BSG Conference 2024 - Creative Ageing Special Interest Group
Denscapes - Exploration of Identity Through Site-Specific Participatory Arts for Wellbeing Installations - Stacey Coughlin
Presentation for British Society of Gerontology 53rd Annual Conference, Newcastle
3rd - 5th July 2024
https://www.britishgerontology.org/events-and-courses/past-conferences/2024-newcastle-university
3td July 2024
Symposia - Creative Ageing Special Interest Group (2) - Creativity in the everyday lives of older people: embodied and sensorial experiences
A video of the presentation slides can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gZ7cCGjb-E
Abstract:
Creativity and Play can be important elements of our lives, enhancing and enriching our quality of life and exploring our sense of identity through artistic behaviour (Dissanayake, 1988) at any age. This can remain important in later years, yet exploring and expressing individuality within the care home can be difficult due to restrictions within a multi-use space. The need to express one's identity and for it to inform our daily actions (Bailey et al. 2017) is an important aspect towards quality-of-life and a meaningful lived experience. This is of particular significance for older people (Whitbourne 1996) and those who may be experiencing a change in their sense of identity due to memory 'dysfunction' (Steeman et al. 2013; Westius et al. 2010).
Through my practice as a visual artist, I am exploring ways in which play and creativity remains accessible in later life. The project is using 'den-building' as a form of site-specific participatory installation to engage with residents for creative, spatial, and dialogue/role-playing elements. As 'the den' is a universally recognised (Sobel, 1993) form of spatial disruption associated with gameplay; this work creates 'carnivalesque' and 'playful' large-scale temporary spaces to explore ideas around identity and belonging in institutional environments. The participant can alter/add to the space, be invited to share 'spatial' discussions or create something themselves. In this presentation, I would like to share my recent exploration of developing co-creation using the "The Travelling Art Tent" to create temporary dens in care homes through DYCP Arts Council funding.