Advanced Programme in
Contemporary Art Practice
Cape Town
Taking artists further.
The ongoing workshops are suitable for any artist from beginner to intermediate level. All workshops include art theory, history, concept development and professional practice skills.
What? The workshops in contemporary art practice entail a specialist training programme consisting of workshops and visual presentations. Specific objectives are to improve technical competence; to gain theoretical and technical knowledge and insight; to develop critical reflection ability and resourcing methodologies; and to understand idea development processes.
How? Critical and creative thinking development.
The workshops consist of theoretical discussions; concept, creative and critical thinking development; training in digital and technical skills; and critical assessment. During each workshop a topic relevant to art production, art exhibition, art marketing or art writing is theorised and discussed. Each participant receives individual attention as well as learn through observing the development of the work of others and the discussion thereof.
Workshop Programme
Advanced Workshop Programme
This programme is for more experienced artists. It involves more preparation and more in-depth critical assessment of work done. The programmes are aimed at taking the status quo of artists’ production to a more advanced and professional level.
WORKSHOP 1: ART & CHANCE
This workshop is focused on experimental thinking and creativity development we will deal with various chance processes in art using various media. More creative and critical thinking needs an experimental mindset and a willingness to think outside the box. Amongst others, we will look at chance processes such as dropping, spilling, smearing, moving and guiding media. The whole body will be involved in the processes.
PROGRAMME:
The workshop includes introductory PowerPoint presentations and how the topic of the workshop finds application in examples of local and international artwork. Concise theoretical and arthistorical background is provided.
Illustrated talk on chance in art
Black ink
Practical workshop: Spilling and scraping
Practical workshop: Using body parts in art
Practical workshop: Randomness
WORKSHOP 2: CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT – MULTI-LAYERING & ADVANCED COMPOSITION
An essential part of the academic training of a professional arts practitioner is the ability to understand and manipulate content. This facet has become very important in the current conceptual climate of artmaking. Contemporary artists work in any form of representation. Before Modernism and the invention of the camera, artists used to work only in recognisable manner, that is, in degrees of naturalism. This does not mean that they were not creative; it simply means that artist had not broken with the tradition of naturalism and that there existed different modes of deviation within that form of representation.To develop content means to be able to understand therationale or idea underpinning your artmaking process, including the selection of images and materials. Content can be phrased as the meaning inherent to the form of an artwork.The workshop considers the layering in images in a two-dimensional work or the combination of different images in a three-dimensional work. Attention is given to the use of different materials and the layering of different materials in order to express or deepen an idea.
PROGRAMME:
The workshop includes introductory PowerPoint presentations and how the topic of the workshop finds application in examples of local and international artwork. Concise theoretical and arthistorical background is provided.
Individual presentation of preparation of ideas for further work
Examples of concepts in current international and South African artists’ work
Compositioning techniques and viewpoint development according to concept
Multi-layering as process in order to achieve more conceptual depth and enrich work
Personal assessment and further guidance
WORKSHOP 3: FINISHING & REFINEMENT + RAIDING THE HARDWARE SHOP
This workshop follows on the previous one and focuses on finishing techniques, that is, how to make your composition work better; how to enrich your colour; how to make your work more complex or more minimalistic in order to make the concept/idea clearer. Attention is given to the introduction of shock techniques and unexpected twists in order to express or deepen an idea.
PROGRAMME:
The workshop includes introductory PowerPoint presentations and how the topic of the workshop finds application in examples of local and international artwork. Concise theoretical and arthistorical background is provided.
Individual presentation of own work done
Introduction to finishing processes, both technical and conceptual
Reworking existing work according to guidance
Refinement techniques
Utilising alternative materials found at the hardware shop
Personal assessment and further guidance
Next workshop 2019
CAPE TOWN
Simons Town Old Library
9 am – 4 pm daily
Advanced 2: 6-8 Sept - Concept development - Multi-layering & Advanced composition
R1600 per course.