Active imagination and art making

Abstract

The thesis explores the idea of Active Imagination as a tool for the making of artworks. It also suggests this tool can be used to consider artworks. The written thesis examines the understandings of the collective unconscious as propounded by Carl G. Jung. The thesis explains the nature of Active Imagination as explained and modeled in The Red Book by Carl G. Jung. My creative work is considered as a continuation of this process which produces symbols. I write of how these symbols are related to historic, mythic and ritual practices as well as to examples from contemporary art and cultural practice. I particularly consider how the complex concepts within the symbol, although they appear subjective, have repetitions and recurrences in many forms over many cultural situations with similar complex meanings. Some of the theorists of the psyche who have informed this work include Carl G. Jung, James Hillman and Wolfgang Giegerich. As well, many artists have contributed, through their insights, to my understanding. Artists include Joseph Beuys, Anselm Kiefer, William Robertson and Susan Hiller. My creative work comprises a series of ceramic sculptures interacting with found objects. The ceramic works have been hand-built, coiled and slabbed. I have used earthenware and stoneware paper clays, and a variety of commercial glaze recipes. Found pieces have been fired within the works, which have been glazed and reglazed to acquire a specific surface. These works have sometimes had glass and other materials added in a firing. As well I have created painted canvas surfaces and a constructed a painted plinth. I have created two performance works, ‘Dream Slam’ and ‘Sand-play Drama’. These both used ceramic objects, many that I created and many found. These performance works include audience participation in the events.