Listening for listening in art and inquiry

Reflecting on my ways of being in the world as an artist, researcher, student, and mentor, I am drawn by the recurring theme of listening—not only in the sense of auditory perception, but also a wider attunement to the world, involving all my intermingling senses. Arts-based research practices of living inquiry, performative inquiry, embodied inquiry invite me to explore the multiple ways I enact listening in different contexts of my life, such as when reading, dancing, writing, transcribing and facilitating art engagement. Through poetry, theory, life-writing and meditations on my embodied experiences, I observe how different metaphors, intentions or practices can guide and enable different kinds of listening experiences. In particular, I propose that listening transcends an act of reception, constituting a creative and dialogical encounter. Listening calls us to release expectations, preconceptions and control in order to enliven our desire for curiosity, discover new possibilities, and bring forth our own unique voice.