Installation and Site-specific Art
- New Work Samples
- Ricky
Description of activity
Students work individually, in pairs or groups to produce a video/multimedia presentation analysing the practice of installation artists Janet Laurence and Fiona Foley. They investigate how notions of cultural identity and histories of art inform an artist's practice including their intentions, use of materials and resolution of ideas. Students interpret, explain and make judgements about the artwork Edge of the Trees by investigating the conceptual framework, the frames and a range of resource material. In this assessment activity peers will assess the video presentation and the teacher will provide written feedback. The suggested duration for this activity is 5-6 lessons of 80 minutes each.
Context
Students in Year 10 have investigated the practices of site-specific and installation artists, and the works they make. They have attended a field trip to view the installation Edge of the Trees by Janet Laurence and Fiona Foley at the Museum of Sydney. They explore the conceptual framework through the postmodern and cultural frames, and investigate how artists establish relationships between audiences and their artworks to construct meanings about artworks. As part of critical and historical studies, students make a video responding to the artwork Edge of the Trees. This video can then be used as part of an artmaking learning activity incorporating site-specific and installation works.
Areas for Assessment
Outcomes
A student:
5.7 applies their understanding of aspects of practice to critical and historical interpretations of art
5.8 uses their understanding of the function of and relationship between artist - artwork - world - audience in critical and historical interpretations of art.
5.9 demonstrates how the frames provide different interpretations of art
5.10 demonstrates how art criticism and art history construct meanings.
Criteria for assessing learning
(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)
Students will be assessed on their:
- understanding of the frames, the artist's practice and the conceptual framework applied to a knowledgeable discussion of the artwork through the:
- use of one or more of the four frames as the basis of a critical and historical analysis
- use of the conceptual framework (in particular the relationship between the artwork and the audience) as the basis for understanding the interrelationships and functions of the artwork in its site
- consideration of the practice of the two artists, in particular their intentions, choices of materials and techniques, and resolution of ideas
- ability to demonstrate through the video and scripted voice-over narration the ways in which art history and art criticism create meanings through:
- an explanation of the multilayered meanings of the work for an audience
- an understanding that meaning is contained within the physical elements and materials of the work and its site
- technical accomplishment to produce a video or multimedia work in response to Janet Laurence's and Fiona Foley's installation work, Edge of the Trees through the:
- use of the video camera in a variety of shots such as close-ups and panning, maintaining focus and avoiding camera flare, in which the experience of the audience interacting with all aspects of the site-specific sculpture is evoked
- incorporation of a voice-over audio track which explains the artwork to an audience using the frames to structure a critical analysis and interpretation of the work's meanings.