Teaching Art History through archaeologies of the contemporary

Abstract

This article argues that Art History as a discipline has been critiqued on a number of levels in recent decades. However, the knowledge which the discipline can provide for students in tertiary art schools remains invaluable. Therefore, it is important for the discipline to continue to be taught. This involves connections between the contemporary and historical works as archaeologies of the contemporary. Current visual arts practices can find their own distinct genealogies through such connections.The article presents examples from three recent international exhibitions and also from recent studio practice in New Zealand and South Africa.

Eietydse argelogieë [argeologiee] vir the [die] onderrig van Kunsgeskiedenis: Hierdie artikel argumenteer dat Kunsgeskiedenis as ‘n vakgebied sterk kritiek ontlok het op verskillende vlakke in die afgelope decades [dekades]. Nietemin bly die kennis wat deur hierdie vakgebied aan studente in tersiêre kunsskole oorgedra kan word van onskatbare waarde. Daarom is die volgehoue aanbieding van Kunsgeskiedenis van groot belang. Volgehoue aanbieding betrek egter nodige verbande tussen historiese werke as synde argeologieë van die kontemporêre. Huidige visuele kunste praktyke kan hul eie spesifieke genealogieë ontdek deur sulke verbande. Die artikel bied voorbeelde uit drie onlangse internasionale uitstallings asook enkeles afkomstig uit onlangse ateljeewerk in Nieu-Zeeland [Nieu-Seeland] en Suid-Afrika.