Slade Summer School: Introduction to Contemporary Art

About

The aim of this program is to provide a portal through which to explore contemporary art in an expansive and enjoyable way. The week will consist of gallery visits, lectures and discussions. These will be augmented by tutor-led practical sessions in the studio, experimenting with various materials and methods. The course is suitable for those with little or no prior knowledge, as well as those wishing to widen existing experience. We will be asking questions such as what do we mean by ‘contemporary art'? Is it different from, and how does it relate to modern art and post-modernism? To begin with, we will look at key changes from the Renaissance to Modernism, in particular the move from perspective and illusionism into abstraction and the ready-made. How did this then lead into postmodernism? Socio/political, historical and technological developments will also be broadly traced and we will consider how all of this feeds into art now. Some of the main shifts in theoretical thinking will be touched on. There will be a particular focus on London as a centre for Contemporary art, from the late eighties to the present and we will visit major London galleries such as Tate Modern as well as commercial and more alternative venues. (Students will need to pay their travel and food costs on these trips and the purchase of an oyster card is recommended).