Bard College Berlin News
Can anyone be an artist? New arts instructor Surya Gied discusses her introductory painting course Painting and Beyond
After earning her MFA at the University of the Arts Berlin, Gied worked in Seoul, South Korea as a guest artist through the DAAD and as a resident at the Seoul Art Space. Having developed and led courses, workshops, and seminars at numerous universities and museums in the field of painting and drawing, the cornerstone of her teaching philosophy is to convey a diversity of perspectives, perceptions, and views. Next to studio assignments, she works to expose students to as many diverse artists and different approaches to art as possible. And because every student has a different need and level of ability, she emphasizes that individual guidance is a very important part of her teaching approach.
As an introductory arts course, students at all levels of painting experience are welcome. Gied describes the students in her class, “It's a very mixed group. Some have no experience at all, others have done quite a bit of painting in high school and as a hobby or are interested in pursuing a creative field later. This brings a lot to the table where students can learn and be inspired by each other.”
“I really love teaching beginners who want to challenge themselves to see art in a new light—to leave behind preconceived notions and be open to what art can be,” she says. “This is the only requirement for me as a teacher, to have students who are motivated and open to try out new things and who want to engage in discussions about what art and an artist can be.”
For students who may want to pursue an arts course but don’t have much experience, Gied has some advice. An important factor for taking an art course, she says, is to be aware that painting and any art form requires time and patience. Understanding comes through experience and practice and, because there is a lot of manual work involved, she recommends students try to go to the studio as much as possible. In addition, understanding that art consists of accidents, coincidence, and mistakes are also experiences that she emphasizes for boosting creativity. Ultimately, Gied makes an effort for her courses to be structured in a way where everyone is able to learn the foundations and experience painting in a fun and enjoyable way.
For her students this semester, Gied says, “I would be happy if students could experience the magic of color and color mixing… I hope their view on art and art history will show them how to express themselves in different ways and support their self-development.”
Post Date: 03-27-2024