KAB260 Contemporary Art: New Interpretations

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2027, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit focuses on developing independent practice and establishing your creative and critical voice in relation to contemporary art and its cultural, theoretical and social contexts. You will enhance your ability to interpret and respond to art today through close engagement with artworks in context such as galleries, public spaces and digital platforms. You will investigate key debates shaping contemporary art practice today through exhibition visits, critical readings and artistic research. You will produce a portfolio of works, establishing strong foundations for advancing your creative and critical practice.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Identify, interpret, and articulate knowledge about cultural concepts and contexts in contemporary art
2. Apply creative and critical processes to develop ideas and critical outcomes in relation to practice in contemporary art contexts
3. Analyse and critically reflect on the form, process, content and context of contemporary artworks
4. Communicate effectively in oral, written and visual modes appropriate to contemporary art contexts

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following activities:

lectures that introduce key theories, debates and contemporary case studies that frame interpretation and response, with discussions of critical and contextual readings and analysis of artworks. Studio sessions support discussion and critique, experimentation and the development of creative artworks and texts. This will involve site visits and responding to a range of public and community contexts. This approach scaffolds research, interpretation, making, and writing, preparing you for advanced theoretical and independent practice.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is ongoing and developmental, supporting your progression toward advanced critical practice. You will receive formative feedback through peer review and studio critiques addressing artworks, creative texts, and research in progress. Written feedback on Assessment 2  supports critical positioning and prepares students for the research intensity advanced units. Feedback emphasises reflection, revision, and articulation, strengthening your capacity to integrate theory, creative making, and writing.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment in this unit evaluates your ability to respond to contemporary art through critical engagement, research, making, and writing. The summative assessment for this unit includes your engagement and participation in critical discussions, readings and critiques, and the compilation of an annotated bibliography analysing relevant theoretical texts, exhibitions and artistic sources. The culminating Portfolio demonstrates your ability to develop and produce a series of independent works and reflect on context and meaning. Tasks are structured to progressively build analytical confidence and contextual understanding, laying the groundwork for advanced independent practice. In assessment, you will engage with generative AI tools in ways relevant to the critical and ethical expectations in the field of Visual Arts. Formative assessment involves feedback on portfolio development.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Critical Engagement

This task requires you to actively contribute to class discussions, critiques, and studios, demonstrating preparation, curiosity, and critical responsiveness. This assessment evaluates your sustained and informed engagement with contemporary art practices, debates, research and contexts as introduced through lectures, readings, exhibitions, and studio activities. Engagement may include short verbal commentaries, discussion leadership, reflective contributions on readings, or responses to artworks and exhibitions. This assessment develops your ability to articulate ideas, test interpretations, and situate creative and textual practice within current contemporary art discourse.

Assessment: Annotated Bibliography

You will compile and critically annotate relevant artworks, exhibitions and theoretical texts, explaining how they provide a critical framework for your current practice. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Portfolio

You will compile and submit a Portfolio of selected creative works and texts developed and refined across the semester, supported by a written framing document in the form of a Rationale. Portfolio formats may include visual works, creative essays, exhibition texts, artist statements, visual essays, or short critical reviews as negotiated with your academic supervisor.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 HSE requirement) 

This unit also requires a Tier 2 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is provided by the technician on site in the theatre, workshop or studio. Some students may be required to complete a Tier 3 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is a hands on induction on specific machinery.

A Project Risk Management Plan is also mandatory.

Costs

Student contributions to the production costs of artworks. Cost varies depending on the nature of individual studio practice.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Heartney, E. (2008). Art & Today. Phaidon Press Limited.

Recommended text(s)

Birnbaum, D. (2011). Defining Contemporary Art: 25 Years in 200 Pivotal Artworks. Phaidon Press.

Godfrey, T. (2024). The Story of Contemporary Art. Thames & Hudson.

Other

To enable your full participation in units that utilise virtual learning environments, for example participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required.

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information. 

You are advised to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.

For CIESJ Tiers 2 and 3 Health and Safety requirements, you will be instructed on safe procedures and the required safety gear for all studio and workshop processes that are demonstrated. Health and Safety files are readily available for all materials and machinery in all studio areas. Technical supervision is provided for workshops and available on a regular basis during the week. Technical supervision is mandatory in 3D workshop and printmaking studios.

A minimum of three students is required for after-hours access to studios.

Risk assessment forms must be completed and submitted before project work starts. You have an obligation to make yourself familiar with and adhere to the Contemporary Art Studio Health and Safety Procedures and Documents provided on Canvas as part of the unit. For further information also refer to the QUT Health and Safety website.

Contemporary Art engages with a wide range of content and contexts and this unit may include the presentation and scholarly analysis of material and subject matter that could be considered confronting for some viewers. This includes, but is not limited to, discussions about and representations of trauma and violence, as well as experiences of mental and physical health. These may be in relation to topics including race, class, gender, politics, and religion. QUT counselling support is available should you feel the need to avail yourself of these services.

Course Learning Outcomes

CA01 Bachelor of Creative Arts

1. Cite and discuss a broad and coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts for creative practice, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
   Relates to: ULO1, Critical Engagement
2. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Critical Engagement, Annotated Bibliography, Portfolio
3. Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
   Relates to: ULO2, Annotated Bibliography, Portfolio
4. Demonstrate technical proficiency and a knowledge of contemporary digital practices and technologies in one or more disciplines and apply these in creative and critical settings.
   Relates to: ULO2, Annotated Bibliography, Portfolio
5. Communicate independent learning clearly and coherently in diverse modes relevant to your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO4, Critical Engagement, Annotated Bibliography, Portfolio
6. Communicate, represent, and promote your work in ways relevant to your creative field.
   Relates to: ULO4, Critical Engagement, Annotated Bibliography, Portfolio
7. Discern, critically analyse, and synthesise knowledge in complex creative and critical settings.
   Relates to: ULO3, Portfolio
8. Work productively as a leader and collaborator in disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices.
   Relates to: ULO2, Annotated Bibliography, Portfolio
9. Formulate and apply an independent perspective through contextual research, reflection, and by acting on the informed critique of others.
   Relates to: ULO3, Portfolio
10. Demonstrate respect for cultural and social differences, sustainability, and work with integrity across all practice and professional settings.
    Relates to: ULO1, Critical Engagement
11. Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism, both alone and in groups.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Critical Engagement, Annotated Bibliography, Portfolio