Annotation
Seminar of Contemorary Art: Immediate, Contemporaneous, Contemporal
This seminar seeks to acquaint students with different approaches and strategies of contemporary art and introduce a wide range of figures operating within Czech and international contemporary art scene. The seminar will concentrate on the means used by artists to engage with various aspects of the contemporary world and its reflection in the art’s content and form. Together we will explore Prague galleries and art institutions, meet artists and curators and discuss their approaches to art, and the society at large. The choice of the sites of interest will reflect the current offer of the local art scene.
The seminar will be taught for two semesters but can be enrolled also for only one semester.
Course Requirements:
Oral presentation
Part of the evaluation is a short (10-15 minutes) oral presentation of each student’s final assignment topic. This presentation will be delivered in class, during the last two weeks of the fall semester (for those students, who attend only one semester) or during the two last weeks of the spring semester (for students, who will attend two semesters). The presentation should be spoken or read and include visual aids.
Exhibition journal
Students should keep an exhibition journal with short analysis of each visited exhibition (max. 1800 characters with spaces per each entry). The journal should most importantly show students’ opinions on how the material viewed in class resonates with their understanding of the contemporary condition. The journal is due on January 8th for the fall semester and May 15th (23:59 pm)) for the spring semester.
Writing Assignment - Final essay
Students are asked to write a paper on a topic related to the theme of the course. The paper should show students’ ability to contextualize the works, exhibitions, and curatorial concepts related to the problems of contemporary society and art. The subject does not have to (but might) directly relate to materials and exhibitions covered in class.
Students should feel free to consult their topic and submit the first draft of their paper beforehand. The deadline for choosing the topic is the end of November. Please e-mail the chosen topic with a short (800 characters) annotation, with intended (bibliographic) sources to the lecturer by November 24th at the latest. The deadline for submission of the final essay is Jan 15th, 2022 (for students attending only in the fall semester) or May 21st (for students attending both semesters). Essays delivered after this deadline will by downgraded by 10 %.
Assessment and final grade:
Evaluation: The final grade will be based on the results of in-class presentation of the final paper topic 20 %, final paper 20 %, gallery journal 30 %, and active participation on the seminar's activities and discussions 30 %.
Required readings:
ARADA, J., KUAN WOOD, J., VIDOKLE, A. (ed.) What is Contemporary Art? Berlin 2010.
DUMBADZE, A., HUDSON, S., Contemporary Art: 1989 to the Present, Chichester 2013.
SMITH, T. What Is Contemporary Art?, Chicago 2009.
STILES, K., SELZ, P. H., Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art: A Sourcebook of Artists' Writings, Berkley, Los Angeles, London 1996.
The following weekly schedule may be subject to change. Please check the email prior every class.
Week 1:
Oct-7
Introduction and explanation of the course format and requirements
Academy of Art, Architecture, and Design (NOT Charles University)
Classroom no. 306, 3rd floor
Náměstí Jana Palacha 80, Prague 1
Week 2:
Oct-14 4+4 Days in Motion
Erpet Smíchov
Strakonická 4, Prague 5 www.ctyridny.cz
Week 3:
Oct-21
Biennial Matter of Art
City Gallery
Mariánské náměstí 98/1 www.matterof.art
Week 4:
Oct-28
Holiday - No class
Independent program:
Pro (č) umění
Atrium Žižkov
Čajkovského 12 www.atriumzizkov.cz
Week 5:
Nov-4
Contesting Sites of Memory
VI PER Gallery
Vítkova 2, Prague 8 www.vipergallery.cz
Week 6:
Nov-11
No One Belongs Here More Then You
NG Prague, Trade Fair Palace
Dukelských hrdinů 47, Prague 7 www.ngprague.cz
Week 7:
Nov-18
Ulf Aminde: Outlet
Artwall Gallery
Kpt. Jaroše, Edvarda Beneše Embankment www.artwallgallery.cz
Week 8:
Nov-25
Beyond Nuclear Family
Display
Dittrichova 9/337 www.display.cz
Week 9:
Dec-2
Chalupecký Award
NG Prague, Trade Fair Palace
Dukelských hrdinů 47, Prague 7 www.ngprague.cz
Week 10:
Dec-9 fragilités
Rudolfinum Gallery
Alšovo nábřeží 12, Prague 2 https://galerierudolfinum.cz
Week 11:
Dec-16
Presentations
Institute of Art History, 4th floor, classroom 415.
Celetná 20, Prague 1
Week 12:
Jan-6
Presentations + Closing session
Institute of Art History, 4th floor, classroom 415.
Celetná 20, Prague 1