Creative agent as process critic

transversal practices in creation

Abstract

In recognition of the imperative to engage with reflexivity as a fundamental aspect of creative endeavors, this article delineates and explores the overarching facets of the creative agent functioning as a process critic within a transdisciplinary framework of art history. The examination of the creative agent’s role extends beyond the confines of academia, inevitably encompassing the structured conceptual and theoretical outputs stemming from introspection into creative processes themselves. Commencing with an examination of the general competencies of the process critic within academic discourse, drawing upon insights from the Studies of Processes of Creation at PUC/SP, the discussion then transitions to elucidate various capacities of the agent evident across diverse publication projects and contemporary experimentation. This inquiry facilitates the delineation of prevalent trends in reflexive production, encompassing critical engagements with one’s own creative practice, analyses of fellow artists’ processes, reflections on procedural documents – both personal and external – and more. The overarching aim of the article is to contribute to discourse surrounding the creative agent as a subject emanating from creative and critical practices, propelled by the imperative of communication. Furthermore, it advocates for the adoption of a transdisciplinary approach as an essential methodology for recognizing recurring themes across disparate action contexts.