Paper short abstract:

In research, communications are critical. Criticality demands creativity and creativity offers opportunities. It is this opportunity to collaborate theory, ethnography, art and performance by scholar, residents and artists to communicate with research participants about their old and new home.

Paper long abstract:

This research collaborates experimental and emergent ethnographic methodologies to communicate the word “home” with the residents of Barpak, Nepal who have rebuilt their village post-2015 earthquake of Nepal. This communication is built from the productive tension created by the collaboration of theory, ethnography, art and performance between scholar, residents, and artists. It is to challenge the deception of limitations of resources and mediums to study and present a sensitive, responsive and passionate subject like home in a contested space impacted by environmental, political, cultural and societal forces. The intent of this study is to understand and communicate the perception and conception of “home” of the residents of Barpak as they have recently experienced change, continuity and crisis with their homes; and also encourage communications in research that explores the use of visual, textual, poetic, performative, digital, reflective and imaginative methods to engage the research participants of this research in a more dynamic conversation and discussion. This study primarily builds on the memories and imagination of the residents when communicating their old and new home, and when the same memories and imaginations are presented to them creatively in the form of photos, paintings, writing, music and dance, it brings that world alive to the research participants and builds intimacy and trust with the scholar and artists. This whole process of double interaction with the research participants allows the scholars to indulge with not only facts and information but also instincts and emotions which are critical to the subject and the discipline.