Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen
Koninklijke Academie van Antwerpen
Contemporary Art: Postmodernisms12341/3443/2526/1/65
Study guide

Contemporary Art: Postmodernisms

12341/3443/2526/1/65
Academic year 2025-26
Is found in:
  • Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts, programme stage 3
  • Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts
This is a single course unit.
Study load: 3 credits
Special admission is required to enrol in this course unit under
  • exam contract (to obtain a credit).
  • exam contract (to obtain a degree).
Co-ordinator: Van Hecke Piet
Other teaching staff: Bovyn Guy (dut,eng)
Languages: Dutch, English
Scheduled for: Semester 2
This course unit is marked out of 20 (rounded to an integer).
Possible deadlines for learning account: 15.03.2026 (2nd semester)
Re-sit exam: is possible.
Possibility of deliberation: You have to pass this course unit (will never be deliberated).
Total study time: 90,00 hours

Prerequisites

(previously registered for Art and cultural history before 1500 AND previously registered for Art and cultural history 1500-1800) OR previously registered for Art History and Contemporary Art 1.

Learning outcomes (list)

BA3 - The student knows about and understands the social, cultural, artistic, historical and international context of the visual arts and artistic praxis, and continues to develop this knowledge and understanding.
The student can independently process various forms of information about artistic topicality into an up-to-date frame of reference.
The student can situate the oeuvre of a self-chosen visual artist from this period and interpret it in a personal way.
The student can use his art-historical knowledge as a frame of reference.
The student knows and understands the Western art developments of the seventies, eighties and nineties of the 20th century.

Course content

The course Contemporary Art: Postmodernisms explores a number of art developments from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, supplemented with an overview of recent exhibitions, events and publications related to contemporary visual art. Movements such as Conceptual art, Land art, Arte Povera, Performance art, Fundamental painting, Hyperrealism, Postmodern painting, Photography and Installation art are discussed. Attention is paid to both exhibition and publication history and to representative figures of these developments.
We expect you to actively participate in the course. We will engage in discussion, visit one or more exhibitions together, and look for (creative) ways to reflect on the artworks covered in class.

Study material (text): Mandatory

In addition to your personal notes, you may consult the following book:
Ad De Visser, De tweede helft. Beeldende kunst na 1945, Sun/Kritak, Nijmegen, 1998 (and subsequent editions).
For non-Dutch-speaking students, we refer to:
David Hopkins, After Modern Art, 1945-2000, Oxford University Press, Oxford-New York, 2000

Educational organisation (list)

Learning Activities
Lectures and / or tutorials26,00 hours
Work time outside of contact hours64,00 hours

Evaluation (list)

Evaluation(s) for first exam chance
MomentForm%Remark
1st examination periodKnowledge and comprehension test during the examination series100,00
Evaluation(s) for re-sit exam
MomentForm%Remark
2nd examination periodKnowledge and comprehension test during the examination series100,00

Evaluation (text)

Oral exam