The Illegible Doctor’s Writing as a Visual Artifact and Creative Stimulation for Art Education

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the educational possibilities of medicine doctor’s writing, studying graphic component of documents, both historical and the most recent. We defend handwriting as an important graphic element for art education, from the premises of visual culture. We analyze the positive results of the exhibition “ Calligraphy of the disease, Medical Letter”, in which are visitors actually actors, performers and builders of meanings. We use the methodology of the case studies, field work incorporating direct observation of several groups of visitors. We also provide the experience of teamwork when planning the educational activity involving university students in the preparation of the exhibition. We have generates a collaborative space (Falk & Dierking 2000) promoting quality experiences for different types of users. We offer activities that can be used by visitors of different ages and interests, valuing their own perspectives and knowledge. We used the a/r/tographies (Irwin & O’Donoghue 2012) as theoretical references to manage our intentions to create the exhibition space and the educational space. Educational discourse runs throughout the entire exhibition, with a strong emphasis on public participation (Huerta, 2010).