Kam Rehal
Collaborative mark-making conversations with Allotment groups
Summary
Research investigates a specific model — the allotment — within which individuals practice a correspondent relationship with space (space as physical and temporal environment) within the context of growing. This investigation aims to problematise the notion of ‘outcome’ within graphic design communication research–practice, developing collaborative mark-making and conversation (cm-mc) as an approach that privileges conversation — as open, indeterminate and transformational experience.
Additional info
Allotments sustain a resilient practice, where plot-holders perform physical, sensory and embodied connections with land, growing, space and community. Research intersecting allotments tends to theorise and formulate broad overarching narratives but often fails to address the deep situated experiences of individual plot-holders or groups — as a non-homogeneous community — in locally situated contexts.
This research tests collaborative mark-making and conversation (cm-mc) as an approach to support qualitative conversations of allotment practices within growing communities, to investigate the polyvalent experiences of spatial practices, across individuals, groups and environments. Conversation is developed as a research methodology within community-based collaborative research, following Ingold’s notion of ‘correspondence’ (2017), Bohm’s approach to ‘dialogue’ (1996), and Rose’s conception of ‘paradoxical spaces’ (1993).
The cm-mc method invites plot-holders to engage in group conversations, working together through drawing / mark-making activities, whilst discussing individual experiences and perspectives relating to the allotment. Each mark-making activity corresponds to the physical actions, techniques and movements practiced within plot-holding. Participants are encouraged to work slowly, to both attend to the mark-making techniques and also allow space to simultaneously contribute to the conversation being generated, through active listening, speaking and participating. The design of the workshops seeks to test the conditions for Participants to listen to and support each other in generating contributions to a collaborative activity and conversation, within the context of the allotment, placing emphasis upon the qualitative generation of words and actions that register marks over time.
