Shuangyong Elementary School, Taipei City—Public Art Action and Production I
This course belongs to the "Art Activists" series of school-mandated curricula at Shuangyong Elementary School. It responds to the historical context of school mergers and campus reconstruction, using public art as a learning space for students to participate in campus public issues. The "Art Activists" curriculum emphasizes that art is not only a personal creative expression, but also a process of responding to public issues and participating in social practice. Through art learning, students understand their own environment and systems, cultivating the ability to intervene in public spaces with art, respond to the needs of others, and propose action plans.
Within the overall curriculum framework, students use systems thinking to understand the relationship between campus space, users, and cultural context. Through a design thinking process, from observation and empathy to problem definition and creative brainstorming, they gradually build an understanding of public issues. The course also integrates collaborative creation and digital tools, guiding students to develop ideas through discussion, revision, and cooperation. In the practical process, they confront limitations, attempt to solve problems, and experience the practical significance of art as public action. Ultimately, students connect their art learning to social practice, understanding the public nature and responsibility of public art.
Under the spirit of this course, this course focuses on "Public Art Action and Production," serving as an important stage in the Art Activist course that moves from "proposal to practice." Building upon the learning outcomes of the previous stage's public art proposals, students further reflect on the public nature, material characteristics, and production methods of public art works on campus. Guided by collaborative preparation with artists and on-campus teaching, they explore media, experiment with forms, and create models.
A key objective of this course is to provide students with hands-on experience of the process of public art development, from conceptualization to concrete creation. Students not only practice transforming abstract ideas into tangible forms that can be discussed and examined, but also learn to evaluate the relationship between the artwork and its environment, the suitability of materials, and the necessity of teamwork during the creation process. Through learning about public art action and creation, students deepen their understanding of the spirit of public art practice and cultivate the ability to respond to public spaces and societal needs with art, gradually shaping their learning experience as "art activists."
