Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling good, and I'm so pleased that you're here.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson, which I'm feeling very pleased about.

Today, we are thinking about collaboration.

Our lesson is called "Analyzing the work of artists and designers who work collaboratively." Hope this sounds interesting to you.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work, "Second sustained project: working from a theme changing perspectives." So if you are ready with some energy, focus, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can take inspiration from collaborative artwork to develop ideas and concepts.

We have some keywords in today's lesson.

Let's go through them.

Select, explore, and cross-disciplinary.

Select means to carefully choose a particular element, area, or idea.

Explore, to experiment, investigate, or try out ideas, materials, techniques, or visual possibilities.

Cross-disciplinary, mixing two or more disciplines to produce a creative work that draws on more than one area.

These are our keywords.

Let's look and listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called "Analyzing the work of artists and designers who work collaboratively," and it has two learning cycles.

Taking inspiration from a collaboration and exploring cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Let's begin by taking inspiration from a collaboration.

When is collaborative artwork complete? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Is collaborative work the start or the end? What do you think about this question? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Sofia.

"I thought once a collaboration was finished, that was it.

But actually it can be the beginning." And Andeep, "Me too.

When I look closely at collaborative work, I notice colors, textures, and ideas I wouldn't have discovered on my own." And Jun, "Collaboration can give us loads of starting points to explore, but our individual responses will all look different." Wonder if you had answers similar to these? Does your personal response have to be clearly linked to the collaboration? What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Here's Aisha.

"Yes, it should.

It helps show how collaboration can influence our creativity." And Alex, "No, it doesn't have to be obvious.

Personal interpretation may shift the focus or meaning entirely." And Lucas, "I think both answers are correct.

You can clearly link your response to the collaboration, or you can take it in a completely new direction.

It depends on what you want to explore." The middle way.

Collaboration brings together multiple voices, materials, and ideas.

The group outcome is important, but it often sparks further exploration for each person involved.

We can see some very interesting looking collaborative paper sculpture on the screen there.

This collaboration opens up many possible starting points, including colors, shapes, words, symbols, lines, squiggles, doodles, fragments, flags, vessels, balance, architecture, structure, contrast.

Many artists take shared or collective material as a starting point, then rework it to explore their own direction, including: Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely collaborated on environments and sculptures.

Each abstracted mechanical or playful visual ideas from the shared projects.

Zadie Xa who collaborates with performers, dancers, and costume-makers.

She abstracts shared mythologies, cultural symbols, and group performances into installations that explore color, rhythm, and repetition.

There are many ways to respond to collaborative art, including experimentation, personal interpretation, technique and process, contrast, narrative or conceptual threads, selection and abstraction.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false.

Collaboration in art is the final outcome with no need to develop individual responses afterwards.

Pause here and decide.

Is this true or false? Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Collaboration is often the starting point and can inspire ideas that can be developed further in personal work.

What is selection and abstraction? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Artists might revisit a collaborative piece and select fragments, shapes, textures, or colors that resonate with them.

Which areas of the collaboration could be selected and abstracted for further development? Pause here and share.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Here's Aisha.

"I noticed color first.

This could be explored further through diving deeper into one particular color.

I could select the color purple, which could mean luxury, creativity, royalty, and mystery." I wonder if that's what you would choose to explore.

How can a collaboration inspire experimentation? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Artists might select a fragment of the collaborative work and experiment by extending it, distorting it, or layering it differently.

The selected area could be developed into a repeat pattern or a silk painting.

How could a collaborative artwork inspire contrast? Possible responses include deliberate difference.

Artists notice elements in the collaborative piece and choose to do the opposite or modify them.

Exploring alternative perspectives.

Artists can react conceptually, e.

g.

focus on movement instead of stillness, simplicity instead of complexity, or light instead of dark areas.

What does personal interpretation mean? When personally interpreting an artwork, you may consider.

Can you finish the sentence? Pause here while you do this.

When personally interpreting an artwork, you may consider how the piece makes you feel, which parts of the collaborative piece capture your attention the most, what's happening in the piece, visual elements and possible connections to concepts or memories.

I wonder if you came up with these answers.

Lucas and Laura are expressing their personal interpretations of this work.

"Lines stands out to me in this artwork partly because of the use of color.

The yellow circles could be used to explore ideas of cycles, repetition, or unity." "I noticed the arrows around the circles suggesting movement, direction, and progress.

The petals might express growth or natural forms." An artist's personal interpretation of the collaborative artwork might involve selecting an area and developing it in their own way.

In this selected segment, the sunflower petals have inspired the exploration of flowers.

Are there any narratives or conceptual threads that this artwork inspires? Pause here and share with someone.

How might you be inspired? Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Sam.

"I would select the word rhythm.

This could be developed into the concept of energy, the heart, or a dance/music narrative." Oh my, I love the sound of that.

By observing an artwork, associated keywords can be identified.

These words can then be used later to explore concepts visually.

Possible words include bold, nature, texture, space, layers, map, pattern, journey.

Exposure to different techniques and processes can inspire exploration.

Here's Jun.

"I noticed the areas where resist techniques have been used.

I could explore this process further through batik or oil pastels." Love that idea.

Let's have a check for understanding.

When working from a collaborative artwork, what does selecting mean? Is it A, ignoring the collaboration and starting again? B, copying the whole group piece exactly? Or C, picking out shapes, colors, or textures, or words to explore further? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, it's picking out shapes, colors, or textures, or words to explore further.

Many artists use words and text as a starting point including: Glenn Ligon uses text as both image and meaning, layering and obscuring words from literature, history, and culture to explore identity, race, and the politics of visibility.

Demian DineYazhi whose work consists of photography, sculpture, text, sound, video, land art performance, installation, street art, and fabric art.

Poetry was their gateway to creating visual work.

Kay Rosen, who creates paintings, installations, and prints where words are manipulated, stretched, or abstracted to explore meaning and form.

For the next part of the lesson, you will need a collaborative artwork, pens, pencils, or marker pens, sticky notes.

Pause here while you gather what you need.

And now, it's time for your first task.

I would like you to observe a collaborative artwork and select a word, phrase, technique, or material that stands out to you.

You should write the selected word on a sticky note.

Attach your note to a wall or board to contribute to a shared collaborative display of inspirational words.

Select a new note from the display.

Your teacher may choose to distribute them at random.

Pause here while you have a go at this first part of your task.

It's great to be back with you.

So, how did you get on with your task? It might look like this.

You've got some great words there.

A retro.

Love that one.

Here's Sam, "There are so many words to choose from, but I selected circle.

I'm looking forward to exploring ideas inspired by this." Sofia, "I chose continuous line.

This has opened up so many possibilities for exploring ideas." And Izzy, "I selected the word retro, which could be explored many ways through textiles." And now, using the selected word from Task A1, decide how you could respond.

There are many possibilities including selection and abstraction, personal interpretation, experimentation, contrast, narrative or conceptual threads, technique and process.

Pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

It's great to be back with you.

So, how did you get on with that part of your task? You might have said something like this.

Here's Sam.

"I'm interested in personal interpretation of the word circle.

I could take circular sections from maps and develop them into enlarged 3D structures." Sofia, "For continuous line, I'm interested in exploring experimentation.

I could develop continuous line drawings by incorporating mixed-media." And Izzy, "For retro, I could explore a narrative thread.

I could look at books and explore key features within the story." Some terrific ideas here.

And now, discuss your selected word with your peers to generate further ideas.

Collaborate, work together with peers in groups of no less than three.

Share ideas.

Talk about your word or concept openly.

And use creative thinking.

Use discussion to generate more ideas and perspective.

Pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

Great to be back with you.

How did you get on? Might have looked like this.

Here's Jun.

"I selected the word frayed and I'm struggling with fresh ideas of how to develop it through textiles." Sofia says, "Frayed could lead to experimenting with fragile threads, torn paper, layered textures, or mixing the new with the worn." And Aisha, "You could look at how frayed textiles appear in many cultural practices such as tassels, aged fabrics in rituals and handmade crafts." Andeep, "I selected the number 21 as it stood out, but I'm finding it difficult to know where to begin." Don't worry.

Lucas and Izzy have some ideas for you.

"You could look at how turning 21 is seen in many cultures as the start of adult independence.

There's a phrase about having the key to the door." "In numerology, 21 suggests harmony, unity, and cycles completing.

In some games, 21 signals chance and luck." And now, we're onto our next learning cycle, exploring cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Many collaborations are cross-disciplinary.

What does this mean? Pause here and share with someone.

Cross-disciplinary means working across two or more areas of knowledge to combine ideas, methods, or approaches.

Cross-disciplinary art and music collaborations blend creativity with sound, rhythm, and sensory experience, including performance art, live painting while musicians play, visual music, paintings or projections inspired by sound or rhythm, and album art, stage design, creating immersive experiences for concerts.

Art and music collaborations are cross-disciplinary practices where visual artists and musicians work together to create experiences that blend sound and image.

These projects can take the form of live performances, installations, videos, or even wearable/immersive environments.

How might you use music to inspire or enhance a visual artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Sam.

"I could create drawings while listening to music, letting rhythm, tempo, or mood influence the marks I make." Sofia, "I could create original art inspired by a favorite song or musical genre." Cross-disciplinary art and technology collaborations blend creativity with digital innovation and interactive experiences including robotic art, machines that paint, draw, or move as part of the artwork, digital installations, interactive projections that respond to movement, augmented reality art, sculptures or paintings that come alive through an app.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false.

Using technology and art always replaces traditional artistic skills.

Pause here and decide this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now, I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Technology and art doesn't necessarily replace traditional skills.

It often enhances or compliments them.

Digital art installations can be projected onto buildings, interiors, or sculptural forms, common in immersive exhibitions, festivals, and public art.

How might you use technology to inspire or enhance a visual artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Aisha.

"I could scan or photograph drawings and manipulate them digitally." Alex, "I could turn the painting process into an animated GIF or a short video loop." Cross-disciplinary art and science collaborations blend creativity with scientific exploration, including: bio-art, using living organisms as part of an artwork, data visualization, turning scientific data into compelling visual art, environmental art, works that raise awareness about climate change or ecosystems. Artists and scientists work together to explore ideas and patterns, creating work that helps explain scientific concepts in clear and visual ways.

How might you use science to inspire or enhance a visual artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's hear from Jun.

"I can make art that reacts to movement, wind, or magnets, e.

g.

a kinetic sculpture or mobile." Izzy, "I'd be interested in developing artwork using live bacteria.

I could speak to the science department to learn how to approach this." So interesting.

Cross-disciplinary art and social practice collaborations blend creativity with community engagement and social awareness, including mural projects, artists collaborating with local communities, interactive public art, works that invite audience participation, social awareness projects, art used to promote social change or activism.

Collaborative cross-disciplinary murals bring together artists and communities in places like hospitals where creative work can support wellbeing, connection, and shared expression.

These projects create social artwork that has a positive impact on the people who experience it.

How might you combine art with social practice to inspire or enhance a visual artwork? Pause here and share your ideas with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Laura.

"I could collect short stories or images from classmates and turn them into a collaborative mural or collage." And Jacob, "I can explore personal or cultural identity through mixed-media portraits or symbolic artworks." Cross-disciplinary art and fashion collaborations blend creativity with wearable design, including wearable art, clothing as sculpture or interactive costume, collaborative products, limited edition items featuring an artist's designs, set and costume design for theater, dance, or film.

Collaborative art/fashion projects often bring together visual artists, designers, and sometimes technologists or performers to create works that blur the line between clothing and artwork.

How might you combine art with fashion design to inspire or enhance a visual artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Lucas.

"I could use tablets to design patterns that could be projected onto clothes digitally." And Andeep, "It would be interesting to combine 3D elements, such as wire or clay, with clothing to create statement wearable art." Which path will you take to explore a cross-disciplinary response? You might choose narrative/story.

Turn the word into a scene, character, or sequence.

Technique/material.

Explore how line, texture, color, or thread could express it.

Contrast/connection.

Compare or combine with another word or idea.

Consider exploring opposites or scale.

So, pause here and choose which path will you take to explore a cross-disciplinary response.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is an example of cross-disciplinary practice? A, a painter working only with oil paint on canvas.

B, an artist who combines video projections, sound, and dance in one work.

Or C, a musician performing a solo concert with no visuals.

Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Cross-disciplinary methods are central to the practices of many artists, including Benji Reid, who describes himself as a choreo-photolist, a term he coined to reflect his fusion of choreography, photography, and theater.

"Find Your Eyes" is a live immersive performance set in a reimagined photography studio onstage.

Audiences witness Reid crafting live portraits of three dancers while seeing them projected on large screens in real time.

Pipilotti Rist works with video, projection, installation, sound, and sculpture.

Her installations often merge moving image with music and spatial design.

There are many ways to create a cross-disciplinary artwork, including art and music combinations, art and science combinations, art and technology combinations, art and social practice combinations, art and fashion design combinations.

And now, it's time for your task.

I would like you to create a cross-disciplinary sample.

You should choose at least two areas to merge, e.

g.

art and music, art and science, art and technology.

Consider how each discipline can contribute something unique to the piece.

Decide how the elements will work together, whether it's visually, conceptually, or experientially.

Pause here while you have a go at creating a cross-disciplinary sample.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on? Here's Izzy.

"I created Petri dish art under controlled conditions in the science department.

I painted with agar, which was then left in sterile conditions for the bacteria to grow.

These designs could be developed further." I love this experimentation.

And Alex, "I used one of my paintings to explore art and technology cross-disciplinary creations.

This was so much fun to do, and I would like to try projecting it onto a building or person next." Watch this space.

In our lesson "Analyzing the work of artists and designers who work collaboratively," we've covered the following.

When responding to collaborative artworks, it's important to select elements that resonate personally and to explore how different contributions interact within the piece.

Cross-disciplinary work encourages us to explore connections between art forms, blending techniques, concepts and materials from different creative fields.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great for us to collaborate on collaboration, exploring collaborative artworks, and then creating some of our own.

I hope you've enjoyed this lesson.

I've really enjoyed teaching you, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.