School of Art - University Electives, Semester 2 & Flexible Term, 2019

Your program requires you to complete courses from a list of University Elective options. These courses can be from anywhere in the University, or from within the School of Art. To choose your elective please visit the University Electives site. We have listed Semester 2 School electives below for your reference. Details of Semester 2 offerings are listed below. Please note that offerings can be subject to change. Details of Flexible Term 2019 School electives are also listed below. These courses can be found under the FlexiTerm 1902 in Enrolment Online.

To add an elective in Enrolment Online, choose the 'Class Search' tab, select the relevant Term, and search for the name or course code of the course you are interested in.

For more information about a course, please contact the Studio Lead of the offering studio.

Please note: although we would like to offer all of the courses below, courses are subject to viability and may not run if numbers are too low.

Course Information

Offering Studio & Studio Lead

Semester 2 University Electives

This course introduces you to the beginnings of photography to the present day. You will examine the early pioneers exploring the chemical and physical phenomena that define the medium of photography. You will also explore the techniques, processes, idiosyncrasies, history, and cultural connections that are such a significant part of photography. Some processes we look at and experiment with include; glitch art, digital and analogue lens less photographers, and cyanotypes.

In this course you will investigate how photography functions within a fine art context. This is investigated through an overview of historical and contemporary photographic ideas and practice. You will be exposed to a diverse range of significant local and international artists who draw upon a variety of photographic technologies in their practice, and investigate the language of photography and how it informs fine art photographic image making.

The course provides you with opportunities to respond to lectures and explore ways of processing and articulating your own ideas with traditional and experimental photographic techniques. Class activities aim to engage you in applying photographic discourse to your contemporary art practice.

Irene Barberis

In this course you will investigate your changing relationship to place through art-making. You will explore ideas of the landscape and the environment in global, urban, actual, metaphorical and micro/macro spaces. By drawing on ideas and practices in art and the sciences, you will examine the effect of various technologies such as drawing, painting, photography, sound movement & the moving image on our perception and representation of environment. You will relate these ideas and methods to your studio practice.

In this course you will explore the possibilities offered by the artist’s book for the presentation of visual information and ideas. A broad range of book binding methods will be introduced and applied in studio workshops that encourage you to think laterally about what a book might be and how a narrative might be constructed. The methods of bookbinding covered in this course incorporate both adhesive and non-adhesive book binding methods, from simple folding techniques to more formal sewn binding methods. You will discuss and apply bookbinding methods appropriate to a range of mediums in order to extend your art practice.

In this course you will explore and experiment with the physical properties of materials and develop fundamental skills in the making of objects through ceramic methods. You will also address conceptual and technical concerns related to the making of objects. This course will also help you to understand the relationships between idea, concept, form and material as you begin to develop an individual approach to your art practice.

In this elective course you will learn studio skills and competency in drawing the figure.

You will explore the methods, materials, and concepts concerning life drawing. These range across the application of appropriate materials in a range of drawing modes and studio settings; perspective and non-perspective approaches to visual representation; proportion, form, weight and volume; figure/ground relationships; positive/negative space; use of props and backdrops; details of head, feet, hands; depiction of movement; serial and sequential works. Your learning will include drawing from the model, group workshops and demonstrations.

In this course you will be introduced to the basic knowledge and skills required in the making of jewellery and small-scale objects. You will explore new possibilities for creating jewellery and objects, through the relationship to the body and experimentation with a broad range of materials, including metal. This course will assist you to develop conceptual, perceptual, formal and aesthetic concerns as related to jewellery objects.

Through practical workshops this course introduces and explores a range of processes and techniques of lithography as a medium for drawing. Line and wash techniques will be developed over a series of projects.

This elective provides an introduction to lithographic skills processes, such as, preparing a stone, drawing on a stone, processing the stone with adding and subtracting to your image as well as providing ongoing students with an opportunity to extend existing skills. You will gain an understanding of safe handling of materials and processes within the lithography studio, and how to apply these to the visual expression of conceptual principles.

This elective will give you an elementary understanding of the concepts and materials and contexts used in the production of paintings.

You will be encouraged to experiment with and respond to materials; develop an awareness of visual perception and intuitive sensibilities; and see painting as a self-reflexive ongoing practice, which may link to your major area of study. You will extend your knowledge regarding Painting through experimentation with different painting supports; preparation of grounds; various painting media; colour mixing; colour theory; compositional and spatial considerations. Studio based learning via projects and instruction sessions where you will be producing paintings, drawings and collages. There will be individual consultations with the lecturer involving feedback and appraisal on exercises and self-directed projects where appropriate. Advanced projects are negotiated with students with a greater experience in the subject. The course is supported by individual visual research, including the production of a visual diary. Group tutorials, critiques, demonstrations, student presentations and gallery visits. Methods of Production, Health and Safety will be experienced.

The course approaches the medium of photography firstly as a unique approach to human communication, secondly as an art form, and thirdly as a medium that requires the acquisition of a unique set of technical skills. In studying this course you will be shown how photography has developed throughout its history. We will discuss how our growing understanding of the principles of human perception and communication has influenced photography. You will be introduced to basic principles of the camera and you will also be provided with techniques for responding to the content and structure of photographs.

In this course you will experiment with image design and creation to communicate specific messages to target audiences.This course will provide you with the opportunity to examine and establish professional image capture workflows using a DSLR and/or interchangeable lens camera. You will develop skills in how to control image formation and the resulting visual communication using semi-automatic and manual exposure controls to capture a broad range of subject matter with control and accuracy.

This course introduces the practice of art in public spaces. You will explore a range of works created outside the gallery or domestic environment including street installation, public painting and sculpture, light works, performative or relational works, virtual projects and art integrated within landscape and the built environment. You will review and critique the role of these works in contributing to ideas of public space. Your investigation and reflections will inform how your work will develop and move into public spaces and inform the development of your projects about and for public space.

This course allows students to explore the rich possibilities offered by print processes as a foundation for conceptual investigations in art. Practical demonstrations will introduce you to the inherent properties in printmaking processes that encourage an innovative and responsive approach to art practice, with a focus on relief (lino and wood block) and intaglio (etching), with digital image manipulation.

The course is also designed to motivate and involve students in analytical thinking about visual perceptions, through processes of reproduction. A set of related projects will address the notion of process driven art making, materials and methods of production, the role of presentation, and health and safety issues within the print studio.

This course is designed to introduce students to the traditions of sculpture within the framework of a current art practice and to develop sculptural values and competence in the use of materials and techniques. In this course you will develop a greater understanding of sculptural concepts and materials through the establishment and/or further investigation of a personal art practice based in object making. Students will be introduced to the skills of modelling, carving, wood and metal construction using materials such as clay, plaster, wood and wire.

In this course, you will explore and experience a range of materials and processes using digital manufacturing techniques and CAD modelling software to build jewellery and objects. Digital manufacturing processes covered will include object printing and use a variety of outsourced and in house printing including Form labs printing. CAD modelling will focus on learning basic to advanced Rhino software. Please contact the studio coordinator if you are unable to enrol into this course: kirsten.haydon@rmit.edu.au

This course will introduce you to the use of the recording studio as a creative tool. You will be presented with an overview of the history, philosophy and techniques in utilizing the recording studio for creative outcomes. Using listening examples, you will learn how to objectively analyse and dissect pieces of music to reveal the techniques and approaches used in producing a wide range of audio material. This will be reinforced by practical examination of a variety of these techniques through using the recording studio. In your work for this course you will be expected to use the skills and information you garner in this course to develop and experiment with your own production style and approach.

This course provides an overview of key trends and concepts that have informed the development of sound design and music in narrative film. There will be weekly lectures and film screenings from particular genres throughout cinema history, helping to develop your ability to perceive and communicate elements which contribute to Cinema soundtrack.

In this course you will examine technical, historical and theoretical aspects of video art practice. The course encourages you to develop a critical dialogue between your practice and the history of video art, as they relate to installation and screening-based modes of exhibition. Through a series of exercises and a program of integrated screenings, class discussions and gallery visits, the practical demands of video production will be contextualised.

Flexible Term University Electives

This study tour includes the Setouchi Triennale in Naoshima, as well as Kyoto and Tokyo. It involves visits to artist studios, museums and galleries, as well as sites of significant cultural importance. The study tour will include a practice-led art project responding to a public site in Tokyo developed in collaboration with local stakeholders. A series of lectures will be delivered before the tour to introduce students to the history, culture and art worlds of Japan.

The Berlin-Paris-Arles Study Tour provides students with an exciting alternative to traditional classroom based learning. It offers students with first hand experience of the shaping of knowledge through experience of the cultural, historical and contemporary aspects of art and photographic practice in Europe.

The course aims to develop student’s self awareness and the ability to think critically about what they are experiencing and to keep effective written journals and visual diaries that are later sourced for writing an essay on their experience.

Whilst in Berlin and Paris, the tour will visit a number of major museums, contemporary galleries, artist’s studios and connect with working photographers to gain an understanding of both art and commercial areas.

In Arles the tour will focus on : The Rencontres d’Arles - one of the leading photography festivals in the world. Beginning in 1970, the festival has a mandate to exclusively program new work, and has over 60 exhibitions located throughout the city and a 6 day program of events. In 2015 the festival attracted more than 93,000 visitors. The study tour will provide the students with an excellent means to foster thoughtful reflection about cross-cultural contexts, appreciate the diversity in addition to developing an understanding of photography and art markets.

Join us for a 5 day Art and Public Space experience with our international partners City Space Architecture (http://www.cityspacearchitecture.org/) in Bologna followed by four days in Venice exploring and engaging in the works of the Venice Bienale.

This tour will have a focus on public space and public practice. It will include visits to historic and  uburban sites in Bologna, visits to artists studios and galleries including MAMBO Museum of Modern Art (http://www.mambo-bologna.org/en/). A workshop will invite you to interpret and engage in European public spaces through your art practice with the opportunity to explore the contemporary works of the Bienale.

Students will respond to a site-specific industry engaged brief in Bologna and Venice; developing responses from their area of practice – photography, fine art, art in public space. They will explore their experiences in dialogue with contemporary framings of urban environments; climate change, urban development and international mobility.

Led by Fiona Hillary from the Master of Arts (Art in Public Space) and Luisa Bravo from City Space Architecture, this will be the workshop of a lifetime.