Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
8FAD 462ART AND SPACE INTERACTION3+0+03523.09.2026

 
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Interior Architecture and Environmental Design (English)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The course aims to introduce students to the changing relationships between contemporary art, space, and the viewer, with particular emphasis on exhibition and curatorial practices. It aims to develop students’ ability to critically examine how artworks, designed artefacts, and cultural content are selected, interpreted, displayed, and experienced, and to apply this understanding to the development of curatorial and spatial exhibition proposals.
Course Content This course examines contemporary art through the changing relationships between artwork, space, and viewer, with particular emphasis on exhibition and curatorial practices. Beginning with the shift from the art object towards concept, space, and experience, the course explores how artworks and other cultural and designed artefacts are selected, interpreted, displayed, and experienced. Through case studies of biennials, exhibitions, museums, installations, architecture and design exhibitions, cultural exhibitions, and performative and hybrid formats, students investigate exhibition-making as both a curatorial and spatial practice. The course addresses site, display, narrative, atmosphere, movement, temporality, and audience experience, and introduces students to the development of exhibition proposals that integrate curatorial thinking with spatial design.
Course Methods and Techniques Theoretical lectures, interactive discussions, seminars, critical reading of texts, case study analysis, artwork analysis, presentations supported by visual and audiovisual materials, student presentations, group discussions, individual research, critical writing exercises, and independent learning.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Prof.Dr. Özlem Erdoğdu Erkarslan
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Foster Hal, Art and Architecture Complex, Vero, 2011. Bürger, P. (1984).?Theory of the Avant-garde?(Vol. 4). Manchester University Press.

Course Category
Social Sciences %40
Field %60

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 25
Quizzes 5 % 25
Assignment 1 % 20
Final examination 1 % 30
Total
8
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 2 28
Assignments 1 10 10
Presentation 1 10 10
Mid-terms 6 9 54
Final examination 1 10 10
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5,13333333333333 154

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Bilgi 
1 Identify key concepts, theories, and debates in modern and contemporary art and exhibition practices.
2 Explain the development of avant-garde and contemporary art practices and their influence on changing relationships between artwork, space, and viewer.
Beceri 
3 Analyse contemporary artworks, exhibitions, and spatial practices using relevant theoretical and critical frameworks.
4 Compare different movements, media, artistic and curatorial approaches in contemporary art.
5 Examine the relationships between contemporary art, architecture, design, society, ecology, technology, and digital culture.
7 Develop and communicate critical and curatorial ideas through written, visual, and oral presentations.
Yetkinlik 
6 Discuss the role of art institutions, biennials, museums, galleries, exhibitions, and curatorial practices in the production and experience of contemporary art.
8 Develop an independent, ethical, and interdisciplinary perspective towards contemporary art, exhibition, and spatial practices.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 What is an Artwork? From Object to Context: Historical avant-garde, Dada, readymade; object, context, and meaning. - -
2 From Object to Concept: Conceptual Art, Fluxus; idea, language, instruction, and process.
3 From Artwork to Space: Minimalism, installation, and site-specific art; scale, material, and site.
4 From Spectator to Viewer: Happenings, performance and participatory art; body, movement, encounter, and experience.
5 The Exhibition as a Medium: Exhibition, display, context, and spatial relationships as producers of meaning.
6 Curating: Selecting, Connecting, Narrating: Selection, juxtaposition, sequence, curatorial concept, and exhibition narrative.
7 The Biennial: Venice and Istanbul: The biennial as a curatorial and spatial model; city, site, pavilion, route, and temporary occupation.
8 Mid-term examination
9 Exhibition as Spatial Narrative: Sequence, Route and Display
10 Exhibiting Architecture and Design: Models, drawings, prototypes, materials, archives, films, fragments, and full-scale installations.
11 Exhibiting Culture: Cultural and historical narratives through objects, archives, texts, images, and media.
12 Exhibition as Event: Performance, participation, temporality, body, action, and changing space.
13 Hybrid Exhibition Practices: Integrating art, design, archives, media, installation, and performance within exhibition environments.
14 Developing an Exhibition Proposal: Curatorial concept, selection, site, spatial strategy, display, and viewer experience.
15 Final Presentation
16 N/A

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10
In1 4 3 3 3 3
In2 4 4 4 4 4
Sk3 5 4 3 4
Sk4 4 5 4 4 3
Sk5 3 4 4 3 4
Sk7 3 4 5 4
Co6 3 5 3 4 3
Co8 4 4 3 3 2 3 3 4

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant