"Self- Portrait" – A Study of the 'Self':

painting. I therefore defined the research activity in this investigation as investigation on investigation,
thus adding another research form that belongs to the genre of Art-based research. In my research I
describe this as a 'Chain of observations' which simultaneously creates a 'Chain of interpretations' (see
chapter 2 – Meta- Introduction).
I do not state that my methodology will offer a final answer, one which might not have been obtained
from the primary research process (the artistic activity). I do intend to present a hermeneutic circle (Eco,
2007) in which 'research on research' creates 'interpretation of an interpretation'. In this way I intend to
present human behaviour in which the subject can increase the range of possibilities of investigating the
'self', while the actual being inside the processes of investigation and interpretation is the answer to the
question of 'who am I ?'. This is in the spirit of Kierkegaard (2002) who says that the actual search for
truth is the truth. In my investigation I wish to suggest a way in which two ways of research, art and
qualitative research, can be combined to enable the realisation of an investigative process of research
and self discovery, the meaning of which is self -development, growth, expansion and empowerment.
1. 4 Art- Based Research
Categorically, my research belongs to the developing genre called Art-based research. One of the
approaches in this genre is called Practice – based research. At first glance it seems that my research
belongs to this genre because here there is an artistic activity. Further on I will argue that this is not the
approach that I use, but first I would like to mention some ideas that concern the genre Art-based
research.
Congresses take place in different parts of the world dealing with the issue of Art-based research.
Qualitative researchers meet artists who wish to work in art in the framework of research and doctoral
theses. At these congresses, qualitative researchers and creating artists wish to define the integration
between research and art and consider artistic activity as an academic research. At a meeting that took
place in Hertfordshire in England, Biggs ( 2000)
proposes a series of questions with which he wants to
bridge between the creativity which typifies art and systematic work that is typical of research.
Congresses such as this continue to take place all over the world and express two ideas. On the one
hand the real need of the world of art to enter the world of academic research, and on the other hand
the desire of world of qualitative research to open up to diverse forms of investigation.
Practice- based research represents the voice of creating artists who want to focus on creating and
consider it a clear issue of research. McNiff ( 1998)
, a creative artist, art therapist and academic
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