用藝術和設計去推動公眾教育

香港理工大學美術及設計教育榮譽文學士學位課程

美術設計教育是甚麼?在課室裡教授美術史、在電腦室學習製圖軟件嗎?還是在視藝室繪畫油畫、創作陶瓷?不!美術設計教育不單局限於課堂、教室裡的知識傳授,也不限於美術室內的創意培訓;美術和設計本身就可以是公眾教育的一種方式。例如宣傳設計、展覽策劃等,就是以不同的美術設計方式,傳授訊息、內容,以至知識的手法。

抱持這樣的想法,理大美術及設計教育文學士學位課程為在職設計師和藝術教育工作者提供兼讀進修的途徑。入讀課程的學生須具備美術/設計/教育相關的文憑或以上學歷,和相關工作經驗。這代表了他們在美術、教育或設計工作方面已有初步的專業認識,課程從而可更集中於研習藝術設計的理念和其社會應用。課程包括藝術設計的文化理論教學實踐兩方面:

I) 藝術設計文化理論:

探討當代繁雜的藝術、設計文化觀,培養學生從整體文化脈絡去思考及分析藝術設計與文化教育的關係,洞悉背後的社會功能、影響和權力架構等。例如有同學就曾分析香港警隊的招聘海報,了解到海報如何以圖像方式來塑造男女警的英勇形象和角色,同時亦看到設計如何強化性別定型。(圖1)

fig01b_465

圖1 (按圖放大):我們每天都看到琳瑯滿目的海報,可有想過海報與社會文化的關係?像圖中的警隊招聘海報,就為我們劃分了男、女警察的特定角色和形象。(Courtesy: Tang Man Sung)

II) 藝術設計教學實踐:

把藝術教育視為一個不斷變革的教育體系,探討藝術設計在教育中的角色、社會功能和位置;並要求學生在課程中構想自己的教育實踐方案、然後以一連串的教學實驗來驗証成效。基於學生的工作背景和個人興趣,他們的「實踐方案」範疇廣泛,有在校園裡實踐課外活動的計劃,有嶄新的成人興趣班教程,亦有與非牟利組織合作的社區計劃。甚至有同學以創立社會企業作為功課,回應他們對本港教育的觀察,以至社會問題!

fig02a_465
fig02b_465

(圖2)圖2a,b (按圖放大):同學們走到劏車房去了解廢棄汽車問題,發現不少汽車零件都堅硬而精美,卻只被當成爛鐵。他們就決心利用這些廢棄汽車零件來升級再造成精巧的訂製家具,畢業後更延續計劃,成立公司,既救回汽車零件,亦推廣環保,獲社會企業獎。(Courtesy: ATB Auto Art)

除此之外,課程亦不乏創作面向。藝術設計創作是以專題主導的方式啓導創作,如 Ways of Seeing一科,同學們除了學習觀察、記錄和分析本地「視覺文化」外,作品更須用個人的創意方式來表達發揮,不限媒介。(圖3)創作科目亦包括「資訊設計」課,研習如何運用簡明扼要的設計手法來傳遞訊息、做 (公眾) 教育的工作。例如年前的「青苗上河圖」展覽及出版計劃,就是資訊設計課的作業。作為有社會承擔的公眾教育工作者,需要探討和了解事情始末才去傳播知識。因此學生們首先親身做考察、訪問和研究,再透過他們熟悉的視覺手法,以圖像來呈現他們在菜園村所搜集的故事和資料,最後透過舉辦公眾展覽來探討菜園村遷拆及本土農業發展的議題。(圖4)

fig03_465

圖3 (按圖放大):在課程裡,同學們重新學習「看」:通過仔細的觀察和記錄,以視覺重新發現我們身邊的文化。沒有這樣仔細的記錄和展示,大槪沒有想過,原來街邊的小小報檔竟然可以擺放多達四百款貨品,而且報紙只佔了一小部份。(Group project, graphic by Cynthia Shing)

fig04_465

圖4 (按圖放大):這並不是一幅寫生;同學們須實地考察、訪問和搜集資料,再依資料仔細繪畫和以電腦拼製。三十多位同學經歷多番討論和改動,協力呈現出菜園村的風貌和生活故事,讓觀眾在看畫之餘,更能了解香港鮮活的農業生活。 (Group project)

綜合理論及創作,本課程嘗試運用藝術和設計去介入的,不單是課堂教學,更是社會議題。同學們的畢業習作,就是把各個範疇學到的東西,配合自己的工作或生活經驗,加以整合和實踐,從而編製出一個教育自己、以至影響他人的「教程」。期望畢業生們都學以致用,把自己在藝術和設計方面的所長,運用到本土的 (公眾) 教育層面上。

撰文:呂文珊 (香港理工大學設計學院美術及設計教育文學士學位課程項目統籌)
顧問:蕭競聰 (香港理工大學設計學院美術及設計教育文學士學位課程主任)

Design students sweep championships at 2011 Hong Kong Social Enterprise Challenge

Following ATB AutoArt’s success last year, two student teams from PolyU Design won the championships at the 2011 Hong Kong Social Enterprise Challenge (HKSEC), a social venture business plan competition organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship of The Chinese University of Hong Kong encouraging students to employ a creative entrepreneurial approach to solve real world social issues.

One of the winning teams, Woof, took the 2011 HKSEC Championship as well as the Award for Best presentation. Members included PolyU’s MDes (Design Strategies) student Anita Lam and graduate Margaret Lok, and the Hong Kong Baptist University’s MVA in Art Administration student Amy Chan. They proposed a social enterprise named Woof aiming to raise human compassion and empathy for and change attitudes towards animals, through the sales of chiengora accessories which are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Also, through its Wooferine canine animal welfare educational projects, Woof intended to raise awareness among the public of the plight of animals, and the need to respect all life. The team was supervised by Rémi Leclerc, Assistant Professor of PolyU Design throughout the process of competition.

Another team of champion came from the subject SD377 “Current Issues in Art & Design Education” of BA (Hons) Art & Design in Education. Joyce Chu, Keziah Law, Irix Leung and Wong Ka Ki formed the group Oops! to transfer surplus and wasted materials from the interior design industry to visual arts students in secondary schools for materials exploration in their creative works. With the incubation cash award Oops! will soon help to reduce waste from the interior design industry and set a standard for HK’s creative industry on social innovation. Mr Patrick Chan who taught the subject supported the team as advisor. Last year’s champion ATB AutoArt was also from this part-time BA program.

The champions’ innovative ideas and business models backed up by strong design and presentation skills excelled over 650 contestants forming more than 180 teams from 22 institutions in Hong Kong. There were in total 6 finalists including other 3 teams from CUHK and 1 from the HKUST. Each member of the winning teams received an incubation cash award of around HK$50,000.


(Above) The Champions and guests at the award presentation ceremony (courtesy: HKSEC)


(above) Accessories by Woof (courtesy: Woof)

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