British art from Henry Moore to Banksy

Aims

This course aims to:

• introduce the work of key artists in the field of contemporary British art
• situate the work of British artists within the historical, political and artistic contexts for the production of their work
• explore the way gender, history and politics are articulated in art

Course content

In this course we will consider some of the great names in British Art exploring their relationships with broader global art movements. We will begin with a lecture on sculpture, reflecting on the work of Henry Moore, one of the biggest names in 20th Century British art. We will consider Moore’s semi-abstract monumental bronzes and his contribution to art history. We will also reflect on the work of Barbara Hepworth and Antony Gormley. Weather permitting, we will go outside and look at some of the sculptures near the classroom. You will have the opportunity to discuss these with your classmates.

In the next lecture we will turn to the development of modernist aesthetics in a variety of other mediums. We will think about collage, painting and fibre art. We will discuss movements such as Pop Art and Op art. You will have the chance to discuss some of the artworks with your classmates. We will explore the work of artists such as Richard Hamilton, and Parminder Kuar.

In our third lecture the focus will be Surrealism. Beginning with a reflection on the European movement, we will trace its emergence in Britain. We will consider the International Surrealist Exhibition which was held in the New Burlington Galleries in London, and we will reflect on the work of Eileen Agar and Roland Penrose. We will also consider the work of surrealist Leonora Carrington, and you might like to read her short novella The Hearing Trumpet, to compare the surrealist text with the surrealist artwork.

In our penultimate lecture, we will consider Young British Artists (YBA) such as Tracy Emin, Gavin Turk, Sarah Lucas and Damian Hirst looking at the way they employed shock tactics. You will have the opportunity to discuss the relationship between art and the art market. We will also reflect on different art spaces and media thinking about the way politics are articulated in the work of street artist Banksy. 

In our final class we will synthesize the material covered in the previous lectures, thinking about the development of modernist aesthetics in contemporary art. We will also turn our attention to twenty-first century art. We will consider computer generated (AI) and robotic art. We will discuss the work of the humanoid robot Ai-Da, and other issues in 21st century art world, such as new trends in curating and the restitution of objects. The class will end with a short presentation on writing about art history. It will trace common essay structures, and some of the norms in the discipline. 

What to expect on this course

The course will take the format of a series of short lectures followed by group discussions. You will have the opportunity to meet your fellow classmates and discuss the art world with them. There will be time for you to analyse some of the artworks that have been covered in the lectures, and to present your own ideas to the group. 

Course sessions

1. Sculpture in Britain We will explore the development of modernist sculpture in the twentieth century. We will consider the shift from realism to more abstract forms that occurred in the twentieth century. We will consider the work of artists such as Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Antony Gormley and Yinka Shonibare. 

    

2. Strands of Modernity In this lecture we will reflect on the way modernism developed in different mediums. We will consider paintings and collages as well as other non-canonical mediums such as textiles and installations. The case studies will include Richard Hamilton, Permindar Kuar and Bridget Riley. 

    

3. Surrealism in Britain This lecture will provide you with an overview of the global Surrealism movement and the emergence of Surrealism in Britain. We will consider the work of Roland Penrose, Eileen Agar and Leonora Carrington. 

    

4. Space, Medium and Shock Tactics We start this lecture in the 1980s thinking about the work of the Young British Artists. We will reflect on the shock tactics they used and their innovative employment of materials. The case studies will be Damian Hirst, Sarah Lucas and Tracey Emin. We will also consider the work of street artist Banksy. 

    

5. Art in the Twenty-First Century There will be a short presentation on some key issues in the artworld today, such as computer-generated art, robotic art, curating and the restitution of objects.  This class will include and a broader discussion about art history and curatorial practices in 21st century Britain. We will end with a presentation on how to write a good art history essay. 
    

Learning outcomes

As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:

• identify the way a variety of global art movements have informed the work of British artists. You will emerge from the course with a detailed knowledge of some of the central ideas, approaches and artists in the field of contemporary British art
• analyse key works of art reflecting on the formal qualities of the artwork as well as the historical and artistic contexts for the artwork
• effectively discuss, examine, and respond to critical debates in the art world

Required reading

There is no required reading for this course. See Course materials for supplementary reading once registered.