ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

The main idea of the project “The art of seeing – about the artist’s eyes and emotions” is the dependency of art reception and physical, as well as emotional, conditions of artists and viewers. The creators of artistic objects and situations have always used the knowledge about mechanisms of actions regarding the emotions and perception of their recipients. In order to understand their works better, we need innovative educational measures. “The art of seeing” is a series of workshops addressed to students from elementary schools, high schools, students, as well as seniors. The project is dedicated mainly to the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodship inhabitants, but it is also possible to conduct them anywhere else throughout Poland. The meetings will focus on analysing works of art by Polish and foreign artists with the use of eye-trackers, EEG signal recorders, and general knowledge about the lives of such artists like W. Strzemiński, J. Matejko, H. Berlewi, J. Bereś. Free workshops will take place in educational establishments and in selected cultural institutions coorganising the project (see: organisers).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

“The art of seeing – about the artist’s eyes and emotions” is a project that combines what we commonly understand as humanistic, spiritual and artistic, with the research using eye-tracking, EEG signal analysis, and the knowledge about eyes and eye disorders. The project aims at increading the creative potential of students at all educational levels, as well as the adults, in order to make them better at relating technology and art. It shall also encourage students of generally- and scientifically-profiled schools to art and active participation in cultural life.

In order to achieve the aims listed above, the workshops will be carried out in three thematic blocks: “emotions in art”, “the artist’s eye” and “diagnosing the canvas”. Each of them will let the workshop participants better understand their reactions to work of art, as well as physiological conditions of selected Polish and foreign artists such as: Władysław Strzemiński, Henryk Berlewi, Jan Matejko, Andrzej Wróblewski, El Greco, Claude Monet, Francisco Goya. The workshops will also constitute a perfect opportunity to discover how eye-tracking and electroencephalographic research is conducted in the artistic context. The newly obtained skills might turn out helpful for the participants not only with regard to creating and analysing art, but also its protection.

Workshop scenarios are adjusted to the participants’ age and interests; the applicant will depend on such methods like animation, discussion, group work, lecture, audio/video projection, meetings with artists. The element of particular significance will be EEG and eye-tracking experiments, thanks to which the participants will be able to get to know the works of art in an interactive way, and to relate their particular elements with emotions experienced by them. The workshops will last 12 months, which results from their ambitious, complex and innovative program.

HOW THE WORKSHOPS ARE CONDUCTED

The main element of the project involves workshops carried out at schools or selected cultural institutions, mostly in Toruń (it is possible to organise them outside the city, too). The formula of these interdisciplinary classes includes using various methods of content presentation, e.g. animation, lecture, group work, film projection, using equipment for eye-tracking and EEG signal recording. Such way of presentation makes it possible to reach different age groups and consolidate their learning experience. All classes will be prepared on the basis of the curriculum “Art education in elementary, middle, and high school”, “Core curriculum 2017” regarding Arts, as well as selected syllabuses for art- and history of art-related programs. Additionally, an online portal will be created, including all the necessary information and resources (such as audio/video materials, articles, syllabuses, photographies)

THE MOST IMPORTANT AIMS OF THE WORKSHOPS

1. Increasing the creative potential of school and university art students at all levels of education with skills related to creating artistic projects using eye-tracking and EEG equipment. The project is also dedicated to school and university students of more scientific and general education profiles, who, by achieving new skills and competences, could be better prepared for active cultural life as adults.

2. Popularisation of empirical studies of art, which is getting more and more recognition. Making students familiar with how works of art can be analysed using eye-trackers and electroencephalographs.

3. Promotion of Polish cultural heritage among school and university students, particularly of regional artists from the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodship, internationally famous Polish artists, as well as Polish emigrant artists. Additionally, the project also aims at making it easier for the students from areas of varied urbanisation level to access Polish art and culture.

http://sztukapatrzenia.com.pl

Project realised as part of a grant programme by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage