Visual arts and theoretical practice

Visual arts and theoretical practice

The study of theoretical practice in the context of the Diploma Programme visual arts course establishes a broad theoretical framework that intersects each of the core areas of visual arts in context, visual arts methods and communicating visual arts. Theoretical practice should be used to inform students’ art-making practices resulting in increasingly sophisticated and autonomous art-making processes and an informed, coherent and cohesive exhibition.

theoretical practice encompasses a range of disciplines within the field of visual arts and other related creative industries that are sometimes discrete and independent, but more often correlate and overlap. These include the following.

art criticism	investigating and deriving meaning and significance from works of art; evaluating formal and conceptual qualities
art history	investigating the social, historical and cultural context of works of art and determining the social, historical and cultural significance
art-making	the processes, methodologies, theories and conventions that underpin art-making activities
curating	collecting, conserving, presenting works of art.

Identifying these disciplines within the theoretical practice can be helpful in linking teaching strategies and planned to learn activities to the core areas and the course content.

	Visual arts and theoretical practice
Core area	Practice	Course content	Possible learning activities
Visual arts in the context Artists and why they make art	Art criticism	Consider the cultural contexts (historical, geographical, political, social and technological factors) influencing the production of works of art.	Students are introduced to a range of models for analysing, critiquing, interpreting and deconstructing artworks, offering opportunities for students to engage and become familiar with these.
	Art history	Examine and compare the work of artists from different times, places and cultures, using a range of critical methodologies.	Students are provided with an overview of developments and movements in visual arts from earliest times to the present day, timelines for reference, along with accompanying contextual background (such as historical and sociopolitical influences, cultural and technological achievements and events).
Visual arts methods Ways of making artwork	Art-making	Look at different techniques for making art. Investigate and compare how and why different techniques have evolved and the processes involved.	Students research the methods, processes and conventions involved in the media they are working in, investigating how processes have changed, media or techniques have developed or technologically evolved over time.
Communicating visual arts Ways of presenting art	Curating	Explore ways of communicating through visual and written means.	Students curate an imaginary exhibition, identifying an appropriate exhibition context, selecting a particular artist’s work or using artwork from a selected movement, culture or tradition and producing appropriate accompanying documentation.
		Make artistic choices about how to most effectively communicate knowledge and understanding.	Students practise applying the knowledge gained to their own work and that of others through the creation of mini-exhibitions of students’ own work supported by appropriate artist statements, with attention to display and labelling.
		Identify different curatorial strategies used by galleries and museums to present works of art.	Students investigate the role of the curator and curatorial practices through visits to galleries and artists’ studios, reviewing catalogues for local exhibitions, presentations by visiting artists and exploration of alternative display spaces—this is supported by individual research with entries in the visual arts journal and shared oral feedback.