
(IMBL) at the Australian Synchrotron. The thesis exhibition, Aletheia, provides
visualisations of seeds and fruits at a previously unseen evolutionary stage because
the technique proposed by the researcher non-destructively reveals detailed internal
morphologies and key taxonomic features of previously unclassifiable fossils.
The significance of the research outcomes to date, for communicating in visually
creative and innovative ways, to share new artistic and scientific knowledges across
and through disciplines and the wider global community have already been recognised
through the research being extended beyond the current candidature period. A
competitive, collaborative proposal for future work, scanning at ANSTO’s advanced
DINGO neutron beamline at the Lucas Heights facility has been accepted. This
technology provides capability for neutron scanning, a complementary technique to the
synchrotron x-ray radiation of the IMBL. It is anticipated that the ongoing work will
continue to provide a platform for synergistic national and international intra-disciplinary
research linkages.
Documentation of the culminating exhibition, which was held in April 2016, together
with evidence of other significant exhibitions, international collaborative artefactual
outcomes, and published articles is presented for examination for the award of Doctor of
Philosophy.