About INSPIRE
Inspirational Creative Practice: The Work of Artists after War and Violent Conflict (INSPIRE) is a research project that studies the role of artists and creative practice in and after violent conflict. The project is hosted by the Peace Research Institute in Oslo (PRIO) and connected to the PRIO Centre on Culture and Violent Conflict (CCC). Working with artists in Myanmar and Sudan, and exiled artists in four European countries (France, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland), we explore what motivates those engaged in creative practice and how artistic expressions inspire others into action for social justice.
Our perspective
We start with the belief that research that engages artists, art and audiences is needed to help the social sciences better comprehend human experiences – especially in times of war – in more holistic ways. The project is based on a close collaboration between artists and researchers. Our collaborative approach aims to bridge social sciences with humanities, drawing on work at the boundaries of science and art. Using participatory and arts-based methods, we highlight the importance of situated and embodied ways of understanding the world.
About the website
This website is at the core of our research project. Here, we invite you to explore the different aspects of the project as it evolves, creating a live archive of the project. The website functions as a space for critical and creative reflection, bringing together and sharing the different aspects that make up the INSPIRE project.
The website is structured so that you can get to know the artists that are part of the project, learn more about the different research activities that are taking place, follow and participate in our news and events, and engage in a space that opens the possibility for collaborations between artists and academics.
As a multi-disciplinary team, and particularly through this virtual platform, we hope to engage across different disciplines and different geographies, sharing ideas, showing our processes and creating a space that invites for collaboration and co-creation of knowledge on themes and topics related to art and artistic practices in the context of war, violent conflict and exile.
Visual identity
Artists look at the world from a different perspective. Often drawn to the edges of society, seeking the unpolished and unfinished locations where different (sub)cultures meet. They have the quality to voice a concern and to reveal a subconscious state of being in society before others do.
Symbolising the artists’ view we created a logo of two interacting geometric shapes. The first is a blue hexagon depicting a lens aperture and stands for the eye of the artist. The second is a green circle depicting the environment or current situation. Green for life, environment and faith. Blue for inspiration, wisdom, freedom and hope. Where two elements meet and overlap a secondary color appears, symbolising the artist's view on a given conflict or situation.
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