Tylie Kriel
Project Title: A Heuristic Inquiry into Finding New Meaning in Former Artworks to Heal and Transform.
Tylie is a female presenting South African art therapy student. She has been waiting to become an art therapist for seven years. The magnetism of art therapy for Tylie is in the magic within the process of flow when making art and the deep reflection found when observing a piece of art. Tylie is well-travelled and enjoys different countries and cultures. She has lived across South Africa and abroad in South Korea and now in Australia. She has studied a few qualifications around South Africa. This current Master of Mental Health qualification will not be her last. Tylie seeks refuge in exploration, tea, exercise, mindfulness, and art. Especially art, whether viewing or making. Art is a sanctuary for all emotional and cognitive experiences, as well as a vehicle for safely exploring curiosity and novel ideas.
Heuristic inquiry is a research approach that is an in-depth self-exploration. It follows a six-step process and requires time and patience. One can say that it is a deep journey into the abyss of one’s own research – and oneself. Tylie’s research is a heuristic inquiry into whether new meaning can be found in former artworks that were created as far back as ten years ago. These artworks were created with meaning and the curiosity lies in whether this meaning has morphed into an alternative meaning over time. Irvin Yalom alluded to how human beings are meaning-making machines in a world that lacks inherent meaning. For people to have meaning is essential to cope with the difficulties of life and art harbours a cornucopia of meaning. Having said this, Viktor Frankl, his book “A Man’s Search For Meaning” and Logotherapy inspired her research.
Tylie’s identifiable style is the use of fauna and flora in her art. Additionally, a tendency to create abstract art rather than realistic is habitual. However, the theme that connects the research-influenced artworks to one another is outer space. A theme of exploring the unknown darkness of research and life by a curious astronaut. Each piece is about how the researcher found her research at that point in time. There were no consistent feelings that have been depicted in the inconsistent art mediums. The experience of creating each piece evoked these words: “That it would not be work but it would be a joy.” It was painful due to the limited time and colossal pressure yet joyful because of making and creating art.
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
60cm x 45cm
Whenever one started with something new, there was a lot of initial curiosity. A cornucopia of other emotions too. I was unsure what my Masters thesis would be about. Thankfully, I was under the seasoned guidance of many experienced individuals.
iPad, Apple pencil and the Concepts Application
14.5cm x 19.5cm
Information was gathered and regathered. Research topics were changed and rechanged. Research articles were gathered and ungathered. Stress began to permanently settle in. I was overwhelmed by the sheer vastness that is the topic of research and my research subject.
Acrylic paint, silicone oil, cups, paintbrushes, small canvas
20cm x 20cm
A Masters student was pulling many concepts into some meaningful statements and paragraphs. There were many directions and paths within a sentence and multiple words that one could take. Including within the journal articles and other findings for one’s topic.
Metallic paint, silicone oil, cups, paintbrushes, small canvas and hairdryer
20cm x 20cm
This was how the potential concepts, statements and paragraphs were visualised in my brain. After much tugging and pulling something was afoot. They were swirling and twirling in my mind. Though something was brewing, the clarity was not there yet.
Glow-in-the-dark neon paint, silicone oil, paintbrushes, canvas, water and black permanent marker
39cm x 29.5cm
This artwork is playful and there is some light-hearted silliness in between. The literature connections were slowly being made. There were neurons firing but the thoughts and ideas said and written were amusing and nonsensical. Presently, they make more sense.
UV light, invisible ink, watercolour paper, glow-in-the-dark paint, paintbrushes, tape and metallic paint
42cm x 30cm
Sometimes I could not see and understand what I was doing during this thesis process. It seemed murkily unclear. However, there were some insights into my data’s connection to the literature with the guidance and concentration of thoughts/the UV light.
Acrylic paint, canvas, paintbrushes, and wooden frame
33cm x 32cm
A heuristic inquiry is an inquiry into the self. What better way to express this self-inquiry than to paint a self-portrait? As tiring as painting a self-portrait was, so was the heuristic inquiry process. A tiring, exciting and rewarding process.
iPhone photographs, iPad and Concepts and Word Applications
12.5cm x 9cm
Was it correct? The layered image represented the layers of feelings and thoughts. I felt overwhelmed when analysing data. There was layers of meaning to be deconstructed and pulled apart. Only to be put back together and pulled apart again.
Acrylic paint, canvas, paintbrushes, tray, wall brush, paint roller and spatula
29.5cm x 39.5cm
This frustration/anguish was inspired by our practicum tutorials’ El Duende process. An ode to “The Scream” by Edvard Munch and “Skrik”. The back and forth of adding and removing thesis information can be frustrating. Luckily, this was not without cause.
Glass vase, plastic sheet, iPad, video and Word applications
20cm x 15.5cm
A pepper ghost is an illusion created through reflection. It represents my thesis which was a work in progress. Tangible yet intangible. Unattainable yet attainable. By the time we read this together at the art exhibition, it should be complete.