Shorelines: transforming emotion through creativity

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a four year study into collaborative creativity; it reveals the importance of hand-making as an emotional channel contributing to physical and mental wellbeing. The case study research draws from four practical investigations documenting the development of a series of artworks made collaboratively in response to shoreline locations around the UK. It focuses in detail on one specific practice-led case study, illustrating ways in which both environmental and social factors contribute to the creative process and how hand-making and performance support mental well-being. The outcomes from the practice-led investigations comprise a body of artworks exhibited recently in Australia. These works embody the research process and illustrate the paper.