Practicum Artium exhibition Be-Longing Together

A cinematic lens holds the potential not only to understand but transform the world around us. Yet the journey through attunement to new, more inclusive ways of seeing and inter-relating is never complete. How then might new generations complicate the process of film-making and thus the viewing experience to render objectification by the viewer no longer an option? In what kind of narrative or temporal structures both unsparing and irreverent is every body and every place in some way heard and acknowledged in their fullness and their fragmentation?

Accessing new perspectives and new ways of making films in a postcolonial, post-communist landscape is no linear path. The ethics of attunement, processes of deep listening and sonic tracing are thus explored as an integral and inclusive part of any contemporary cinematic research process, be they fiction, non-fiction, hybrid or installation in form. In-class screenings and discussions expose students to a variety of historical and contemporary cinematic languages: the montage or action-based style of Hollywood cinema, the cinema of exhaustion as developed by post-war European and contemporary world cinema and a range of documentary and hybrid film forms.

In-class exercises include writing prompts that access the volatile and ambiguous potential of memory and familial lore as a way to inform and position cinematic research. Weekly assignments offer students the platform to experiment with non-human perspectives and place-based stories. The difference between collaborating with performers and non-performers is mined. Students are encouraged to think and work spatially or in depth, shaping visual languages around the fields of the frame (moving between foreground, middle ground, background and what lies beyond the frame) in lieu of traditional screenplay format. In this way students move toward cinema forms that are accessible and that transcend pre-conceived textual bias and the closed or binary moral sets of classical storytelling.

The goal of the course is for students to learn and re-learn that narrative or temporal forms, as related to the moving image, are personal, malleable, collaborative and hold the potential for discovery and transformation.

PA Film in Practice participants 2023-2024

Liz Salomé Bennett
Arne Wolfgang Borchhardt
Beatrice Dell'Orso
Anna Diesing
Lisa Huang
Julia Matheijsen
Julia Meijer
August Sundgaard
Mihaela-Ștefania Turchină
Tabea Werhahn
Borja Sanchez de Prado
Maya Curé
Daria Georgescu

Drawing Dimensions is a drawing programme, in which students draw after different forms of observation: looking, touching and tracing.

For this they experimented with both conventional and unconventional drawing methods, materials and techniques. Next to the drawing assignments and classes -given by the tutor- the students presented short ‘tea teachings’ to each other to share their personal and academic knowledge and experiences. Slowly, throughout the year students explored new perspectives in drawing to bring more of their personal world into their works and to find ways to shape and communicate their position towards specific subjects. With feedback exercises, collaborative experiments and exhibition visits we broadened the understanding of the medium of Drawing. Finally their projects include family portraits and a zine, an exploration of friendship, the relation to the digital world, tracing the journey of found wooden blocks and an animation.

PA Drawing Dimensions participants 2023-2024

Eszter Balassa
Tatiana Charushnikova
Eliška Doranova
Alice Kaye
Chiara Koop
Mirjam Noteborn
Meira Marikki Orrela
Celine Perdok
Maria Magdalena Pilarczyk
Élisa Maria Gabrielle Richard
Elza Nellie Thio
Ruqaya Zaki

The exhibition showcases the individual painting projects created by the students at the end of the course. These projects demonstrate the individual journeys and artistic expressions that

each student undertook, exploring personal themes closely related to their primary studies at Leiden University. The diversity among the works is striking, reflecting a wide range of topics, styles, and techniques.

One notable aspect of the exhibition is the very personal nature of some of the themes depicted in the paintings. At the same time, these themes resonate on a universal level, inviting viewers to connect with the artwork on a deeper emotional and intellectual plane. The subjects explored in the exhibition are both broad and poignant, encompassing topics like vulnerability, insecurity, safety, equality, health, religion, power, home, and animal rights. This rich tapestry of themes creates a multi-faceted snapshot of contemporary society.

The technical skills the students acquired during the course play a crucial role in bringing these themes to life. Techniques such as the use of colour, composition, depth, shape, brushstroke, style, concept- and idea development are all on full display. The exhibition is a testament to the students' ability to transform learning into art.

Each painting not only reflects the artist's individual perspective but also acts as a mirror, reflecting broader societal issues and concerns. This convergence of personal and universal elements creates a thought-provoking experience for viewers, encouraging them to contemplate the complexities of the world through the lens of art. Ultimately, the exhibition serves as a powerful showcase of the creative potential and social awareness of this generation of students.

PA Painting in Practice & Context: crafting meaning with colour participants 2023-2024

Maureen Foley
Annabelle Hinz
Enid Liduina Holweg
Caroline Lierop
Louise Mooshammer
Lotte Sprock
Eva Ulmann
RosellaTwisk
Kathleen Wijaya
Marloes Arendts
Susanne Epema

Visual Conversations is an introduction to the medium of photography which centers on research into the expression and possibilities of photography. The aim is to discover how photography plays a role in society, how the perception of images works and how people

interpret images. Students develop a criticality towards interpreting and creating images, and learn how to use this knowledge to communicate their own ideas to the viewer through the use of photography.

This year, I observed a notable trend among students: they gravitated towards projects that resonated deeply with their personal experiences. During a time of global unrest connecting with loved ones is ever more important, and this sentiment is reflected in their creative endeavors. With some students drawing inspiration from their places of origin, others exploring the dynamics of family bonds, a few immersing themselves in the historical narratives of their own living spaces, as well as reflecting on what it means to be uprooted.

In terms of style, students adopted diverse methodologies, ranging from documentary-style approaches to cinematic and studio photography techniques.

During the zine assignment, writing, drawing, the use of found footage and the utilization of the Riso printer were added to their creative ‘toolbox’ as photographers, enabling them to more effectively visualize their concepts.

I found the atmosphere among this year's class very supportive, with students generously offering constructive criticism and guidance to one another. Teaching this class the fundamentals of photography and exploring its possibilities was a wonderful experience.

This year’s students have shown an unwavering commitment to expressing themselves creatively, and I am proud of the many ways they have found to do so.

PA Photography participants 2023-2024

Pari Barzanji
Liliana Gaddi
Esther Gosse De Gorre
Imme Gramsbergen
Julia Hecker
Kasimir Klitzing
Julia Klyta
Anne Koetsveld (first semester)
Zuzana Líšková
Valentina Petrucci (first semester)
Jasmin Maria Claudia Scholz
Peppi Tenkanen
Lily Von Stackelberg