Assignment Brief:

Artists, craftspeople and designers working today and in the past have all been influenced in different ways by contemporary and historical contextual understanding. Professional practitioners from all specialist visual fields recognise the value of researching other practitioners’ work in developing new ideas and informing their understanding on many levels. This requires that you investigate contemporary and historical practice in art, craft and design relevant to your chosen theme

Wednesdays will be structured in a rolling program of short tasks (written and practical) and guest lectures for you to respond to along with exhibitions visits. This unit will continue over the course of one year but reviews will take place at several points during the year. 

For this you will be required to collate information and show awareness of other photographers and artist’s work from a range of sources including visits to galleries, museums, market research and workshops and studios. You are expected to keep records of your research findings and evaluate your understanding throughout the development in your blog, PowerPoint or sketchbook. 

Key to this is that you must analyse all aspects of art, craft and design production and how a professional body of work relates to your own specialist area. You will gain a broad understanding of other’s work from which they may focus upon a particular period of historical or contemporary practice to explore in depth and present their findings.

In working through this unit you will explore and analyse the various materials, processes and techniques that practitioners use in the construction of their work. You will also research the social, political and environmental influences surrounding work produced at different times in historical and contemporary practice. Own research should inform and inspire own practice. You must clearly show what it is of value you have drawn from your research that you have added to your own work.