Paper short abstract:

In this paper it is explored how art-making within the study of folkloristic drawings reveals features about folklore, material things and borders. It is demonstrated also how art-making can help recognising presumptions, functions as self-reflection and stimulates discussions about concepts.

Paper long abstract:

The paper discusses the influence of art-making within the study of material things and borders from the viewpoint of folkloristic drawings. Drawing is emphasised following Ingold (2007) and other drawing-related approaches (see Korolainen 2017; 2014; Ramos 2015; Ingold 2011; Taussig 2011). The research question is what characteristics drawings can reveal about the relations between material things, folklore, and borders?

The research material - located at the Finnish Literature Society archive - is limited to early 20th century responses and submitted drawings, which concern folklore and material objects. The methods of multimodal analysis is utilised for analysing the pictures and the texts simultaneously. Moreover, the project includes art-making i.e. comic drawing.

It is argued, firstly, that art-making can help recognising presumptions in research. For example, drawings constitute one "unspoken dimension" within the former folklore research and collecting in Finland, because these drawings are only rarely explained. Thus, the questions arise: how to interpret the drawings? More generally, how to describe cultural traditions? With respect to this, art-making serves also as a means of self-reflection here.

Secondly, the paper demonstrates how art-making offers "tracks" for approaching (immaterial) folklore, as well borders, when especially a conceptualization and depiction of these issues are emphasised. Thus, art-making here is not about illustrating the research topic, the materials, or the project. Instead, it pairs with methodological issues, while simultaneously; its objective is also to create an independent fictive comic album that addresses border experiences. Consequently, art-making adventurously stimulates discussions about concepts, theoretical and ethical issues.