Visual artsResources
Description
“… he’s only an eye but what an eye …” said Paul Cézanne of Claude Monet.
The Visual Arts represent a broad field of creative practice that involves the eye, the hand, the intellect, the emotions and the imagination.
Visual Arts enables learners to become visually literate, explore, analyse, critically reflect on and express personal understandings of their world through making their own art-works in a variety of different ways. We live in an increasingly visual world and learners will apply their practical skills and knowledge to assist them in understanding the purpose of art in our own and other societies, past and present.
Why is Visual Arts important?
The subject Visual Arts opens up an exciting world of creative and personal development. It enables learners to think laterally, to be flexible and versatile while at the same time being able to work in an independent, self-disciplined and organised manner. It provides a basis for learners to develop an individual visual language, which in turn is informed by Visual Culture studies.
The Visual Arts have a critical role to play in South African society. Through the Visual Arts, artists are able to record, critique and communicate their view of the society and times in which they live. This enriches the process of understanding the past and constructing a new sense of individual and national identity.
What does it consist of?
Visual Arts offers a range of studies structured to challenge learners intellectually and emotionally, stimulate critical thinking and the creative imagination. The practical disciplines include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, photography and multimedia. Visual Culture Studies provides learners with the theoretical framework and includes South African, Pan African Art and global studies. Theory cannot be seen in isolation and is integral to all Visual Arts practice.
How will this subject help a learner to get into the world of work or further studies?
Learners who select Visual Arts in the FET band will be able to make informed choices about vocational, career and higher education opportunities in a number of fields of creative practice. The Visual Arts are inclusive and provide multiple opportunities for challenged learners to achieve their human potential and become economically independent. The emphasis on self-discipline and independence, flexibility, practical skills, critical thinking and creative approaches to problem solving ensures that all Visual Arts learners acquire essential lifelong skills, regardless of what career choices they eventually make. Visual Arts offers many career options both in the formal and informal sectors, ranging from arts management and marketing, architecture, craft, education, heritage and conservation, journalism, photojournalism, curators (museums and galleries), publishing, television, theatre and film industries to visual arts practitioners. Visual Arts also provides learners with many life skills and general enrichment that is invaluable to any career choice, not just in those in the arts sector.
