Bachelor of Arts (Art)
Subjects on offer
Subject descriptions
VIS18 Introduction to Visual Culture
Explore the major philosophical ideas that have influenced the production of visual images from pre-history until the present within a Western tradition. You will discover the inter-relationships that exist between philosophers, writers and visual artists to make connections between the economic, social, political and cultural dimensions of human existence. The rich fabric of artistic expression articulates many histories. Included in this unit are introductions to non-Western art such as Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Islamic cultures.
Back to the top ▲VIS19 Issues in Contemporary Art
This unit provides you with an introduction to the major theoretical issues of contemporary art with a strong emphasis given to contemporary practice. Theories of seeing and of cultural production are examined and illustrated through examples of contemporary art practices.
Back to the top ▲VIS210 Architecture and Culture: Histories and Illusion, Power and Imagination, 16th to 19th century
This unit introduces the study of the relationship between architecture and its cultural context during the period from the baroque through to the end of the 19th century and includes comparative analysis of European and non-European architecture.
Back to the top ▲VIS24 Australian Art History
Learn about the historical development of Australian art since European colonisation to 1970. Emphasis will be given to understanding the social and cultural context of Australian art practices. You will explore the role played by Australian institutions in constructing Australian art, the Heidelberg era, academic art and early Modernism, Antipodean art and the development of abstraction and conceptual art.
Back to the top ▲VIS26 Art in the Age of Revolution
This unit focuses on the emergence of 'modern art' and the profound changes that radically transformed European society between the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century. Through your studies you will explore romanticism, classicism, realism, the emergence of modern political ideologies, the shifting face of European society and the impact of industrialisation upon European culture.
Back to the top ▲VIS29 Art and Fashion in the 20th Century
Learn about developments in the relationship between, art, design and fashion in the 20th century with an introductory focus on the history of costume. Fashion has been linked to the development of industrialised societies, their customs, desires and the evolution of consumerism. Influences on 20th century art and design and their reflection in fashion are considered both chronologically as well as thematically. Your study will include: Orientalism; The influence of American film between the wars; Political ideology during WWII; Consumerism and popular culture of the 50s; Haute couture; Mass-produced ready to wear and designer items of the 70s; New technology and the return of eastern influences in the 90s.
Back to the top ▲VIS36 Contemporary Aboriginal Art
Examine the visual expression of Australia's Aboriginal cultures, exploring the context and significance of visual art. You will look at Aboriginal history and the impact of European colonisation in a cultural context. This unit presents a broad overview of the development and adaptation of Aboriginal art in terms of becoming a significant contemporary art practice that has gained international attention over the last two decades. There are options for individual research topics and there is a choice of current artists and exhibitions for assignment work.
Back to the top ▲VIS310 Architecture and Culture: Histories of Revolution, Modernity and Honesty
Architecture and Culture: Histories of Revolution, Modernity and Honesty
Gain an understanding of the cultural conditions that impacted on the architectural developments in the twentieth century. You will be introduced to different perspectives on architecture and learn about the concepts of modernity and honesty in architecture. Topics include: Modernism; New technologies; Architectural paradise; Concepts of space; Bauhaus and German expressionism; Purity; Politics; Monuments and Brutalism and Australian Modernism.
Back to the top ▲VIS320 Nature and Terra: Landscape Art, Gardens and Environment in Cultures over the centuries
This unit examines the history of the representation of nature, the production of gardens and responses to environments in different cultures. There is an introduction to the history of landscape painting, a history of gardens including Islamic and Zen Buddhist. As well as recent gardens where art meets the environment as a material and as a subject. The unit also explores a broad based introduction to many ideas relating to the natural environment and the way people have made cultural sense of nature from the ideal of the 'Garden of Eden' to contemporary gardens as cultural projects.
Back to the top ▲VSW11 Printmaking: Material and Conceptual Investigation
Gain an introduction to printmaking through the development of basic skills, processes and material investigation. There are thematically based projects set to assist you in your development and knowledge about contemporary art practices. The emphasis of this unit is on exploration of ideas and creative visual inquiry. You will develop research methodologies and documentation skills.
Back to the top ▲VSW12 Textiles: Material and Conceptual Investigation
This unit introduces you to textiles through basic skills, processes and material investigation. There are thematically based set projects to assist you in your development and knowledge about contemporary art practices. The emphasis is on exploration of ideas and creative visual inquiry. You will develop research methodologies and documentation skills.
Back to the top ▲VSW13 Sculpture: Material and Conceptual Investigation
This unit introduces you to objects and ideas through basic skills, processes and material investigation. There are thematically based set projects to assist you in your development and knowledge about contemporary art practices. The emphasis is on exploration of ideas and creative visual inquiry. You will develop research methodologies and documentation skills.
Back to the top ▲VSW14 Painting: Material and Conceptual Investigation
This unit introduces you to painting through basic skills, processes and material investigation. There are thematically based set projects to assist you in your development and knowledge about contemporary art practices. The emphasis is on exploration of ideas and creative visual inquiry. You will develop research methodologies and documentation skills.
Back to the top ▲VSW21 Painting - Observation and Perception
In this unit, you will explore a range of technical skills through painting mediums and applications. You will be introduced to the notion of abstraction through set projects that focus on the interpretation of subjects using various observational and perceptual strategies. You will also develop research methodologies through relevant examples of art history and contemporary art practices.
Back to the top ▲VSW22 Painting - Subject and Methodology
You will be introduced to a wide range of skills and concepts relevant to figurative and narrative approaches to painting. You will gain a foundation for exploring painting techniques through consideration of examples of art history and contemporary art relevant to painting. You will be given the opportunity to consider a range of visual outcomes within the framework of contemporary art practices. You will develop creative research strategies to support your exploratory work with techniques and concepts in painting.
Back to the top ▲VSW23 Painting - Themes: Interpretation
You will be introduced to advanced technical and conceptual skills from those that you developed in the previous painting units VSW21 and VSW22. In this unit, you will engage with a number of themes relevant to contemporary painting. You will select one theme and develop this into a series of works.
Back to the top ▲VSW24 Painting - Themes: Perception and Intervention
You will select from a range of themes to develop a self-directed painting project. You will be encouraged to focus your research to build a thematic body of works in the medium of paint. You will also be introduced to methods of self-evaluation and critical analysis to support your research methodology for independent art practice and practice-led research.
Back to the top ▲VSW25 Objects and Ideas - Construction and Deconstruction
This unit encompasses a wide range of basic skills, conceptual approaches and potential applications through objects and ideas in a broad contemporary art framework. You will be introduced to interdisciplinary approaches and ideas. You will be encouraged to develop in-depth research techniques and apply your research to set projects.
Back to the top ▲VSW26 Objects and Ideas - Installation
This unit encompasses a wide range of basic skills, conceptual approaches and potential applications through objects and ideas in a broad contemporary art framework. You will be introduced to interdisciplinary approaches and ideas through Installation art practice. You will be encouraged to develop in-depth research methodologies and apply these to set projects.
Back to the top ▲VSW27 Objects and Ideas - The Model
This unit builds on technical and conceptual skills you have developed in VSW25 and VSW26. You will be introduced to a number of themes relevant to issues in contemporary art practice and produce a series of artworks based on one of these themes. You will demonstrate an ability to deal with a wide range of research and material processes. You will have the opportunity to use your knowledge and understanding of other art disciplines to negotiate the undertaking of this unit using other media.
Back to the top ▲VSW28 Objects and Ideas - Multiples
You will select from set themes to develop a self-directed project exploring the theme of multiples using sculptural media. You are encouraged to focus, employ creative research strategies and utilise appropriate technical and experimental expertise in order to build a body of work that reflects their theme. You will also be introduced to methods of self-evaluation and critical analysis to support your research methodology for independent art practice and practice-led research.
Back to the top ▲VSW31 Independent Art Practice: Negotiated Proposal
In units, VSW31-34 you will engage in a self-directed program of study based on a set project. Working with your preferred media, you will continue to consolidate research strategies, visual communication skills and artistic abilities to articulate your ideas. In VSW31, you will devise a negotiated proposal, commence visual research and experiment with materials and processes in order to discover appropriate strategies to realise your project. Working at Level 3 it is expected that you will have sound knowledge of contemporary art practice. You should also be able to engage in a dialogue about your ideas/art practice work with your tutor via email or the online discussion groups linked to this unit.
Back to the top ▲VSW32 Independent Art Practice: Exploration
In VSW32, you will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of previous investigations undertaken in Unit VSW31. In response to your findings, you will commence building a body of work that reflects a degree of in-depth knowledge about your chosen theme. At Level 3, you are expected to have a sound knowledge of the uses and relevance of contemporary art practice and should be able to engage in a dialogue about your ideas/studio art practice with your tutor via email or through the online discussion groups linked to this unit.
Back to the top ▲VSW33 Independent Art Practice: Development
In VSW33, you will continue to develop and produce a body of work based on the previous investigations of your chosen theme. You will demonstrate the use of appropriate critical and analytical skills to strengthen your artistic investigations in order to produce an in-depth and complex body of work. You will engage in critical dialogue about your ideas and art practice with your tutor via email or through an online discussion group.
Back to the top ▲VSW34 Independent Art Practice: Resolution and Presentation
In VSW34, you will complete a body of work for final folio submission. The body of work should reflect your acquired breadth of knowledge in practical skills and conceptual abilities, and reflect the consideration and engagement in issues associated with contemporary art practices and contexts. The focus is on the development of your ideas for final resolution and production of artworks. The final work should be prepared in an appropriate presentation format for online submission; exploration of suitable presentation can be completed in VAR32.
Back to the top ▲VAR11 Visual Arts Research: Introduction to Drawing
This unit explores drawing through formal, conceptual, analytical, experimental and expressive use of visual language. Through set projects, you will examine the effectiveness of various solutions by testing possibilities and experimenting with a range of appropriate media with an emphasis on drawing. Drawing projects encompass a range of possibilities from mark making to the 'drawing together of ideas'.
Back to the top ▲VAR12 Visual Arts Research: Drawing and Ideas
This unit explores drawing through advanced formal, conceptual, analytical, experimental and expressive use of visual language through set projects. You will examine the possibilities of drawing in both two dimensional and three dimensional forms.
Back to the top ▲VAR23 Visual Arts Research: Textiles: Structure and Dyeing
This unit introduces you to a diverse range of textile practices and will be divided into two areas - structure workshop and dye workshop. Structure workshop introduces non-woven techniques, paper-making, basketry and exploration in three-dimensional forms. Dye workshop includes simple resist processes, shibori, rust and tannic dying. You will have the opportunity to discover traditional techniques using non-traditional materials.
Back to the top ▲VAR24 Visual Arts Research: Textiles: Decoration & Ornamentation
This unit introduces you to workshops in freehand machine embroidery, embellishment and block printing. You will focus on the acquisition of skills and further understanding of the use of decoration and ornamentation. You will be introduced to contemporary theoretical positions concerning decoration in contemporary art practice.
Back to the top ▲VAR25 Visual Arts Research: Experimental Drawing 1
You will engage in a variety of drawing techniques in the pursuit of ideas relevant to contemporary art practice. There is an exploration of the notion of 'space' as a broad category considering how it underpins both historical and contemporary art practice. Visual arts research encourages methods of working that will support and strengthen your investigation in your art studio practice units.
Back to the top ▲VAR26 Visual Arts Research: Experimental Drawing 2
This unit gives you the skills to consolidate your research methods through the medium of drawing particularly focusing on experimental approaches. You will explore the notion of the Body as a broad category considering how it underpins both historical and contemporary art practice. Visual arts research encourages methods of working that will support and strengthen your investigation in the studio art practice units.
Back to the top ▲VAR31 Visual Arts Research: Independent Art Practice: A
This unit offers you a self-directed program of study. You will have the opportunity to develop research strategies to increase visual communication abilities and support your major studio art practice units. You will be able to negotiate your visual arts research project in relation to your art practice project You will be encouraged to consider an appropriate medium and working methodology.
Back to the top ▲VAR32 Visual Arts Research: Independent Art Practice: B
This unit offers a self-directed program of study. You are encouraged to consolidate your visual communication abilities. This unit is designed to support research for production and presentation of the final major studio art practice units (VSW33 and VSW34).
Back to the top ▲
