London, United Kingdom

Public Art and the Right to the City

This module is an interdisciplinary course that explores the relationship between art and the city through visits to London’s museums and art collections. The course will begin by looking at the history of modern art to consider the role of urbanisation and mass culture in the production of a modernist aesthetic. We will then turn to look at artists working today that are considered ‘global’, to consider how their work, while speaking to global issues, operates within a distinct set of cultural and political concerns. Through the lens of contemporary artists working in cities such as Mexico City, New York, Los Angeles and Beijing, the course will examine relevant critical issues such as race, globalisation, and environmental justice.

Course leader

Daisy Silver

Target group

This is a level one module (equivalent to first year undergraduate). No prior subject knowledge is required to study this module but students are expected to have a keen interest in the subject area.

Course aim

Upon successful completion of this module, students will:

Develop a comprehensive understanding of contemporary wall writing phenomena, from graffiti to street art and muralism, and acquire an adequate language to evaluate their social, political and artistic standing
Operate with concepts such as regeneration, order, visibility, creative urbanism, law and spatial ownership, the right to the city and spatial justice
Articulate a critical discourse about neoliberal urbanism and public creativity, which are key frameworks in the development of any spatial practice (suitable for architects, designers, planners, sociologists, geographers, artists, activists, cultural theorists etc)
Form a politicised and radical engagement with issues around contemporary urbanism and urban art, to contribute to the production of more diverse and inclusive cities
Acquire transferable methodological skills around the production and interpretation of space, and familiarise themselves with London as a complex neoliberal urban environment

Credits info

7.5 EC
7.5 ECTS / 4 US / 15 UCL

Fee info

GBP 2585: Students studying for 6 weeks (2 modules) benefit from a built-in tuition fee discount.
GBP : Students are welcome to apply for accommodation at a UCL summer residence.