The practice of packing a bag
Current research by Kaya Barry
Packing a bag is an activity that most of us have experienced. Whether we are preparing for a holiday, while backpacking around the world, or even in the everyday process of getting ready for the daily commute, the process of assembling materials into a bag is an everyday occurrance. For several years now, I have been researching the "practice" of packing a bag.
For my PhD research (Deakin University, 2012-2015) I travelled to Iceland and Nepal and interviewed tourists staying in hostelling accommodation about how they packed. Currently I am researching how people pack bags for multi-day walks, hiking, camping and trekking in Australia and specifically in National Parks.
As part of my ongoing research into packing, I have produced a series of "hands on" artworks and exhibitions which invite people to expeirence packing and reflect on their own practices as tourists (list below). Research on packing has been published in numerous scholarly journals (list below) and I have new book, titled "Everyday practices of tourism mobilities" (Routledge, 2018).
If you would like further info on my resarch, or want to have a chat about how you have experienced packing, I'd love to hear from you! Whether you're a tourist, hiker, researcher, or just interested in travel, I'd love to hear from you!
Publications on packing:
2018: Everyday Practices of Tourism Mobilities: Packing a bag. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Everyday-Practices-of-Tourism-Mobilities-Packing-a-Bag/Barry/p/book/9780415788458
2017: "Transversal Travels: The relational movements and environmental intensities of packing a bag", Studies in Material Thinking. Available at: https://www.materialthinking.org/papers/241
2016: "Diagramming: A Creative Methodology for Tourist Studies", Tourist Studies. First published online before print: Nov 28, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468797616680852
2016: "Packing as practice: Creative knowledges through material interactions". Tourism Analaysis, 21(4), 403-415.(opens new window)
2016: "Transiting with the environment: And exploration of tourist re-orientations as collaborative practice". Journal of Consumer Culture (online first article,http://joc.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/03/01/1469540516635406.abstract
Artworks and Exhibitions:
2015: Creativity in-transit, Red Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.
2013: How to pack a bag, Phoenix Gallery, Melbourne Australia.
2014: How to have a conversation about backpacks, Online at the Fonlad Web Art Show.