4.367
Studio Seminar in Public Art
(meets with 4.368)
Instructor: Antoni Muntadas
Telephone: 617-253-5229
Office:
N51-315
Send e-mail: muntadas@earthlink.net
Units: 3-3-6
Level: H
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor
4.367/8 has been designed as both a studio and seminar in which students are
expected to develop a main project throughout the term for public placement
during finals. One out of two days in the week is used for individual meetings,
and the other to regroup. Its primary focus is the production of visual art
outside of the gallery and museum context.
A case study will be conducted on the city of São Paulo, where public space is
in jeopardy and the appearances of gated communities are becoming more and more
present. Here we will analyze ways in which the privatization of space, and
imposition of surveillance cameras alter civilian behavior. We will examine the
[controlling] factors in the cityscape, which are predetermining as to how
public/common spaces are used.
Readings will be assigned in order to help assess the understanding, meaning and
intention of each individual's project. Aesthetic, social and political issues
in the urban setting are to be analyzed vis-à-vis enforced public policy.
Traditional forms of commemoration will be examined in comparison to more
temporal and critical forms of public art and action. Historical models include
experiments by the Russian Constructivist, the Situationist International,
Conceptual Art, and more recent interventionist tactics.
This course is open to both graduate and advanced undergraduate students, from
MIT and affiliated institutions. However the course is limited, and priority
will be given to those registered. Please address all inquiries to teaching
assistant by emailing aliafa@mit.edu.
