Urban Interventions, Graffiti, Public Sculpture

INTRODUCTION

This course focuses on how Public Art, Graffiti and Urban Interventions have an important cultural value to a forever developing city. Urban environments with a strong public art expression give communities a stronger sense of place and identity.

In the first part of the course, students will develop an understanding of the fundamental elements which help us look at and observe painting and sculpture. This foundation will then be used in order to further analyse the content and intentions of Spanish and International artists' work that contribute to a local cultural sense of identity.

The second part of the programme looks specifically at Public works of art as Urban Interventions with reference to the cityscape of Barcelona (world renowned for its development of urban spaces). In order to maintain the course as close to real artistic practice, there will be scheduled visits to various museums and public spaces.

REQUIREMENTS
     - Fluent in English
     - Interest in Art and Culture

CONTENTS

Painting and Sculpture as a Language
     - Understanding the fundamental elements of 2 and 3-dimensional art i.e., perspective, colour, illumination, movement, materials etc...
     - References to the Spanish masters as well as world renown Spanish contemporary artists e.g., Picasso, Dalí, Miró, Jaume Plensa, Juan Muñoz, Joan Brossa, Eduardo Chillida etc?

Public Sculpture
     - Looking at public spaces that enable art to be an active interpretation, rather than decoration, of the city.
     - Culture and Art used as an aid to transform and modernise a neighbourhood i.e., Raval, Barceloneta, Poblenou neighbourhoods in Barcelona.
     - Analysis of International Contemporary Public Sculpture in Barcelona from 1980 to present.

Graffiti as Urban Art
     - History of Graffiti and Street Art. It´s artistic response to an urban setting and society.
     - The acceptance and value of Graffiti art in the contemporary art market.
     - Barcelona a world renowned city for its Graffiti art until its Zero Tolerance policy introduced in 2006.

Urban Interventions
     - From the development of Graffiti and Street Art evolves Urban Interventions, recognised as the most contemporary artwork to reach public space. These mainly spatial interventions bring art to the masses, using the street as a studio and gallery for artistic expression. Urban Interventions are an intelligent and critical commentary on the planning, use, and commercialization of public space.
     - References to Barcelona and International artists.