Outline

Overview

This unit will explore installation as a spatial practice within the expanded terrain of sculpture. You will examine installation as a hybrid form that negotiates and incorporates the boundaries of traditional art practices like painting, sculpture and video. The unit of study provides an overview of contemporary installation art practice and explores methods for producing work in a variety of media to activate and utilise space. Students explore innovative applications of conventional materials, found objects and time-based media such as video, sound and custom technologies in the development of their work. This unit engages with dedicated installations spaces and the adapting of environments and locations. The unit combines studio work, short presentations by the lecturer, student presentations and group discussion/critiques. In consultation with the lecturer, you will develop a studio work proposal and create a finished work.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Sydney College of the Arts
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000-level from CAVA or 12 credit points at 1000 level from CASF
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Vicky Browne, vicky.browne@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Portfolio or journal	Final Portfolio - PDF Submission PDF Portfolio Submission uploaded to Canvas. The submission must include 200 word artist statement, project journal work, project research, project production information and class work completed.	30%	Formal exam period Due date: 16 Nov 2026 at 23:59	2000	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback task Quiz on Canvas	0%	Week 03	10 Multiple choice questions	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	exercise archive and project proposal exercise archive and project proposal	30%	Week 06 Due date: 11 Sep 2026 at 23:59	1000 words equivalent	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Q&A following presentation, submission or placement	Final Project in class Q&A In class Q&A oral presentation of original installation artwork. Students must not read from any electronic devices during the Q&A presentation.	40%	Week 13 Due date: 02 Nov 2026 at 09:00 Closing date: 06 Nov 2026	5 min Q & A oral presentation	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Assessment 1 (30%): Exercise Archive and Project Proposal

This in-class presentation consists of five components:

Components 1鈥�4:
Present documentation of the exercises completed in Weeks 2 and 3, together with two additional transient installation interventions developed in response to class discussions, tutorials, and feedback. These works should demonstrate the development of your ideas and be informed by the unit readings, class activities, and your own independent research.

Component 5:
Present a proposal outlining the concept, approach, and methodology for your final project. This proposal should clearly explain your intended direction, research, materials, methods, and installation strategy.

Your presentation should be prepared as a PowerPoint, PDF, or a clearly organised sequence of easily navigable images. It must be ready to present at the beginning of class in Week 6.

Assessment 2 (70%): Final Studio Project

Assessment 2 consists of two parts:

Part 1: In-class Secure Q&A Presentation (40%)
Part 2: Final Project PDF Upload (30%)

Project Description

Develop a project comprising three original installation components, one of which must incorporate video or sound. Each component should occupy a separate location and together form a coherent installation that suggests a narrative, proposition, or conceptual relationship (this will be discussed further in class).

Consider how each site contributes meaning to the work. The relationship between object and site may draw upon historical, social, architectural, material, or associative qualities, or deliberately disrupt or challenge the site's existing meanings. The three installations should function as a coherent body of work when experienced sequentially.

You are encouraged to consider questions such as:

What histories or associations does the site carry?
What atmosphere or qualities does the site evoke?
How might your intervention reinforce, interrupt, or transform these meanings?

Please note: No vandalism or permanent alteration of any property, including University property, is permitted.

Presentation: In-class 5-minute Secure Q&A

You will present your project in class during Week 13. The Secure Q&A is a compulsory component of the assessment. If you are unable to attend due to documented illness or misadventure, you must apply for Special Consideration and contact your tutor immediately to arrange an alternative presentation.

The presentation is conducted live in class. Presentation slides, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and other electronic devices are not permitted. Students may bring brief cue cards to support their presentation; however, these should be used as prompts only and not as a script. Students are expected to answer questions about their final installation project, including its conceptual development, research, materials, technical processes, installation methodology, and relationship to site.

Following the Week 13 presentation, you will have the opportunity to refine your project in response to feedback before submitting the final Project PDF in Week 15 during the formal examination period. Feedback for this assessment is provided verbally during the Secure Q&A and through a comprehensive written rubric.

Part 2: Final Project PDF Upload

The final Project PDF should document and contextualise your project. Full submission requirements will be discussed in class and provided on Canvas. The PDF is due in Week 15 during the formal examination period.

Assessment criteria

Assessment Criteria

This unit uses standards-based assessment for award of assessment marks. Your assessments will be evaluated solely on the basis of your individual performance

Conceptual sophistication

Willingness to work with a variety of materials and approaches

Ability to relate work to others in an historical context

Capacity for artistic research (written and visual) and translation of this knowledge into independent and original outcomes

A consistent and diligent attitude to studio practice

The ability to take feedback in an open, patient and reflective way

Interest and capacity to experiment and to work outside of comfort zones

Demonstrated interest and ability to build on critical reflection on established outcomes

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the聽Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the聽Current Students website聽for more information on AI in assessments, including聽details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The same penalties apply according to Faculty policy. Late submission must be accompanied with relevant documentation.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website聽provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the聽Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM)聽which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the聽Current Students website聽for more information on AI in assessments, including聽details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a聽simple extension.鈥� The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can鈥檛 complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for聽special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students,聽聽includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy聽reflects the University鈥檚 commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to Unit: Class topic and exercise: What is Installation Art?	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Class Topic and Exercise: Spatial Interventions	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Class Topic and Exercise: Imagined and Hypothetical Space	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Class Topic and Exercise: site, object, archive	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Class Topic and Exercise : Sound and Space + Preparation for Presentations	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Presentations	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Class Topic and Exercise: Site Specificity	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Class Topic and Exercise: Un-Installation	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Class Topic and Exercise: Documentation	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Project Research, Development and Consultation	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Project Research, Development and Consultation	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Project Presentation	Tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Additional requirements from Sydney College of the Arts

Students must attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for this unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Unit Coordinator.
All assignments are compulsory and must be attempted.聽
You must attend scheduled assessments to be eligible to pass.聽Non-attendance at assessment on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment.聽

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Access through Canvas:

Adam Geczy and Benjamin Genocchio, 'Introduction', in Geczy and Genocchio eds.,聽What is Installation? A Collection of Essays on Australian Installation Art, Sydney: Power Publications, 2001

Brian O'Doherty, 'Context as Content', Chapter 3 of聽Inside the White Cube, Santa Monica and San Fencisco (1976), 1986

Robert Smithson, 'A Sedimentation of the Mind: Earth Projects', in聽Harrison and Wood eds.,聽Art in Theory 1900-1990

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Interpret and reflect on the nature of sculpture, space and installation practice in relation to historical antecedents
LO2. Experiment with objects and materials in relation to site and space
LO3. Distinguish between different approaches and/or solutions relative to sculpture, site and space
LO4. Verbally critique, evaluate and analyse studio outcomes of our own and those of your peers
LO5. Formulate imaginative and informed artistic outcomes in relation to site and space
LO6. Relate studio outcomes in relation to the field of knowledge, self and broader socio-political contexts

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all 爆料王 graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one鈥檚 personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The assessment descriptions have been revised to improve clarity, consistency and accessibility. The assignment instructions have been rewritten using clearer language to help students better understand the assessment tasks, requirements and expectations, reducing ambiguity and supporting successful completion of the assignments.

Additional information

For Student Support Services: /study/student-life/student-support.html聽

Additional costs

Students will be provided with basic class materials however students are required to supply materials for assessment projects

Work, health and safety

Students are required to wear closed-toe shoes and adhere to SCA WHS standards.

Disclaimer

Important: the 爆料王 regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an .

CAEL2093: Sculpture: Installation and Space

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney