This course focuses on contemporary art practice in New Zealand from the 1970s to the present. It deals with the later Modernist period, charting its influences and developments into post-object, performance and post-minimalist practices. It also focuses on artists dealing with issues relating to Mana Wahine, feminism and gender. Other themes include story telling, decolonial practices, representations of land and landscapes, and migration and diaspora perceived from Māori, Pakeha, Asian and Pacific perspectives. A range of art forms will be covered including photography, painting, installation, moving image, sculpture and performance.
Students taking the course will pay visits to art galleries as well as examine works from the University of Auckland art collection.
The development of academic writing skills is also an aim of the course. Students are encouraged to develop their visual analysis skills and to discuss and write insightful and critical analyses of works.