Department of Painting, Graphic Arts Course

Traversing Boundaries of Art and Design to Explore the New Era of Print Media (Printmaking and Photography)

Printmaking laid the foundation for the technology of information reproduction and distribution that underpins the information society. From intaglio printing and lithography, which began with Western printing technology, to woodblock printing, exemplified by Japanese ukiyo-e prints, printmaking has evolved as a form of artistic expression in the age of mechanical reproduction in both the East and the West. In today's digital age, photography and digital printing are regarded as a part of printmaking. Furthermore, the historical relationship between printmaking and design in print media expressions is also being re-evaluated. The Graphic Arts Course has expanded the concept of "printmaking" to encompass the new era of print media and thus revamped its curriculum in 2018. Building on the traditional to the cutting-edge, we explore the contemporary possibilities of today's print media and cultivate individuals with unique perspectives that traverse boundaries of art and design.

Curriculum

The Graphic Arts Course at Tama Art University offers three areas of study. The first is "the study of traditional printmaking approaches", such as woodblock and intaglio printing. The second is "the study of cutting-edge expression", which includes photography, digital printing, and expanded approaches (mixed media, installation) developed from printmaking. The third is "the study of development for design", which covers art books, graphic design, and illustration. This curriculum allows students to explore the potential of print media, particularly in printmaking and photography, across a wide range of traditional and cutting-edge techniques, as well as in the fields of both art and design.

In the first and second years, students experience the fundamentals of printmaking and photography while learning approaches and ideas from various artistic expressions such as painting, sculpture, and contemporary art. This allows them to explore the possibilities of print media in art while developing their own unique approach. In the third year, students acquire more specialized techniques and knowledge, discovering and developing their own themes of expression beyond the boundaries of art and design. In the fourth year, taking into account art history and social and cultural contexts, students create a culmination of their four years of study.

Prospects after graduation

Graduates are employed by companies or work as freelancers in a variety of fields, using the broad knowledge and skills in art and design acquired in our Graphic Arts Course. In the fine arts, they work as painters, printmakers, photographers, and book artists. In the design field, they pursue careers as graphic designers, illustrators, game designers, and character designers. In the education field, they become teachers in junior and senior high schools, vocational schools, and universities.