NAS Notes
I studied sculpture as a non-diploma student at NAS in 71 and 72. The diploma course officially ran for five years.
At that time ‘qualifications’ were anathema to seriousness. When I left at the end of 1972 however, I was deemed to have ‘fluffed out’ by several teachers. They felt I was unequipped to proceed alone in the art world.
Several years later, I was fortunate to be employed in part time teaching in drawing and sculpture at NAS. It was through teaching that I learnt how much I did not know about sculpture and drawing. My students and I learnt about these areas together.
More recently in the sculpture department, new staff have been employed without the benefit of a thorough art education. Teachers now are graduates of university art schools. They have little to no knowledge of the fundamentals of sculpture, painting or drawing. Graduates of universities tend to be visual illiterates, unless they have had other education. Qualification to teach now requires post graduate qualifications only achieved from universities.
New teachers now are as unequipped as I was, when I started teaching.
I hope that new staff learn about sculpture (and drawing), on the job as I did, with the benefit of those equipped with the skills that have been reliably offered at the school.
The university trained artist has limited language to speak. Their training is in the manipulation of ideas. The works made are illustrations of ideas. These artists tend to rely on ‘materiality’ to deliver a life in the work, in the absence of a more formal language. The material is always the servant of the overriding idea.
The National Art School has argued recently, that there was a need for turning a new leaf, that the sculpture school in particular, had become mired by a limited vision. To bring about new life, extreme changes were necessary.
Ironically, the school was now overrun by the philosophy to which it had for fifty years been in opposition.
Having previously been overwhelmed by opposition to well-meaning improvements to the school, I am happy to take a back seat and watch, or not watch what ensues.
The buildings have always insinuated themselves into the philosophy of the school. The buildings, the history have always had the final say.