We are continuing our ICAF Tip series, this time with a reading recommendation; James Thompson’s “Care Aesthetics. For Artful Care and Careful Art”, published this year by Routledge.
“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 questions as such.
The relationship between socially engaged art, care work and healthcare are topics that have been prevalent in the art world for many years now. However, over the past two years, especially as a result of the pandemic, these topics have taken an even more urgent turn. ICAF believe this is a hugely important topic of discussion, with Thompson offering an accessible yet rich and nuanced approach that every reader can learn from. What’s more, the topics covered in “Care Aesthetics” will form one of the key focusses for ICAF 2023, making is essential reading in the run up to March 2023.
