Becomebecome
A Transdisciplinary Methodology for Art Education/Incubation and Community Building based on Somatic Awareness, Somatic Intuition, and Somatic Psychology
APARN Conference Proceedings, 2025 – ISBN: 978-616-7901-71-8
Andrea Traldi, Ph.D.
This article was presented on the occasion of the 2025 Asia Pacific Research Network Conference; a vibrant international gathering of artists, academics, and practitioners, exploring cutting-edge research, innovative practices, and critical discussions that are shaping the future of the arts across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. APARN 2025 was organized by Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and featured live performances, experimental showcases, workshops, and academic presentations. Engaging in bustling conversations that bridge disciplines and creating a unique space for fostering dialogue between performance, visual arts, technology, and humanities, APARN 2025 introduced new perspectives and hybrid forms of knowledge in art research, art education, and art creation.
Abstract
This article documents the journey of the Becomebecome Collective, an ever expanding and evolving group of artists, researchers, curators, and academics that organically coalesce around social impact projects including art creation, wellbeing, and community building.
At its core, the Becomebecome methodology is based on the Institute of Applied Somatics approach to subconscious knowledge, synchronicity, and the transpersonal self through somatics. Combining the experience and influence of participants and facilitators from all over the world, the Becomebecome Collective has expanded upon this core approach to develop community events and art projects including: somatics, anatomy, and psychology workshops, educational seminars, social impact art events focused on promoting cultural heritage and connecting the participants to unique aspects of local traditions, but also thematic art residency immersions and training programs with year-long curricula that teach participants practical strategies to harness group-dynamics, improve their communication skills, and reveal shared subconscious histories.
This article outlines the Becomebecome transdisciplinary framework and methodology for integrating somatic, intuitive, and psychological techniques into the creative process. It introduces a transpersonal and transcultural approach to art education and incubation that can be used to expand the agency of all the actors involved in the creation of artwork including the participants designated as authors/artists, the people who help the artists, the public, and other social entities.
Furthermore, the Becomebecome framework is presented as an example of how to combine cognitive science with embodied practices to unlock hidden layers of the creative mind and generate new ideas. Crucially, the techniques used to access this enhanced space for creativity also nurture wellbeing and empathy, foster collaboration and lower social and cultural barriers.
Acknowledgements
The Becomebecome Collective would like to thank the organizers, the participants, and all the collaborators who devoted their energy and enthusiasm to make this experience very beautiful and inspiring.
In particular, we would like to thank the following entities for making this opportunity available to us:
Faculty of Arts – Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, Thailand
The Asia Pacific Research Network (APARN)
SAR (Society for Artistic Research)
