THINKING THROUGH DRAWING: PRACTICE INTO KNOWLEDGE

THINKING THROUGH DRAWING: PRACTICE INTO KNOWLEDGE 113

Jenny Wright and Neil shah

body for ease of access; in contrast, the ophthalmic
surgeon is stationary.
Marks made during observations of ophthal-
mic procedures reflect the refined visual and motor
skills necessary to manipulate tools in a confined
space and have become a test-bed exploring sub-
stances that are analogous to the tissue being oper-
ated on. Different drawing materials and supports
have been explored in order to find ways to develop
tactile acuity and motor skills. These continue to
be developed with medical students as part of their
training in micro surgical techniques.
Marc Treib (2008) proposes in Drawing/thinking
confronting an electronic age, that

We think and record thoughts using draw-

ings; we propose and we test ideas and

designs; we adjust and create. At some

point—and this is one of the miracles of

drawing—the image begins to tell us more

than we have projected into it; new or

unrecognised relations or ideas emerge...

(p15)

Footnotes

1. For the purposes of this paper the definition of
   haptic when linked to drawing and surgery re-
   lates to the sense of touch in all its forms includ-
   ing:

Proprioception: That is the perception from the
whole nervous system relating to the position,
orientation and movement of the body in space.

Kinaesthesia: Relating to the sensation of move-
ment of body and limbs, originating in muscles,
tendons and joints. Sometimes called muscle
sense.

Cutaneous sense: Sensation originating from
skin surface with reference to senses of pressure,
temperature and pain.

Tactile perception: Encompassing the cutaneous
sense, but focusing more on sensation of pres-
sure rather than temperature or pain

2. Trabeculectomy is a surgical procedure used in
   Glaucoma treatment where raised inter ocular
   pressure is not being satisfactorily treated by eye
   drops. A small incision is made in the sclera to
   remove part of the trabecular meshwork, allow-
   ing fluid to drain from within the eye into the
   structures under the conjunctiva where it is more
   easily absorbed.

3 Capsulorrhexis is a surgical technique in which

a continuous circular tear is made in the crys-

talline lens to allow the break up and removal

(phacoemulsification) of the lens nucleus during

cataract surgery.

References

Barzman, K. E. (1991). Perception, knowledge and

the theory of Disegno in sixteenth Century Flor-

ence in Afterimage: Drawing through process,

London, MIT press

Dutoit, A. (2008). Looking as Inquiry: Drawing the

Implied Urban Realm in Drawing/thinking con-

fronting an electronic age, London, Routledge

Treib, M., ed (2008). Drawing / Thinking Confronting

an Electronic Age, London, Routledge