Preparing for your course

While there is no specified pre-course project, we recommend that you visit as many exhibitions as you can and get into the habit of writing about what you see and think, as you'll be reflecting and analysing all aspects of your practice and the work of others while on the course.

The central thread of the course is a distinct focus and reassessment of autobiography and the familiar, through differing understandings of creativity. What constitutes a meaningful and useful research methodology in one culture may be considered unknown, unnecessary or redundant in another.

You're encouraged to explore and unpick your own working strategies and methods, in the context of broader cultural and educational differences offered by the course and your peers. This is therefore a good habit to get into before you start.

To prepare for your postgraduate study, you might like to explore some of the books listed below. All of these are available at AUB Library, but you may wish to borrow a copy from your local library to look at before you arrive.

Individual titles

• Furlong, W. and Gooding, M. (2010). Speaking of art: Four decades of art in conversation. London: Phaidon. [Find in AUB Library]
• Phaidon. (2005). Pressplay: Contemporary artists in conversation. London: Phaidon. [Find in AUB Library]

Key book series

• Themes and movements, published by Phaidon [Find in AUB Library]
• Documents of contemporary art, published by Whitechapel Gallery [Find in AUB Library]
• Vitamin series, published by Phaidon [Find in AUB Library]

The Library here at AUB has all sorts of magazines and academic journals relating to arts and culture. Before you arrive, you may like to look at the following titles. For online access, you'll need AUB login details, which are provided after online enrolment.

• Artforum international [Find in AUB Library: Print and Online]
• Art monthly [Find in AUB Library: Print]
• Frieze [Find in AUB Library: Print and Online]
• Journal of visual arts practice [Find in AUB Library: Online]
• Mass sculpture [Find in AUB Library: Print]
• Turps banana [Find in AUB Library: Print]

Here are a few websites and online resources that might be of interest:

• Fine Art subject guide: AUB Library’s guide to resources for Fine Art students. Spend some time getting familiar with this, as it will be essential for your studies!
• a-n: Website of The Artists Information Company, which supports contemporary visual arts practice and affirms the value of the artist in society. It focuses on conversations around the critical and professional environment for the visual arts, bringing together artists, art students, producers, arts professionals, researchers, arts organisations and universities. You'll need AUB login details for full access.
• Art21 Library: An extensive library of films and educational materials produced by Art21. The core of the Art21 Library is nearly one thousand hours of original documentary footage amassed during the production of Art21’s films. The filmed material is supplemented with transcribed interviews, research materials, educational publications, webpages, books, and digital and analogue artwork reproductions.