What is Critical Practice?

‘Thou shalt not know exactly what thou dost, but thou shalt do it’
from Ten Commandments for Gilbert & George

The Critical Practice course forms one of the new routes of the BA Fine Art. It focuses on the relationship between art, location and language. This relationship is often seen as difficult, as it may be construed as a clash between separate activities: the immediacy of the vision and the mediation of text. The course does not differentiate between these categories, insisting they come together in a variety of spaces: the work, the talk, the exhibition, the publication and the audience among others. In this way, students are involved in a practice that is combines making, thinking and displaying. As a result, the medium recedes into the background. Of course, each area brings specific demands and sets different formal and conceptual problems, however, many contemporary artists work across disciplines. The contemporary nature of the course demands that students be aware of the implications of their work (language/actions) beyond their immediate remit. Therefore, the work comes to be made and thought of in a context. This context may be described as social, political, philosophical and cultural. It is, as Sherlock Holmes might describe it, ‘a two-pipe-problem’.

Nico & Charlie

Critical Practice A.M

-Tuesday morning: Work to be submitted.

Students must update their learning agreements and complete a feedback form for the previous semester.
These two forms must accompany a Pin-up of current work for assessment on the 17th of January 2006. All work must be ready for assessment by 10.30am.

Nico & Charlie

Critical Practice P.M

-Tuesday afternoon: Work to be submitted.

Students will produce an individual text or ‘best of’ their collected writings produced over the course of the first semester.
Select one or more from the following–

• Found Text
• Walk
• 100,50,10,1.
• Manifesto
• Exhibition Statement

You will be expected to design, set and produce a ‘booklet’ that houses one or more of these written works. It is imperative that you edit/rewrite/extend the text(s). Do not simply submit what you already have.
You will give a short presentation on your booklet to the group. These take place over two weeks starting the 10th of January 2006. All booklets must be handed in on the 17th of January after the presentations.


Nico & Charlie

Son of Interim Show

1. If your work is 2-D and goes on the wall, establish a line using string at eye level. That way everything will hang level and at the same height (large stuff is exempted).
2. Place your texts towards the right-hand side of your work(s). Stick to the same height for all texts throughout the room.
3. One text only, even if you display several pieces.
4. Avoid jazzing up the hang, the work does not need it!

See you on Tuesday at 11am.

Elizabeth Price

Prepareprepare Publishing Present
2 New Books – Signed Limited Editions:

Hearse Attending & Progress Of A Sculpture
Special launch price £2

Launch party
Friday 16th December 6 - 9 pm
at MOT
Unit 54 Regent Studios
8 Andrews Road
London E8
www.motinternational.org












(This is not a Hearse by Elizabeth Price, but a Hearse nonetheless)