Xiyuan Tan

As an important part of my practice-based PhD, I use reportage drawing as a research method for ethnographic investigation. 

The observation and thinking involved in drawing turn the familiar into the exotic (Kuschinir 2016) and we tend to notice what we are likely to ignore when we draw things, compared to taking photos of things. Drawing is a subjective creative act that encourages the artist to make decisions while recording. In ethnographic studies, the decisions made reflect my view as an ethnographer.  I looked out for the most distinctive parts of the culture group and emphasize them in my lines and marks. 

Reportage drawing means recording events on-location, thus it is a fast-paced context and requires me to think and act immediately. Therefore, being able to quickly put down the 'visual notes' with the most useful ethnographic information becomes the biggest challenge.