Maybe: Contemporary Art Course

Please note: we are only taking bookings for the full four week course

Each session of this four week course will begin with out-of-hours access to the Maybe: Ryan Gander exhibition, where selected works from this extensive show will act as the starting point for interpretation and discussion. Through guided conversations, some of the main themes that arise when considering contemporary art will be addressed: the primacy of ideas over the material object, the active role of the viewer in the narrative of the artwork or the very way in which an artwork is created, using media such as AI, video, installation or artists themselves. According to Gander, “museums are like gyms for the mind and the imagination”, and those aspects of contemporary art which can often present a challenge, will be explored, debated, and questioned collaboratively. 

 Following a refreshment break (tea, coffee, and sweet treats will be provided), there will be a tutor-led presentation in the Towner cinema. The work of other contemporary artists will be introduced and examined to build on themes introduced in the first part of the session. 

 A weekly list of the works discussed, and any other relevant reference material will be provided. Links to further material and information about the artists in question will also be available after each session to those course members who would like to pursue further independent research.

Jill Denman, MA, PGCE studied Modern Languages at the University of Durham and History of Art at the Courtauld Institute. She is an experienced freelance tutor who has delivered History of Art courses for a wide range of institutions, including Towner Eastbourne, Hastings Contemporary and the University of Kent.