The Conceptual Framework

Question 1

What is the Conceptual Framework?

Answer 1

The conceptual framework proposes ways to understand and investigate relations between and amongst the agencies of the artist/artwork/world/audience. These functions or agencies need to be considered in conjunction with the structural, subjective, postmodern and cultural frames.

The Conceptual Framework comprises four agencies or functions: artist, artwork, world and audience. These are robust and elastic concepts which, in sum, can be taken as setting the boundaries to a working or functional concept of art. To speak or write about the visual arts is to engage with the artist, artworks, world and audience where each of these agencies has a function or duty to perform in relation to the other.

The sets of relationships are shared and generated by the frames. That is, the conceptual framework tells us how the frames work.

Question 2

What is the conceptual frame known as World?

Answer 2

Description and interpretation of aspects of the world

Representations of experience, class, ideology, age, events, technology

Question 3

What is the conceptual frame known as Artwork?

Answer 3

Material, physical, virtual objects
Art, craft, design
2D, 3D, 4D, time based works
Representations of ideas
Personal experience, cultural views, symbolic interpretations and challenges to other ideas

Question 4

What is the conceptual frame known as Audience?

Answer 4

The role and value of the audience as critical consumers, art critics, art historians, teachers, students, entrepreneurs, members of the public
Meanings differ now and over time
Patron, curator, gallery V’s Guild, Salon, Academy

Question 5

What is the conceptual frame known as Artist?

Answer 5

The role of the artist
Who, what, how, why
Artists, designers, craftspersons, architects, individuals, groups, movements