डॉ. बी. आर. अम्बेडकर विश्वविद्यालय दिल्ली 
| Course Type | Course Code | No. Of Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline Core | SCC2VA117 | 4 |
Course coordinator and team : Prof Juhi Shukla, Dr. Kshama Divedi
1. Does the course connect to, build on, or overlap with other courses offered in AUD?
This semester synthesizes prior studio learning into independent conceptual practice. It connects with dissertation, research methodology, and contemporary art discourse. Students integrate theory, process documentation, and professional presentation methods. The course supports advanced studio inquiry without overlapping with other offerings.
2. Specific requirements on the part of students who can be admitted to this course:
students and related disciplines Basic familiarity with drawing, painting, or visual analysis Ability to engage with historical texts and visual material. Willingness to undertak research-based and practice-led inquiry
3. No. of students to be admitted (with justification if lower than usual cohort size is proposed):
1The limited intake is necessary due to the intensive nature of visual analysis sessions, close reading of manuscripts and paintings, seminar-based discussions, and individualized feedback on research and practice-based projects.
4. Course scheduling:
(winter/mansoon course; semester-long course; half-semester course; workshop mode; seminar mode; any other ) Winter Semeste, Semester-long course, Studio and Seminar Mode
5. Proposed date of launch:
Proposed for launch; submitted for review and approval
6. How does the course link with the vision of AUD and the specific programme?
The course reflects AUD’s commitment to critical, socially engaged, and interdisciplinary learning. It fosters independent inquiry, conceptual clarity, and professional practice. Students develop context-sensitive visual language and exhibition strategies. It prepares MAVA students for research, professional practice, and contemporary art engagement.
Course Description:
This course investigates creative composition as an expanded field within contemporary visual art practice. Through conceptual inquiry, studio experimentation, and critical reflection, students explore compositional strategies such as assemblage, fragmentation, narrative construction, and contextual positioning. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary thinking, process-based learning, and the development of an individual visual language. The course aligns with NEP 2020 by integrating critical thinking, creativity, research orientation, and outcome-based learning within studio practice.
Aim of the Course:
The course aims to develop an advanced understanding of contemporary compositional strategies through material, conceptual, and narrative exploration. It encourages experimentation, research-based and interdisciplinary practice, while enabling students to contextualize their work within contemporary art discourse. The course also fosters critical thinking, originality, reflective studio methodology, and the ability to articulate artistic practice through a clear artist statement.
Course Outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- CO1. Demonstrate advanced understanding of compositional principles through experimentation with assemblage, montage, fragmentation, and mixed-media strategies.
- CO2. Develop and apply narrative and non-linear compositional approaches to construct visually and conceptually coherent artworks.
- CO3. Integrate research, critical inquiry, and contextual awareness into studio practice, positioning their work within contemporary art discourse.
- CO4. Expand compositional practice beyond the frame by engaging with space, site, material, and interdisciplinary methods such as installation, text, sound, and digital interface.
- CO5. Articulate their artistic vision effectively through a well-structured artist statement, visual documentation, and professional presentation.
- CO6. Demonstrate critical thinking, reflective practice, and the ability to engage in constructive critique and peer dialogue.
Brief Description of Modules:
Module 1: Assemblage, Montage and Fragmentation:
Focus: Construction through collected materials, juxtaposition, layering, and fragmented imagery as compositional strategy. Students explore collage, assemblage, mixed media, and spatial relationships to understand how meaning emerges through disruption and recombination.
Suggested Readings:
- Brandon Taylor, Collage: The Making of Modern Art, 2004
- Ranjit Hoskote, The Complicit Observer: Art and Contemporary India, 2017
Module 2: Narrative and Non-Linear Composition:
Focus: Linear and non-linear storytelling in visual art. Exploration of memory, time, sequence, symbolism, and open-ended narrative structures through visual language. Emphasis on conceptual mapping and interpretive frameworks.
Suggested Readings:
- Roland Barthes, Image–Music–Text, 1977
- Mieke Bal, Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative, 2009
Module 3: Contemporary Positioning and Artist Statement
Focus: Locating one's practice within contemporary art discourse. Development of conceptual clarity, research orientation, documentation, and professional presentation. Writing and refining the artist statement as a critical reflective tool.
Suggested Readings:
- Terry Barrett, Criticizing Art: Understanding the Contemporary, 2011
- B. N. Goswamy, The Spirit of Indian Painting, 2014
Module 4: Space, Context and Interdisciplinary Expansion
Focus: Expansion of composition beyond the frame into spatial, site-responsive, and interdisciplinary practice. Students explore installation, environment, body, text, sound, and digital interface as compositional elements. Emphasis on context, viewer interaction, and contemporary modes of display.
Suggested Readings:
- Claire Bishop, Installation Art: A Critical History, 2005
- Grant Kester, Conversation Pieces: Community and Communication in Modern Art, 2004
Teaching Methods:
- Studio-based Learning and Guided Experimentation: The course emphasizes hands-on studio practice where students engage in continuous experimentation with materials, processes, and compositional strategies under guided supervision, fostering independent and exploratory learning.
- Concept Development through Visual Research and Material Exploration: Students develop ideas through visual research, sketching, mapping, and material investigation, enabling the translation of conceptual understanding into meaningful visual forms.
- Group Critiques, Peer Learning, and Reflective Discussions: Interactive critique sessions encourage dialogue, peer feedback, and critical reflection, helping students refine their work and develop analytical and interpretive skills.
- Field Exposure (Exhibitions, Site Study, Visual Documentation): Visits to exhibitions, galleries, and relevant sites provide contextual understanding of contemporary practices, encouraging observation, documentation, and experiential learning beyond the classroom.