This paper will be concerned with two themes related to issues of research and making in crafts and fine art. These are: 1) The iconophobia that has affected recent debate about the artefact, particularly the artwork. This is to be found in the strands of postmodernism that have set foundations for debate and critical discourse on what has been the "linguistic turn". In contrast to this there will be an advocacy of the debate surrounding what WJT Mitchell recently called the "Pictorial Turn". 2) The development of the idea that in research through practice, new artefacts stand not only linguistically in relation to other artefacts but in a critical and comparative stance to other artefacts through their materiality. In particular, this reveals itself through the body of an artist’s work. Examples will be given. This will not claim a silence for makers and artists but rather look at the complex negotiation between research as writing and wrighting (making). It will propose theorising in practice as equal to descriptions and propositional theorising of practice. It will place emphasis on the revaluation and purpose of exhibition.