Visual Arts

Two units for each of Year 11 and HSC NESA Developed Course Exclusions: Between Content Endorsed Courses and the NESA Developed Visual Arts course: Ceramics – Visual Arts HSC Ceramics Body of Work Furnishing – The Furnishing Integrated project(s) cannot be used as a Body of Work Photography – Visual Arts HSC Photography Body of Work Visual Design – Products developed cannot be used as a Body of Work in Visual Arts

What background knowledge do I need to study Visual Arts?

Nil.

Why study Visual Arts?

Visual Arts, as a subject, fosters an interest and enjoyment in the making and studying of artworks. Engagement in the Visual Arts can be of great significance to a student’s life as it enables her to gain an intellectual autonomy, as evident in the making of artworks, through the representation of ideas and creative choices related to the execution of an idea. The development of a critical and historical understanding of artworks as demonstrated in the writing and talking about art is also an equal component of the course.

The Visual Arts course offers a broad range of artmaking experiences in a wide range of media across a number of forms. Creative activities are the result of students’ engagement with their own ideas, independent choices and an awareness of the work and influences of other artists. Media investigations are complemented by an historical and critical study of international and Australian artworks and cultures that support the students to understand the broader relationships of the artworld.

Course description:

Visual Arts involves students in the practices of artmaking, art criticism and art history. Students develop their own artworks culminating in a Body of Work in the HSC course that reflects students’ knowledge and understanding about artmaking practice and which demonstrates their ability to resolve a conceptually strong work. Students critically investigate artworks, critics, historians and artists from Australia as well as those from other cultures, traditions and times. The Year 11 course is broad, while the HSC course provides for deeper, increasingly more independent, investigations.

While the course builds on Visual Arts courses in Stages 4 and 5, it also caters for students with more limited experience in Visual Arts.

Main topics covered:

Year 11 Course learning opportunities focus on:

• The nature of practice in artmaking, art criticism and art history through different investigations. • The role and function of artists’ artwork, the world and audiences in the art world. • The frames and how students might develop their own informed points of view. • How students may develop meaning and focus and interest in their work. • Building understandings over time through various investigations and working in different forms.

• How students may develop their own informed points of view in increasingly more independent ways using the frames. • How students may develop their own practice of art making, art criticism, and art history applied to selected areas of interest. • How students may learn about the relationships between artist, artwork, world and audience within the art world. • How students may further develop meaning and focus in their work.

Particular course requirements:

Year 11 Course

• artworks in at least two forms and use of a visual arts diary • a broad investigation of ideas in art criticism and art history • students need to complete a range of artworks, the development and use of a visual arts diary and written responses to artworks studied

HSC Course

• development of a body of work and use of a visual arts diary • a minimum of five case studies (four to eight hours each) • deeper and more complex investigations of ideas in art criticism and art history

HSC examination structure:

• a written examination of one and a half hours • formal submission of a body of work • an equal emphasis on both the studying and making of art

How is Visual Arts relevant to tertiary studies and career choice?

We now live in a world that is saturated with visual imagery both in our everyday and working lives. Having an understanding and appreciation of this imagery enhances our ability to understand and add to the richness and diversity of visual language and the world around us.

Visual Arts offers students an informed and confident appreciation of their own culture and of other cultures across an historical and contemporary framework. The knowledge, understanding, skills and values gained from the Visual Arts course assist students in acquiring and building conceptual and practical skills which can be applied in a wide range of post-secondary school opportunities, related careers and life in general. Students gain critical skills, analysis, reflection, judgement and an appreciation of artworks, architecture and culture that may be implemented in a formal or informal context throughout their life.

Whilst some students may envisage a formal career in the arts, the exploration of creativity, both personal and through the appreciation of others, is an informed platform from which to pursue life. However, growth in careers within the fine arts, design and creative industries is a dynamic and growing area. Traditional areas still include artist, architect, industrial designer, interior designer, graphic designer, fashion designer, but have grown to include gaming design, object design, screen production, online-content development and advertising where traditional platforms have been expanded to include social media sites and diverse audiences.