Abstract

In this thesis, I present the idea that the acquisition of self-knowledge is especially important for artists as they are called upon to expose personal truth as a means to express collective truth. For this reason, I engage in a dialogue with phenomenologist Gaston Bachelard through my own, qualitative, in-studio practice as it relates to his imaging and creation theories of 'poetic reverie' and 'the oneiric house'. I focus on my 'reveries' about how my life experience inspires my art, and how my actions as an art student, a teacher and a gallery curator frame my work. Following Bachelard's example as he responds to poetry which resonates philosophically for him, I also conduct a 'poetic exploration' of works by artists Lucien Freud, Paula Rego, David Hockney, Alice Neel, Joe Fafard, William Kentridge and Xenia Hausner as examples of self-informed practices. My purpose is to consider the implications of this research for my teaching practice