Aims

1. to enable the student to carry out sustained individual inquiry
2. to encourage the student to further develop and apply appropriate strategies for researching and progressing, visual ideas and material
3. to develop the student's understanding of professional practice and capacity to work independently
4. to develop the student's ability to rigorously assess studio work and to place it into context
5. to encourage the student's participation in debate around issues pertinent to Fine Art practice
6. to develop the student's knowledge and understanding of professional practice
7. to consolidate the student's learning outcomes of semester 1


In this module students continue to develop a rigorous, well-managed, informed and independent studio practice. Students further develop their studio practice directed by choices of media, studio discipline and subject/theme. Emphasis is placed both on consolidating knowledge, understanding and skills and on further exploring formal, conceptual and technical aspects of practice. This module is designed to enable students to establish a solid foundation to meet the demands of the subsequent stage of their degree programme.

The module also includes a Life Work Art assignment in which students propose and provide an account of an external-facing project which provides first-hand experience of working within a semi-professional and public context.

This module is usually available only to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students studying Fine Art. Incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students primarily studying other disciplines are not able to take this module as an outside subject.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module proceeds by means of a schedule of tutorials with the student's studio tutor, Life Work Art tutorials, group crits, and Visiting Speaker lectures. Students also carry out and write up a Life Work Art external project.
In addition students may receive tutorials from visiting artists and are encouraged to make use of the surgery tutorial system to request tutorials with specific members of staff.

This module is available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students studying Fine Art. Incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students primarily studying other disciplines are not able to take this module as an outside subject.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Tutorials facilitate the development of the student's understanding and skills in all aspects of their practice: organisational, developmental, formal, conceptual, technical, contextual and professional. They also nurture the student's ability to evaluate and reflect, to articulate their ideas and debate issues relevant to their practice.

Group crits foster the student's ability to reflect critically on their own work and that of others and to formulate reasoned responses to the views of others.

The Visiting Speaker's lectures extend the student's awareness of the spectrum of Fine Art practice and the different ways in wchich theory might relate to and sustain practice. They also provide a wide range of examples of approaches to developing a practice and of presenting and documenting artwork.

Teaching and learning as part of the Life Work Art external project develops the student's understanding of, and skills in, planning, managing, realising and evaluating a project within a public setting and in a professional context.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Presentation of studio work allows students to provide evidence of consolidation and further development in relation to: sound research and developmental methods; technical processes and materials; identification of subject matter; formal and conceptual considerations; independent management and direction of their practice and self-reflection. Within the portfolio, tutorial record forms provide evidence of the student's engagement with teaching and ability to reflect, plan and respond.

The Life Work Art proposal/report allows students to provide evidence of presentational skills, project planning, awareness of professional and public contexts, and critical evaluation.