Festival Insights: Introducing Contemporary Art Practice

Pre-requisites for enrolment

Some experience in personal art practice is essential and a keen interest in developing their work further would be advantageous.

Special Information

Essential materials you will need to bring to the first class:

• Sketchbooks

Materials and equipment available for purchase during the course: 

• Basic materials such as paper or card will be available

Content of Course

The course teaching is delivered over an intensive period of two consecutive day sessions, each with six hours class contact time. Over the class sessions the course will cover:

1. Gallery visit.

2. Group critique / discussion.

3. Studio work.

4. Group exhibition / critique.

Teaching method(s)

The teaching will be based and delivered mainly in specialist art and design studios and will typically include an introduction to Modernism and Postmodernism, supported by field trips to contemporary art exhibitions. Over the two days, students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor. Teaching will include one-to-one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

Directed study will include research into a range of suggested artists or designers and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness of visual culture. Students will be expected to demonstrate how the research has informed their work through annotated sketchbooks or visual journals and practical outcomes.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Critically engage with some of the ideas and practices of contemporary art and exhibitions;

• Begin to integrate elements of contemporary art practice with their own work;

• Understand how to present their work with others.

Sources

Core Readings

• Smith, Terry, 2009. What is Contemporary Art? Chicago: University of Chicago Press

• Hatherley, Owen, 2008.  Militant Modernism.  Winchester: Zero Books

• Heartney, Eleanor, 2001. Postmodernism. London: Tate Publishing

• http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/m/modernism

• https://philosophynow.org/issues/58/The_Death_of_Postmodernism_And_Beyond

Class Handouts

Course notes will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.