Tobias Folkesson

The Industrious Work of Updating
Tobias Folkesson

– A Case Study Regarding Contemporary Art in the Classroom of Art Education

Visual culture is changing rapidly, in pace with technology. Art as a subject in school has a hard time keeping up. A part of the problem might be the ambiguity of the postmodern era. It was easier when art was an oil painting from the 19th century in a big golden frame. What keeps visual culture outside the classroom? What keeps fresh material from trickling into the art room? I have put my power theory glasses on and made a case study.

I have investigated the potential of a contemporary art-based approach in the classroom. The students have been free to create in their own independent processes under tutoring. They started their works with the knowledge of the Degree Exhibition at Konstfack. Could this be what the art subject needs? A public space for exhibitions? Our work is the results of the study.