The PhDiares: creatively documenting my research journey
Since academia tends to be rather monotonous and formal, incorporating a creative practice into my work provided an outlet for me to both practice mindfulness and think deeper about how my research was shaping my understanding of the world. The ‘PhDiaries’ was a reflective creative practice, with a series of musings that I shared in my PhD vlogs.
For me, ‘musings’ are the opposite of a masterpiece; they do not aim to produce a work of great skill and artistry, rather, they are a vehicle for deep contemplation and thought. By activating both the conscious and subconscious mind, these musings allow me to alternate between a state of awareness of the creative process, and reflection of the subject. This practice was pivotal for me, particularly when doing my fieldwork, so that I had an outlet to reflect and separate my intitial thoughts and assumptions from my formal notes.
Field Notes
Sketches from my field notes: ‘Empowering’ (far left), ‘Listening (middle right), and ‘Father of the Nation’ (far right).
‘Empowering’ documents the first focused group discussion on my fieldwork. Initially, I wanted to capture the place, as I was mesmerised by the contrast between the turquoise homes and the earthy ground throughout this rural village in the South of India. Once I started, I realised that the thing I wanted to remember about this place wasn’t the village itself, but the people who made it such a welcoming stop on my journey. The clenched fist is for the women who opened up to me to share their stories, sharing that when they come together, they are strong.
‘Listening’ was drawn as I reflected on my role as a researcher. After reading so much literature on how we can empower women, I felt that my role was to listen to these women without imposing any assumptions or ideologies. It made me question how many actors in the community development space had truly listened to these women. These women weren’t merely participants in my research project, they were the knowledge holders, and I was there to listen and learn from them.
‘Father of the Nation’ was a reflection of my time in India before returning to Australia. It’s hard to ignore the legacy of Gandhi in India, and I think that Gandhian philosophy— which inspired Martin Luther King Jr’s philosophy of nonviolence— can teach us so much about the ways in which we engage in the world, and in the work of social change. However, the ‘Father of the Nation’ was only one man, whose impact was only possible because of the millions he inspired, and it’s important to recognise the role that others played in India’s journey to independence, many of whom never received any recognition. Watch the drawing process on my Instagram.
Finding My Voice featured in the “Journey” issue of ArtAscent, April 2023.
Finding My Voice
Oil pastel on paper | 2021 | 19.2 x 24.5cm | NFS
"Finding my Voice is an oil pastel drawing I created to represent the experience of finding my voice as a researcher, which involved a series of breakthroughs and moments of clarity that allowed me to express my unique perspective and make meaningful contributions to my field.
Conceptually, the artwork conveys a sense of depth and complexity through the use of multiple layers of open mouths. The mouths represent a journey of self-discovery, with each layer representing a deeper level of understanding or insight. The framing of the face doesn’t include the entire face, to suggest that this journey of finding my voice is an ongoing one, with many more layers and levels to come. To me, the open mouths also symbolise communication, as my research is in the field of communication for social change.”
