“The way that farmers channel the water; fletchers shape the arrow; carpenters work the timber; the wise shape their lives.”
- Dhammapada, Verse 80

Vision

Unlearning’ challenges the learner and incites reflection. Challenging one’s dominant notions encourages seeing the world from multiple perspectives and myriad ways of understanding. Building the capacity to think critically through a wide variety of medium and material can develop the voice of a responsible artist in a conscious designer.

Reflection to absorb the water-bodies and ecology around the foothills of the Nandi Hills.

Where aspirations take a roller-coaster ride of imagination, the practice gets one to think out of the box. The joy of experiential ‘unlearning’, the thrill of exploring and the creative process meets the aspirations of the learner.

Experimenting with light.

Overview

Foundation Studies is a year-long experience spread over two semesters where the exciting journey of the creative practitioner begins. This space goes beyond the boundaries of discipline and introduces certain Core values relevant to the contemporary world of Art, Design and Technology. This is where the seeds of aspiration to expand the practice for next three years are sown.

On completing the foundation studies, students proceed to the four semesters of their chosen studio-based program.

Core Values

Expanding the idea of learning, a well-rounded development of an individual, who empathizes with the world around rests on certain core values:

Skill based - Form making.

Crafting accordion book forms.

Course Structure

The course modules are the interconnected building blocks creating a larger pattern. The integrated pattern becomes apparent when one navigates through these modules.

• Contextual Enquiry explores Art and Design practices from a variety of generative themes clustered around historical, social, political, economical and cultural contexts, through various tools, techniques, methodologies and modes of enquiry.
• Generic Skills expand the ability to observe, make, know, experience and build competence in creative production to translate ideas into expressions.
• General Studies expose and engage learners with a wide range of discourses in philosophy, history, critical thinking, cultural studies, science, literature and language.
• Study of Socio-ecology immerses learners into the complexities of society/culture/ecology/craft/design/art practices through field visits, research-methods and documentation. Directness of experience and engagement in the real-world contexts is primary to this unit.
• General Electives range from essential skill-sets in the art & design disciplines to trans-disciplinary skills like coding, geo-tagging and so on.
• Holistic Education nurtures the personal interest in a learner that goes beyond the academic work and discourse. These act as catalysts in interpersonal skills, stress-busting and inculcating esprit-de-corps and promotes inclusion.

Field visits as part of the observation and learning for Study of Social Ecology unit.

Pit loom weaving process - Study of Social Ecology unit.

Learning Approaches

The core values are experienced through arrange of interdisciplinary learning approaches:

• Driven by Enquiry through generative themes that are rooted around historical, socio-cultural and political contexts
• Theoretical and Critical approach to expand the idea of art and design practice
• Hands-on approach to making for developing self-expression,
• Research and collaborations as ways to widen thought and dimensions of practice.
• Field based enquiry making the real-world into a classroom
• Participatory approach through direct engagement with communities of various practitioners

Art Installation by Students - The Invisible Wall.

Capabilities Engaged

Understanding large frameworks of any system or practice and making connections.

Applying studio habits that help internalize a set of dispositions and defined approaches to gradually develop one's own practice.

Iterating to translate a line of thinking into a desired form by drawing from one's exposure to various kinds of practices, and to hone skill by repetitive use of certain tools.

Creating through appropriate medium or material.

Reflecting to continuously learn from reviewing and recording one's own process while carefully analysing the relationships between the part and the whole.

Enquiry