Abstract

Through this artistic approach, portraiture is viewed within a broad context of influences from both contemporary art and qualitative research in the social sciences. Focusing on the human interaction between the portraitist and the person being portrayed, a method integrating concepts such as collaboration and reflexivity from visual anthropology and sociology is explored. Aspects of working in portraiture using fine art photography and digital media are also investigated. In creating three experimental portraits of Buddhist participants, I have combined digital audio, video and still photography media, discovering both advantages and limitations in working with this media. The Buddhist participants in this project added another dimension to the collaboration by providing their reflections on the concepts of self and portraiture. Creating portraits of individuals whose belief system differs from conventional notions of self as a separate and vulnerable entity allowed me to develop an experiential and transformative understanding of portraiture. This thesis suggests considerations for the integration of portraiture within art and photography education; it proposes a method that integrates reflexivity and other issues surrounding social representation, including considerations about subjectivity and the concept of self.