Portraiture Education Pack. Written and devised by Rohini Malik. London: Institute of International Visual Arts in collaboration with Martin Kennedy, Crofton School, London, 1995.
This pack looks at the way artists through time have explored and experimented with portraiture. The human figure possesses enormous symbolic potential, and this potential has been harnessed by numerous artists across the centuries. Here, works by twenty four British artists are presented and discussed. Images by artists from the past, such as Hogarth and Reynolds are juxtaposed with works by contemporary artists working in a variety of media. An emphasis has been placed on introducing teachers and students to contemporary British artists from a number of cultural backgrounds, and this suggests a broader and richer notion of British art practice. The works are not presented chronologically, but according to underlying themes and connections which encourage students to look at the images in new and thought provoking ways. Themes explored include social constructions of personality and individuality, re-inventions of identity and re-tracings of personal histories, and the powerful use of portraiture in both constructing and challenging racial and gender stereotypes.
The aim of the pack is to re-present and re-think the notion of portraiture, to promote discussion and to suggest activities through which students and teachers can explore various ideas. The pack consists of twenty-four slides with notes, suggested points for discussion, and a series of worksheets designed for students with accompanying teachers' notes. Aimed at teachers working with pupils at key stages three and four, the pack may also be a valuable resource for sixth form students.