On February 6, 2023, Jérémie Roussel and I had the privilege of participating in the inaugural study day Thèse en création, interprétation ou conception : un objet complexe (Practice-, Interpretation-, or Design-Based Doctoral Research: A Complex Object), organized by ACCRA UR3402 at the University of Strasbourg. Our contribution, entitled Collectif 2J2R, Thèse en création #1 – Workshop 1, examined the challenges and innovative possibilities of research-creation within contemporary academic contexts.
Featured image: Photograph from the exhibition Recherche-création at Art-Image.
Presentation Reference:
Jérémie Roussel and Jessica Ragazzini, (February 6, 2023), Collectif 2J2R, “Thèse en création #1” – Workshop 1, presented at the study day Thèse en création, interprétation ou conception : un objet complexe, organized by ACCRA UR3402 and coordinated by Grazia Giacco and Chiara Palermo, University of Strasbourg.
Exploring Research-Creation
As members of Collectif 2J2R, Jérémie Roussel and I focused our presentation on hybrid processes of artistic creation and scholarly inquiry, examining the ways in which artistic production and academic research intersect, inform one another, and generate new forms of knowledge. We discussed methodological approaches for integrating creative practice within university-based research frameworks, emphasizing the significance of research-creation as a means of expanding the epistemological and methodological boundaries of contemporary scholarship.
Particular attention was devoted to the reciprocal relationship between practice and theory, highlighting how artistic experimentation can function not merely as an object of analysis but also as a mode of investigation in its own right. Through examples drawn from our collective practice, we explored the potential of research-creation to foster alternative forms of critical thinking and knowledge production.
Dialogue and Intellectual Exchange
Co-organized by Grazia Giacco and Chiara Palermo, the event provided a dynamic forum for dialogue among artists, researchers, doctoral candidates, and students engaged in the evolving field of research-creation. The discussions that followed our presentation revealed a strong interest in interdisciplinary methodologies and underscored the growing recognition of creative practice as a legitimate and productive form of academic inquiry.
These exchanges highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges associated with navigating the often fluid boundaries between artistic production, theoretical reflection, and institutional research structures.
Personal and Academic Implications
Participating in this workshop strengthened our practice as artist-researcher-curators while deepening our understanding of the possibilities and complexities inherent in research-creation. The event provided a valuable opportunity to critically reflect upon our own methodologies within a collaborative environment and to engage with constructive feedback from colleagues working across diverse disciplinary contexts.
For me personally, this experience offered important insights that continue to inform my current and future research projects, particularly regarding the relationship between artistic practice, curatorial experimentation, and knowledge production.
Contributing to an Expanding Field
Our participation at the University of Strasbourg enabled us to contribute to an expanding international dialogue concerning the value, role, and future of creative practice within higher education. More broadly, the event reaffirmed the importance of research-creation as a vital and innovative field of inquiry—one capable of generating new forms of understanding, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and enriching contemporary academic and artistic ecosystems.
These exchanges highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges associated with navigating the often fluid boundaries between artistic production, theoretical reflection, and institutional research structures.