Page 31 - EW April 2021

SPECIAL ESSAY
Making Inroads into the

World of Art

rt in its highest form is art that gap, and aspires for a pluralistic world where
serves and instructs society diverse traditions can communicate through
and human development. The the medium of art. As students gain mastery
Afamous words by Harry Belafonte over the traditional skills of image-making and
ring strong in today’s world. The writing was craftsmanship, they will also be enabled to
on the path that millions would follow. Giant look at art through conceptual and theoretical
yellow letters of the mural in Washington, DC tools.
read “Black Lives Matter”. The message was Blending liberal arts perspectives
loud and clear, and soon the street would be
renamed “Black Lives Matter Plaza”. Berlin In keeping with O.P. Jindal Global
Wall, once a symbol of division, is the world’s University’s principles of learning, the
most visited open-air gallery, housing over 100 programme takes an interdisciplinary Professor Arjya B. Majumdar
murals by artists from around the globe. British approach to art education. The BFA (Hons.)
street artist and political activist Banksy has blends traditional skills with a modern exposure. They will have the platform to work
become an iconic figure in the art world with conceptual approach to art-making. Methods with renowned artists who are exponents of
his satirical images with subversive epigrams. like critical thinking, creative problem-solving, different art forms. Besides the understanding
Art in its many forms has been closely linked community engagement, and appreciation of of art history, students will experience
with society. It has always harnessed the diversity are integral to the curriculum. contemporary cultural contexts through visits
power of resistance and movements against Housed in the liberal arts school, the to museums, art galleries, art festivals, and
injustice. It has told stories that were once BFA places a budding artist in the midst interactions with artists, curators, and art
forgotten. Art is revolutionary. of a melting pot of ideas, perspectives, dealers. Combining old and new art practices,
This universal language of people across and knowledge. Students are exposed to the programme equips students to build their
cultures has evolved phenomenally in recent the holistic learning paradigms of liberal own visual language.
years. Art has become interred with many education through subjects like sociology,
aspects of our everyday lives. Visual images literature, philosophy, and politics, which Who is it for, and what after completing it?
are all around us: from signboards to memes are equally integral to the curriculum as the You may want to express yourself through
on social media. They have immense inherent core arts courses. Students can also choose the medium of visual arts or learn about
power to move people to think, question, and from a range of interesting interdisciplinary contemporary media and cutting-edge
act. Art is a fantastic vehicle with the power electives. All this lays a broad foundation to techniques, practice art for social impact or
to transcend and bridge social and cultural understand and draw inspiration from a wide build a network with fellow artists, curators,
barriers. Art is transformative. experience of concepts. The combination of and collectors. The programme serves many
As we witness the many ways in which art studying liberal arts subjects alongside the purposes for young people with unique
transforms how we experience the world, we art curriculum becomes vital to understand interests. If you are someone who is driven
also recognise how the artist is empowered the deeper connections between different by curiosity, then the BFA opens the doors
to understand and impact the world. It is to phenomena in this world, and thereby, their to thrive in the infinite possibilities of creative
harness this sublime vigour of art that Jindal relevance to art and vice-versa. futures. You can go on to become gallery
School of Liberal Arts and Humanities (JSLH) A programme transcending the traditional artists, illustrators, community artists, studio
has launched a four-year Bachelor of Fine space of arts artists, and creative designers. Or you can
Arts (Hons.) programme. The BFA seeks to “It’s clever, but is it Art?” Rudyard Kipling’s flourish in careers as art curators, gallery
train visual thinkers to critically address new words have travelled through decades, assistants, historians, and art acquisition
imagery, landscape, and social challenges – bringing many to the question, “What is Art?” specialists. Yet with imagination and
to imagine the world anew. We have seen how performance arts, land innovation at its core, the BFA can be the
Empowering artists from around the world art, and conceptual arts have gone beyond beginning of a lifelong tryst with creativity in
different spheres in the art world and beyond.
Though art and artists have played crucial past notions of art. Today, under the influence After all, creativity is about embracing
roles in movements in India and other parts of digital media and technology, the art world non-linear thinking, innovation, and taking
of the world, the space has traditionally been has become more dynamic and fluid than ever risks. The BFA (Hons.) programme hones
dominated by Western Europe and North before. this creative aptitude that is valuable in every
America. Art from the rest of the world has Today’s artists need to look further than the realm that appreciates art, in one form or
struggled to claim its place at the front and traditional skills and bring together visuals, another.
centre. It’s time the perceptions changed, and ideas, and art-making processes. The BFA
artists from around the world are empowered (Hons.) programme at JSLH will help students Professor Arjya B. Majumdar
to stand tall on the global stage. The BFA become fluent with the new art landscape Dean, Admissions & Outreach
(Hons.) programme is an effort to bridge that through intensive studio work and extensive O.P. Jindal Global University
EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2021