AR Portrait Painting in Dialogue with Woman, Life, Freedom

Abstract

This paper introduces AR portrait painting in Dialogue, a novel arts-based research methodology that integrates Augmented Reality (AR) technology with portrait painting to effectively analyze and visualize data while fostering collaborative and democratic knowledge construction. The methodology leverages the interpretive, analytic, and performative potentials of AR portraiture to illuminate complex sociocultural contexts of the research. Central to this approach is the acknowledgment and valorization of diverse subjective interpretations, inviting researchers, participants, and viewers in the co-construction of knowledge through dialogue. The intersubjective and open-ended knowledge construction is particularly pertinent for investigating ongoing and intricate social and political issues. Furthermore, the multiplicity of subjective perspectives and diverse interpretations within the AR portrait painting methodology enhances the credibility, authenticity, and truthfulness of the generated knowledge. To exemplify the utility of this innovative methodology, a case study is presented that showcases how AR portrait painting in dialogue effectively represents and communicates the experiences of Maryam, an Immigrant woman, as a resident of transnational spaces. Finally, discussing the potential and challenges of employing the AR portrait painting methodology provides valuable insights for art educators seeking to integrate AR art into their pedagogical practices.