Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen
Koninklijke Academie van Antwerpen
Language-based art38354/3443/2526/1/61
Study guide

Language-based art

38354/3443/2526/1/61
Academic year 2025-26
Is found in:
  • Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts, programme stage 3
    Choice package:
    • aan opleidingsonderdelen naar keuze
  • Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts
    Choice package:
    • Elective courses
This is a single course unit.
Study load: 3 credits
It is not possible to enrol in this course unit under
  • exam contract (to obtain a credit).
  • exam contract (to obtain a degree).
Co-ordinator: di Serego Alighieri Andrea (eng)
Other teaching staff: Bovyn Guy (eng)
Languages: English
Scheduled for: Academic year
This course unit is marked out of 20 (rounded to an integer).
Possible deadlines for learning account: 01.12.2025 (Academic year)
Re-sit exam: not possible.
Possibility of deliberation: You have to pass this course unit (will never be deliberated).
Total study time: 90,00 hours

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Short description

This interstudio course offers students an opportunity to explore language and writing as fully-fledged artistic media. They develop their own writing style as a form of expression and research, in interaction with their visual work. The focus on experimentation, poetics and publication broadens their artistic practice and strengthens their capacity for reflection, positioning and presentation.

Learning outcomes (list)

BA1 - The student has the necessary artistic skills to design and/or realize a personal project within the broad spectrum of the visual arts under supervision.
The students are able to conceive, organize and realize their own artistic project in a self-disciplined, systematic and autonomous way.
BA2 - The student has the necessary knowledge, skills and insights regarding material, form, action, concepts, function and contents of the chosen medi
The students are able to deliever a consistent and original piece of written work.
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 students will develop knowledge and insight into the social, cultural, artistic, historical and international context of writing practices and discourses.
The students is able to follow and interpret evolutions within the field, and can position themselves within an artistic and intellectual framework.
BA6 - The student understands the characteristics of his/her personal designs and/or realizations and is able to communicate about this in an appropriate manner.
The students gain insight into past and current discourses on text and writing in the art field and beyond, as well as a set of technical and theoretical skills to be able to communicate and present their writings effectively.

Course content

Language-based Art focuses on the power of language and writing as an artistic medium. We explore writing as a form of artistic research and production, and above all as an autonomous art practice. The course offers you a concrete framework and methodologies with which you can experiment freely and develop your own writing style.

This is not about academic writing, but about analytical and essayistic forms – approached from an artistic and creative perspective.
The course is structured around three core aspects:

  • Free writing (experimentation and exploration),
  • Poetics (writing theories, history and techniques),
  • Publishing (editing, typography, design, performance).

Themes covered include translation, prosody, metre, multilingualism, the politics of recitation, orality, voice, the material text, mise-en-page, typography, typesetting and inscription.

If Language-based Arts appeals to you, please send a letter of motivation (max. 1 A4) to andrea.diseregoalighieri@ap.be by 15/9/2025. This will be followed by an interview and you will be informed whether you can take this elective course. The format only allows for a limited number of participants with 20 available places.

Educational organisation (list)

Learning Activities
Lectures and / or tutorials20,00 hours
  • Description: Meetings with students: 2 hours a week, or 4 hours every two weeks. 3 guest lectures: 2 from within the Academy, 1 from outside guests
  • Remark: After an initial period of written experimentation, intertwined by lectures, excursions and exercises on theories and techniques the students will aim at producing and publishing a consistent piece (or a collection) of writing(s).Exercises will take the form of workshops in the classroom and/or elsewhere (such as libraries or outdoor spaces).Lectures will be delievered by the core tutor and by a selection of guests, lecturers and/or researchers at the Aceademy and beyond. A necessary aspect of the course will be its collective dimension (writings will be delivered and discussed with the whole group), as it will also be gathered, published and presented together at the end. This publication will take the form of a printed object and/or a public reading.
Work time outside of contact hours70,00 hours

Evaluation (list)

Evaluation(s) for both exam chances, not reproducible in re-sit exam
MomentForm%Remark
1st examination periodArtistic practical assessment100,00The student will be evaluated throughout the whole year, so active participation is required.

Evaluation (text)

In Language-based Art, you write a coherent piece (or series of pieces) independently or in relation to the course material.
The assessment consists of continuous assessment (40%) and an end-of-year assessment (60%).
Assessment criteria are: originality, conceptual coherence and clarity, (formal/performative) execution.