Behavioral Model of Interactive Co-Construction Between Artists and Villagers in Art-Based Rural Revitalization: A Grounded Theory Study

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Xiaochun Chen

Xiaochun Chen, PhD, faculty member at the School of Sculpture and Public Art, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, China. Research focuses on rural public art and art-based rural revitalization, with particular attention to the realization of locality in rural public art, sustainable mechanisms of artistic intervention in rural revitalization, and the relationships among art, landscape, and rural space.

ABSTRACT
Art-based rural revitalization is an important approach to rural revitalization, while understanding the interactive co-construction mechanism between artists and villagers is crucial for project sustainability. This study adopts grounded theory to conduct an exploratory analysis based on interview data. The findings indicate that interactive co-construction behavior in art-based rural revitalization comprises four key elements: Contact Perception (Reason for Contact, Impression of Contact, Contact Reaction), Relationship Building (Interactive Attitudes, Relationship Building Methods, Relationship Maintenance Strategies), Collaborative Rural Revitalization (Collaborative Motivation, Pathways to Collaborative Rural Revitalization, Tension Management), and Co-Creation Effect (Cognitive Shift, Adjustment of Action Methods). These elements demonstrate a logical progression across three stages, in which Relationship Building, Collaborative Rural Revitalization, and Co-Creation Effect form a dynamic cyclical relationship. These results deepen our understanding of the interactive co-construction behavior between artists and villagers and its underlying theoretical logic, providing a sound theoretical basis and practical insights for fostering positive interaction and collaboration in art-based rural revitalization.
KEYWORDS
Art-based rural revitalization; interactive co-construction; rural revitalization; rural art practice; grounded theory