BA studies in Textiles

Textile art connects applied art and visual art, and is located at the point of convergence between the two. The art scene is dynamic, with boundaries between areas and approaches constantly dissolving or changing. The study programme aims to encourage from its own particular vantage point these developments together with diversity of expression.

Your personal development and the acquisition of a practical stock of knowledge about textile art are two of the central objectives of the programme. Critical analysis, an ability to formulate opinions in words, and discussions are essential to the development and presentation of your own work in a fast-moving art world. The programme gives priority to knowledge and appreciation of textile-related tools and approaches, and examines textiles in relation to space and architecture, function and installation. The history and theory of art in general and textile art in particular are important in your development as a textile artist, and for contextualising your work with wider contemporary trends. On the technical front, you will be introduced to a wide range of textile-related and graphic techniques for constructing surface area and volume for treatment and embossing. Modern technology is one of these tools.

First Year
During the first year you will be introduced to the basic features of textiles. All courses proceed with a theoretical grounding, practical work in the workshop and an individual or group assignment. You will learn about materials, the attributes of fibres and expressive possibilities, including making your own materials by weaving for example. You will learn to use basic textile printing methods, photo screen printing, colour chemistry and dyeing/inking. You will also be introduced to photographic and computer-based aids. We also examine ways of developing ideas and concepts and how to structure and execute a project.

Second and Third Year
The studies focuse in the second and third years on project work and development of the students' own view of art and practical experience. First-year topics will be re-addressed in the second and third years, where you will be introduced to advanced methods and software for computer-assisted weaving and printing.

One course looks at issues related to space and architecture. You will learn different ways of dealing with space, and how experimenting with different principles can affect how space is experienced and conceived.