Outline

Overview

This unit will explore installation as a spatial practice within the expanded terrain of sculpture. You will examine installation as a hybrid form that negotiates and incorporates the boundaries of traditional art practices like painting, sculpture and video. The unit of study provides an overview of contemporary installation art practice and explores methods for producing work in a variety of media to activate and utilise space. Students explore innovative applications of conventional materials, found objects and time-based media such as video, sound and custom technologies in the development of their work. This unit engages with dedicated installations spaces and the adapting of environments and locations. The unit combines studio work, short presentations by the lecturer, student presentations and group discussion/critiques. In consultation with the lecturer, you will develop a studio work proposal and create a finished work.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Sydney College of the Arts
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Robyn Backen, robyn.backen@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Richard Kean, richard.kean@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Mitchel Cumming Cumming, mitchel.cumming@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	exercise archive and project proposal exercise archive and project proposal	30%	Week 06 Due date: 09 Sep 2022 at 23:59	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	final artwork final artwork	70%	Week 12 Due date: 28 Oct 2022 at 23:59	n/a
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Assessment 1 (20%): Exercise Archive and project Proposal

This presentation will be in class and will consist of 5 components:

1-4: documentation from exercises from weeks 2 & 3, plus two more images of transient installation interventions based on class discussion, consultation and knowledge attained from previous exercises. These are also to be informed by set readings and others in your independent research.

The fifth component is a proposal for the approach and methodology for the final work(s)

These are to be presented using Powerpoint, or as a suite of easily accessible and navigable images. The presentation must be ready for the beginning of class on week 6.

Assessment 2 (80%): Final studio project

This will involve three discrete components: one of which must be video. These components are to occupy three separate spaces and comprise a suggestive narrative or propositional composite (to be explained further in class). Given that site and object have a reciprocal semantic relation, on a formal level and on many other levels besides, such as historical and associative, the three installation interventions are expected to comprise a coherent whole when seen one after the other.

In formulating your response you may wish to think of the history of the site(s), what connotative qualities a site may have (the general “vibe”: what it might, with assistance, conjure up), or you may wish to denature the site as some form of conceptual violation. Note no vandalism will be allowed.

You will present this work in week 12. Presenting if a key componrnt to the assessment. If you fail to do so due to documented illness or misadventure, you will be expected to submit a video version. As with the previous assignment, you will have time to act on feedback given in this time in the lead-up to the final submission in week 14. Note that feedback for this assessment is verbal (week 12) and written (week 14).

Assessment criteria

Assessment Criteria

This unit uses standards-based assessment for award of assessment marks. Your assessments will be evaluated solely on the basis of your individual performance

Conceptual sophistication

Willingness to work with a variety of materials and approaches

Ability to relate work to others in an historical context

Capacity for artistic research (written and visual) and translation of this knowledge into independent and original outcomes

A consistent and diligent attitude to studio practice

The ability to take feedback in an open, patient and reflective way

Interest and capacity to experiment and to work outside of comfort zones

Demonstrated interest and ability to build on critical reflection on established outcomes

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The same penalties apply according to Faculty policy. Late submission must be accompanied with relevant documentation.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to Unit	Online class (3 hr)
Week 02	Exercise 1: Spatial Interventions	Online class (3 hr)
Week 03	Exercise 2: Imagined and Hypothetical Space	Online class (3 hr)
Week 04	Exercise 3: site, object, archive	Online class (3 hr)
Week 05	Preparation for Presentations	Online class (3 hr)
Week 06	Presentations	Online class (3 hr)
Week 07	Studio Project	Online class (3 hr)
Week 08	Studio Project	Online class (3 hr)
Week 09	Studio Project	Online class (3 hr)
Week 10	Studio Project	Online class (3 hr)
Week 11	Studio Project	Online class (3 hr)
Week 12	Presentation of Work	Online class (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Additional requirements from Sydney College of the Arts

Students must attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for this unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Unit Coordinator.
All assignments are compulsory and must be attempted.
You must attend scheduled assessments to be eligible to pass. Non-attendance at assessment on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Adam Geczy and Benjamin Genocchio, 'Introduction', in Geczy and Genocchio eds., What is Installation? A Collection of Essays on Australian Installation Art, Sydney: Power Publications, 2001

Brian O'Doherty, 'Context as Content', Chapter 3 of Inside the White Cube, Santa Monica and San Fencisco (1976), 1986

Robert Smithson, 'A Sedimentation of the Mind: Earth Projects', in Harrison and Wood eds., Art in Theory 1900-1990

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Interpret and reflect on the nature of sculpture, space and installation practice in relation to historical antecedents
LO2. Experiment with objects and materials in relation to site and space
LO3. Distinguish between different approaches and/or solutions relative to sculpture, site and space
LO4. Verbally critique, evaluate and analyse studio outcomes of our own and those of your peers
LO5. Formulate imaginative and informed artistic outcomes in relation to site and space
LO6. Relate studio outcomes in relation to the field of knowledge, self and broader socio-political contexts

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered'.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CAEL2093: Sculpture: Installation and Space

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect