Advanced Artistic Work 1

The course introduces the early phases of artistic research, focusing on experimentation, exploration, and the first steps in research and concept development. Students begin shaping an artistic research project by engaging with introductory theories, methods, and techniques of inquiry, and by developing an understanding of what constitutes practice-led research in contemporary art.

Contextualisation is understood broadly. Students learn to position their work within artistic theory and practice while also relating it to social, ethical, political, and environmental questions. The course highlights how artistic research can contribute to society through critical reflection, modes of production, and forms of community engagement.

Learning takes place within a collaborative, collective, and cross-disciplinary environment. Students work alongside peers from other specialisations and engage in shared inquiry as part of the MFA learning culture. The course is further enriched by encounters with local, national, and international artistic and research contexts, supporting an early awareness of the wider frameworks in which artistic research operates.

The objective is to initiate and develop an MFA artistic research project that will evolve over the two-year programme.

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Develop and adjust an early working plan for their artistic research project.
• Apply introductory artistic research methods and techniques through experimentation and exploration.
• Begin contextualising their work in relation to artistic theory, practice, and broader social, ethical, political, or environmental questions.
• Use the Creative Process Journal (CPJ) to document and reflect on early artistic processes, materials, and contextual research.
• Explore and test introductory exhibition and dissemination formats, including process-based and experimental presentations.
• Communicate emerging ideas clearly in group discussions, critiques, and short written reflections.

The course emphasises collective practice, cross-disciplinary exchange, and exploratory methods as central foundations for MFA study. Students work through shared inquiry, collaborative experimentation, and peer-to-peer learning while beginning the continuous development of an individual artistic project.

Learning activities include:

• Micro-projects, mapping exercises, and "seek & find" workshops that support early artistic decisions, critical questioning, and the first steps in research documentation.
• Introduction to the Creative Process Journal (CPJ) as a tool for documenting experiments, reflections, contextual references, and evolving questions.
• Group critiques with fellow students and supervisors to practice articulating ideas, receiving feedback, and developing reflective skills.
• Supervision sessions focusing on early project development, artistic direction, and building connections between practice and context.

The course encourages a diverse range of experimental presentation formats, including process-based demonstrations, collaborative tests, working systems, and research-in-progress presentations. These formats help students explore how early artistic ideas and processes can be shared and discussed.

Special conditions

Approved compulsory assignments are valid in the current semester.

This course is offered to international master’s students. Language of instruction is English.