90710 - LAB - Curatorial Practices

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

Students learn the basic theoretical and practical approaches of curating exhibitions and they explore various curatorial methodologies and strategies for different forms of exhibitions (monographic, thematic, collection presentations, performances, media-based and interactive projects, etc.). They become also familiar with social practice and urban projects in public contexts, and with alternative or artist-run spaces. Through readings and discussions, viewing assignments and journals, field trips, and guest lectures, they are able to analyse the role of curators and cultural producers today.

Contenuti

The exam for Curatorial Practices and Contemporary Art consists of two courses: Curating the contemporary and LAB - Curatorial Practices. Curatorial Practices and Contemporary Art is an integrated exam of 12 CFU (6 CFU+6 CFU) and the verification and evaluation of the preparation follow the procedures laid down for an integrated exam, i.e. they must be taken in the same session and students must then register simultaneously for both exams.

The LAB - Curatorial Practices aims to analyze the role of the monument within the urban sphere. In particular, some monuments of the city of Bologna will be selected with the aim of developing participatory artistic projects (or at least a concrete proposal for intervention). During the LAB students will deal with actual crucial questions such as concept of sharing values and participatory process especially in light of the disappearance of rituals and historically forms of identity. The LAB reflect also on the complex relationship between artists and community avoiding the concept of a certain kind of voyeurism exploitation and moral pedagogy. Monument and community represent two different levels of narrative and history in the making and both are dwelling on the need of visual representation. How could we interpreted a monument today? What activates a monument and what does a monument mean within its context? What does participatory process mean and how is it achieved through artistic intervention?

These questions will be analyzed through an interdisciplinary approach based on artistic symbolic construction, curatorial organization and social science investigation. The fundamental tool of the course will be the field work as direct analysis of the contexts of action. The monuments chosen during the course will be analyzed from historical, urban and social point of view in order to activate new narratives through visual arts. Case studies of artistic operations within urban regeneration projects will be analyzed (in particular those developed in the Italian context by the Ministry of Culture -MiC). Students will learn how to write and submit a proposal for prize and grant related to public art and participatory programs. On a practical level, the major techniques used by socially engaged artists (field work, survey, interview with resident, Photo voice) will be implemented to demonstrate how the artist's toolkit within the urban sphere has expanded with interdisciplinary tools.

Testi/Bibliografia

A handout that will contain a collection of essays on the subject of the class will be available on “Insegnamenti on Line” (https://iol.unibo.it) at the beginning of the lessons. For a more accurate notions of community and monument in public space a selection of videos and interviews will be also available on “Insegnamenti on Line” (https://iol.unibo.it).

Metodi didattici

The teaching will be carried out both through “traditional" teaching methods (e.g. the teacher will always be present in the classroom) and field work organized in advance with the students. As a practical methodology, during the Lab, students will use tools from social engaged art such as: field work, survey, mapping, interview with resident, Photo voice. Previous artistic training knowledge is not required.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

For those who attend the lessons.

The exam consist in the elaboration of artistic intervention related to one of the monuments selected and analyzed during the Lab. The intervention should demonstrate the capacity of dialogue between student, local community and cultural organization (e.g. museum, gallery, association). The intervention is not intended as a complex form and long term project but as a form of activation. It could be one-day intervention in which the participation of community is the main to goal to achieve.

What will be assessed:

• Ability to create participation in the realm of urban sphere
• Ability to use interdisciplinary tools

- Ability to historically frame concepts and theories, artists, exhibitions and movements

- Ability to analyze themes and concepts

As alternative to this practical intervention students could elaborate and write a proposal for a grant/prize analyzed during the lessons.

What will be assessed:

• Ability to create a project in dialogue between cultural institution and civic society
• Ability to use interdisciplinary tools, methods of evaluation and planning.

- Ability to historically frame concepts and theories, artists, exhibitions and movements

- Ability to analyze themes and concepts

For those who cannot attend the lessons.

The exam consists in the elaboration of an essay on a case study of a work of art/public art exhibition or socially engaged art intervention. The subject must be agreed with the teacher at least two months before the exam and the final text should be proposed at least one week before the exam. The length of the paper should be 3000/4000 words. The paper will be analyzed to evaluate the critical and methodological skills acquired by the students.

What will be assessed:

- Mastery of the contents

- Ability to historically frame concepts and theories, artists, exhibitions and movements

- Ability to analyze themes and concepts

- Ability to express oneself adequately and in a language appropriate to the subject being dealt with.

Students will be assessed especially considering whether they have acquired ability to orientate within the visual and written sources recommended in the bibliography and on the AMS Campus online platform, for finding useful information to illustrate topics and issues by connecting them.

For further information please consult the online platform or send email direct to the Professor.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Further relevant materials relating to the course contents will be available on “Insegnamenti on Line” (https://iol.unibo.it)

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Emanuele Rinaldo Meschini