92908 - Exhibitions, New Media and Performance Art

Learning outcomes

Students develop the theoretical-methodological and historical-critical tools to understand the evolution of artistic movements with particular reference to New Media Art, Performing Arts and the problems concerning their exhibition. With the critical awareness acquired, students are able to carry out documentary and bibliographic research in paper and digital repertories, and to produce original texts for the research and dissemination of the contemporary artistic heritage.

Course contents

The course is focused on a selection of key moments and relevant case-studies within the History of Exhibitions, between Europe and United States, from French Salons to Avant-Garde Exhibitions, to arrive at Contemporary art scene. A peculiar distinction will be paid to the different premises and points of view of each exhibition or system of exhibitions analyzed: sociopolitical contexts, governance, conceptualization and display, the relationship between artist, curator and the public. The student will deal with primary sources and repertories at the basis for the reconstruction of an exhibition, arriving at an exhaustive comprehension of different display innovations and their conceptualizations.

The contents of the course will be articulated through the following five chapters and topics:

Chapter 1 French Salons, Universal Expositions and the birth of the Venice Biennale

Chapter 2 The Avant-Garde in Exhibitions. New Art in the 20th Century

Chapter 3 Exhibitions in the Sixties and Seventies and their legacy: forms of reenactments

Chapter 4 The "arena" of the Performance

Chapter 5 Exhibitions and storytelling

 

Readings/Bibliography

The bibliography consists of a selection of texts that can be downloaded as teaching material from Virtuale. These readings - essays, historical catalogues - include contributions by Bruce Altshuler, Jennifer DeVere, Frédérique Desbuissons, Vittoria Martini, Darcy Tell, Michael R. Taylor, Elana Shapira, Anne d'Harnoncourt, Jessica Santone, Susan Sontag, Natalie Musteata, Temma Balducci, Harald Szeemann.

 

Please note that non attending students are invited to contact via email the Professor in order to state the preparation for the final exam.

Teaching methods

Blended 1: the teacher will carry out part of the course remotely (max 50% of the hours). Every monday is online only.

For a second part of the course, the students will alternate their presence in the

classroom according to a schedule of shifts (more detailed information regarding the shifts and about the modalities to get access to the classroom lessons will be provided soon). It will always be possible to connect remotely and follow live lessons held in the classroom via the online platform TEAMS.

 

Restricted places for incoming exchange students:

Places for incoming exchange students in this teaching activity are limited and are primarily reserved to students enrolled in art related programmes at their home university. To check availability, please write to amac@unibo.it .

Assessment methods

The final assessment is based on an oral exam.

The student will be confronted with a series of images concerning exhibition displays (installation photographs) - analyzed during the lessons and / or present within the bibliography.

The student must demonstrate to be able to discuss these iconographic texts by properly describing, recognizing and contextalizing the period, artists and movements, forms of display and curatorial approaches.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations and videos; special talks with artists, curators and scholars.

 

Office hours

See the website of Eleonora Charans