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Stella Maris - Star of the Sea
Faculty

Dr. (Ms.) Ashrafi S. Bhagat, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. (Head - PG)

Ms. Alamelu N., M.A., M.Phil.(Head - UG)

Ms. Margaret Thomas, M.A., M.Phil.

Ms. Sumithra Dawson, M.A., M.Phil.

Ms. Anne Samuel, M.A., M.Phil.

Ms. Lakshmi Priya S, M.A., M.Phil.

Dr. (Ms.) Razia Tony, M.A., Ph.D.

Ms. Mallika Madhavan, M.A., M.Phil.

Ms. Swapna Satish, M.A.

 

Stella Maris

Bioinformatics

Biotechnology

Chemistry

Commerce

Computer Science

Economics

English

History

History of Fine Arts, Drawing and Painting

International Studies

Languages

Mathematics

Physics

Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology

Psychology

Public Relations

Social Work

Sociology

Value Education

Zoology

Department of Fine Arts

Fine Arts

The Department of Fine Arts was established in 1948 by Dr. (Sr.) Edith Tömöry and Sr. Sylvestra. A course in Art History was first introduced at the pre-university level. The demand for a degree led eventually to the introduction of the undergraduate programme titled B.A degree in History of Fine Arts and Drawing and Painting. This was followed by the M.A degree in 1963. The department offers a research programme in M.Phil from 1986 and guidance for Ph.D. Besides these, Certificate courses with vocational relevance are also conducted.

Innovation has been the hallmark of the department. In keeping with changing times and with the desire to cater to societal needs, the curriculum has undergone appropriate and relevant modifications over the years.

The pioneering vision of Dr. (Sr.) Tömöry who sought to offer academic programmes in art has grown and blossomed over the years. This unique endeavour  has nurtured creativity in hundreds of young women from all over the country. The alumnae of the department have over the years found fulfilling careers as artists, art historians, critics, art dealers, art therapists, art educators, textile designers, graphic designers and animation artists within India and abroad.

LIBRARY

The library, which is the soul of any institution, provides fodder for intellectual growth. In this context the Fine Arts departmental library has a collection of over 4000 titles. The study of art necessarily requires consultation with tomes that are informative and expressive. Towards the fulfilment of this objective the library is well stocked with titles on diverse aspects of Art history, Art Theories, and design. In order to be aware of contemporary and current issues in the world of art and art education generally, the library also subscribes to various art journals and magazines. The department constantly updates the academic resources provided to faculty and students. The library is also open to research scholars and others on payment of an annual membership fee. Library timings are from 8.00 am to 3.30 pm. CAD facilities are available in the library

EXHIBITIONS

The nature of the Fine Arts programme that is structured to contain both the study of art history and studio based practicals, provides scope for students to collectively put together and organize their talents into an exhibition. The department therefore organizes annual art and design exhibitions by graduating students. The exhibitions encourage students to present their work with confidence for critical review by the public.

BA DEGREE

The three-year under graduate programme is comprehensive and attempts to provide a wide exposure to both Art History and Studio Practice. The courses in Art History spread over six semesters cover periods from the Ancient to the Modern in India and in the West. It is the historical and critical study of art in its various forms and like all other university subjects offers training not only for the mind but is also one of the small number of disciplines which attempts to understand the creative impulse.

The studio based practical courses are designed to equip students with skills in drawing, painting and design. Students also work on a project of their choice in the sixth semester.

The programme is as per the mandatory structure required of all B.A. degree programmes by the University of Madras. Students are required to take Foundation Courses in Language and English in the first four semesters.
Students need to earn a minimum of 104 credits, averaging 17 credits per semester to qualify for the Bachelors Degree.

 

MAJOR CORE

  • Contour Drawing
  • Buddhist Art
  • Classical and Medieval Art
  • Hindu and Jaina Art
  • Nineteenth Century Art in Europe
  • Twentieth Century Art in the West
  • Indo-Islamic Art
  • Modern Indian Art
  • Basic Painting
  • Life Drawing
  • Advanced Painting
  • Colour
  • Indian Folk Art Designs
  • Basic Typography
  • Typography and Design

Major Optional

  • Indian Miniatures
  • Mural Traditions in India
  • Creative Painting
  • Advanced Design
  • Advanced Life Drawing
  • Illustration Techniques

Allied Core

  • Renaissance and Baroque Art
  • Basic Drawing
  • Drawing and Rendering
  • Basic Design

Allied Optional

  • Textile Dyeing & Printing
  • Terra Cotta Art
  • Writing About Art
  • Art of the Ancient Civilisation

 

BVA DEGREE(4 years)

Choice -Based Credit System

Major Core

  • Contour Drawing
  • Ancient to Medieval Art in the West
  • Drawing and Rendering
  • Basic Design
  • Basic Painting
  • Indian Architecture and Sculpture - I
  • Advanced Drawing
  • Figure Drawing
  • Indian Architecture and Sculpture - II
  • Art in Europe (1400 - 1800 AD)
  • Nineteenth Century Art in Europe
  • Twentieth Century Art in the West
  • Mural and Miniature Traditions of India
  • Modern Indian Art
  • Indian Folk Art - Visual Traditons

Allied Core

  • Art Fundamentals
  • Colour
  • Digital Photography

Major Electives

  • Writing About Art
  • Art of Native Cultures
  • Terracotta Art
  • Paper Art

Specialisation

  • Portrait Studies
  • Drawing for Design
  • Still Life Painting
  • Illustration Techniques
  • Figure Composition
  • Textile Studies
  • Landscape Painting
  • Typography
  • Painting - I
  • Design for Art Sources
  • Painting - II
  • Process of Graphic Design Development
  • Creative Expressions - I
  • Structure and Surface Embellishment in Textiles
  • Portrait Painting
  • Graphic Design
  • Creative Expressions - II
  • Jewellery Design
  • Project - Painting
  • Project - Design

 

MA DEGREE

The two-year postgraduate programme aims to prepare students for the design industry. The intention is to offer a balance between traditional art and design skills, new technology and the creative development of original ideas. The M.A. program consists of Core Courses, Specialization and Inter-disciplinary courses. Specializations in Graphic Design and Textile Design are offered to prepare students for challenging and creative careers. Students need to earn a minimum of 72 credits, to qualify for the Masters Degree.

Students are required to put in a minimum of 75% attendance per course. Assessment of studio courses is continuous and is based on spaced out submissions of class and home assignments. Assessment of theory courses is based on both Continuous Assessment and Semester Examinations, with equal weightage (50%) given to each. Continuous Assessment will be carried out by the course teachers and students are expected to take all testing units that are administered to them which would comprise tests, seminars and assignments. There is no minimum mark for Continuous Assessment. Evaluation is in the form of a comprehensive end semester examination.

ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION

Applicants to the MA Programme should possess a bachelor's degree. An entrance test and interview will be conducted for selected candidates to assess their aptitude for art theory and practice

CURRICULUM

Major Core 

  • Modernism and Post Modernism in the West and in India (Theory)
  • Art Criticism (Theory)
  • Design History (Theory)
  • Drawing
  • Design Orientation
  • Photography

 Specialisation in Graphic Design or Textile Design

Textile Design

  • Textile Structure
  • Design and Layout
  • Print Design
  • Weave Design
  • Indian Textiles
  • Embroidery & Merchandising
  • Project
  • Project Documentation

Graphic Design

  • Typography
  • Illustration Techniques
  • Packaging Design
  • Publishing Design
  • Brand and Corporate Identity
  • Advertising
  • Project
  • Project Documentation

C. Inter disciplinary Courses

Students choose from a common pool of courses offered by all postgraduate courses

COURSE CONTENT

CORE COURSES

The core courses comprise both theory and studio practice. Art Criticism, largely a study of theoretical discourses covering both India and West, enables students to develop their conceptual and analytical faculties. The theory paper Modernism and Postmodernism in the West and in India exposes students to contemporary reality thus enhancing their awareness and knowledge and gives them a clear understanding of art practice. It directly becomes applicable to their specialization largely allowing their conceptual approaches to be meaningfully contextualized. Design History is of direct relevance to the specialisation courses.

The Drawing course in the first semester will provide students with basic skills to students who join the programme from other disciplines and simultaneously allow those with an art background to further develop representational skills. Design Orientation is a foundation course, which gives students a basic foundation in design prior to choosing their area of specialisation. Students are assessed in terms of aptitude for Graphic or Textile design. A counselling session towards the end of the semester enables students to choose from the two streams.

Observing the growth of digital imaging and media, and understanding that the links between photography and fine art have grown stronger, the curriculum is also structured to allow the students an exposure to Photography. This exposure enhances the application of photography, as a tool for recording, reporting and also as a means of expression.

SPECIALISATION COURSES

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Graphic designers are professional visual communicators mediating to strengthen and augment the written word to make abstract ideas more comprehensible. Graphic design is a challenge not only to communicate with people but also to effectively communicate and initiate a thought process that will educate, inform, identify and inspire.

The objectives of this programme are to

  • Offer an intensive experience in graphic design education and to provide the tools necessary to build on that experience
  • Prepare students creatively, intellectually and technically for professional positions as well as lifelong careers in a changing and increasingly competitive workplace, and
  • Help the student develop a marketable graphic design portfolio or prepare for further study.

This course is an idea-based discipline that concerns the creation of visual material and involves the union of text and image. The program makes an ongoing connection between traditional and emerging technologies of visual communication encompassing print media from corporate identity, packaging, publishing and advertising. The students thus gain a proficiency in traditional as well as computer skills while considering content, concept, time, space and place. The course introduces students to traditional art and design skills, and current technologies. The course initially stresses on typographic studies after which the student is encouraged to develop individual design skills and creative abilities. The student is also introduced to a wide range of contemporary software. Guided by a faculty of practicing professionals, students explore the many ways of thinking, researching and creating a range of design projects. They are also required to fulfil a mandatory internship during the final semester that places them in structured positions in industry related firms. Students are required to submit a portfolio at the end of each semester, which is substantiated by a written documentation. The programme concludes with a final project where students build on all earlier experiences. It will involve research and study, an application of design skills and a written and illustrated document of the process.

TEXTILE DESIGN

Offered against the backdrop of India's rich and varied tradition textile traditions, the Textile Design programme focuses on textile structure - particularly woven textiles - and on printed and embroidered embellishments.

The objectives of the programme are to

  • Offer a comprehensive grounding in design skills for woven, printed and embroidered textiles for various end uses.
  • Enable students to blend aesthetics and design proficiency with concept based client/market oriented design approaches.
  • Expose students to traditional design skills prevalent in Indian textile crafts while keeping pace with contemporary design solutions and market trends
  • Equip students with professional and vocational skills to prepare them for independent or industry based design careers.

The programme offers courses in Textile Structure, Design and Layout, Print Design, Weave Design, Indian Textiles and Embroidery and Merchandizing. The courses are structured into units that feature classroom inputs, workshops, educational visits and studio practice. Students have opportunities to liaison with practicing professionals and textile houses and to work on industry specified projects. The courses feature intensive practical exercises and projects with continuous evaluation methods that lay emphasis on originality and aesthetics. Students are required to put together a portfolio that reflects an original approach to design development through creative explorations of motifs, layouts and media. Students also create a collection of printed, woven and embroidered textiles – as fabrics, sample swatches and made ups- over the three semesters.

The program concludes with a final project and its documentation where students build on all earlier experiences and present a textile collection that is followed through from inception to implementation, evolving the necessary client identification, brand building and merchandising strategies.

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