Exhibition Review

The Exhibition Review assignment requires you to describe, analyze, interpret and evaluate ONE of the exhibitions visited during Le Mois de la Photo. (20%)

The review should include: 1) an introductory statement about the exhibition’s themes and concerns, followed by 2) a longer descriptive analysis of one or two of the works in the exhibition, 3) and a context for understanding the artist’s objectives (based on research into the artist’s work);  4) an evaluation of the work based on your analysis of thematic, formal and contextual aspects.  This is to say that the evaluation is not an evaluation of worth in terms of personal taste, but of the cultural value of the work as it addresses or responds to relevant social, cultural and historical concerns.

1) Begin by looking at the entire exhibition.  Consider the forms, subjects and specific contents of any and all elements. What sense do you make of each component of the work?

2) Read any literature that is available. Does this information provide a new and different point of access to the work? Return to see the work having read supplementary information. Does anything stand out?

3) At home, do some basic research about the situation addressed by the work.

4) When writing your review, begin with a basic description.  Take note of the words you use to describe the work and any thematic, formal or conceptual motifs that appear. You should see a pattern emerge in the description of the work that corresponds to the words and ideas present in the research you’ve done.  Your analysis is built of these observations and your interpretation indebted to them.

5) Your evaluation should follow from the analysis.  Although your opinions are important to the review, they should be grounded by evidence gathered from your visit and your research activities.