What if the work of a nurse, physio, or homecare worker was designated
an art, so that the qualities of the experiences they create became
understood as aesthetic qualities? What if the interactions created by
artists, directors, dancers, or workshop facilitators were understood as
works of care? Care Aesthetics is the first full-length book to
explore these questions and examine the work of carer artists and artist
carers to make the case for the importance of valuing and supporting
aesthetically caring relations across multiple aspects of our lives.
Theoretically and practically, the book outlines the implications of
care aesthetics for the socially engaged arts field and health and
social care, and for acts of aesthetic care in the everyday. Part 1 of
the book outlines the approaches to aesthetics and to care theory that
are necessary to make and defend the concept of care aesthetics. Part 2
then tests this through practice, examining socially engaged arts and
health and social care through its lens. It makes the case for careful
art exploring the implications of care aesthetics for participatory or
applied arts. Then it argues for artful care and how an aesthetic
orientation to care practices might challenge some of the inadequacies
of contemporary care.
This is a vital, paradigm-shifting book for anyone engaged with socially
engaged arts or social and health care practices on an academic or
professional level.
