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MFA Painting
You wish to gain more insight into the innovative quality of painting in a rapidly changing world. Aware of the force of physicality and materiality of art works, you take a painterly approach as you conduct your experimental research into the functioning of perception psychology, cognition and imagination. A painting shows you the imagination of ideas as well as how the material is edited and used. Taking a painterly and critical approach means that you create new relationships and associations through the use of materiality. In this way, you determine the meaning and significance of your work in today's society by combining ideation and materiality; transforming your ideas in unexpected, meaningful and powerful images.
Past, present and future
Painting has been re-invented all over the world: due to political changes, the digitisation of society, the need for a postcolonial perspective and nowadays - because of a runaway art market. That's the reason why at MFA Painting, apart from the importance of materiality and ideation, we keep on searching for the dialogue between different viewpoints from the past, present and future: between perception and cognition, image and language, stable and unstable media, old and new technology, and in a broader sense, between art and science as well as local and global forms of society. In doing so, we collectively explore charted and uncharted territory, sharing our views and ideas, working in groups and learning from each other. At the same time you will follow your own path, improving your knowledge and skills, learning to reflect critically on your own position, role and work as well as on the world around you.
Hybrid practice
Participants of our programme stem from different practices, for instance art and design, but all share a fascination for painting. The combination of these disciplines enables you to develop your artistic vision, working in a hybrid practice as a critical and engaged artist. As your art engages with the world, you will grow as an individual as well as in your artistic profession, reinforcing the power of your imagination and exploring your own connection to a transforming, technologically charged society.
What matters
To be admitted to this master, we expect you to show us what you want to get out of this programme. We therefore ask you to submit a broad outline of the artistic research that matters to you. What is it that fascinates you about painting? What kind of research would you like to carry out, what is progress that you want to make? During the admissions procedure you will discuss your ideas with us. Once admitted, your ideas will form the start of the next two years.
The Frank Mohr Institute is named after Mr A. Frank Mohr (1931-1998), cultural advisor to the city and province of Groningen and chairman of the advisory boards of Minerva Art Academy and the Prince Claus Conservatoire. He was a fervent advocate of independence and innovation in art education in the North Netherlands.
First year: exploring possibilities
The first year of this master programme is mostly about exploring your chosen field. You will carry out your own research and studio work in our Hybrid Arts Lab. We will challenge you to explore how you can innovate and renew the art of painting, looking beyond the boundaries of a traditional approach and carrying out research into new, artistic possibilities. At the same time you will reflect critically on your own work and your artistic practice. You will find out how painting and other media, technology and disciplines are intertwined, to experience how you can benefit from these innovations in your own artistic practice. This will allow you to improve your knowledge and skills, get to know the international art practice, create new concepts and to discover the possibilities of artistic research.
First year highlights
- Working in your studio on your own development.
- Research & Media Theory: following theory and research courses about the relationship between visual perception psychology and media theory and between perception and cognition, current developments in media theory and links between the arts, visual communication and visual culture.
- Attending a series of lectures on relevant subjects at the University of Groningen, like history of art, psychology of art and art philosophy.
- Collaborating in a shared research course on 'Research & Development/New Media Art Practices with master students from the University of Groningen.
- Regular sessions where you and your fellow students present and discuss the results of experiments, workshops, research projects and your own progress; to each other, to experts and to the public.
- Individual or collective visits to relevant institutions, festivals and research centres.
Preparing for the second year
During your first year you will gradually focus on what you really want to concentrate on in your second year, gathering ideas, improving your skills and gaining new knowledge to prepare for your practical research. This way you can develop and refine your research plan, which you will carry out in your second year, and which will form the basis of your master thesis. At the end of your first year an assessment of your work will determine whether you are ready to enter the second year.
Second year: realising your artistic goals
At the start of your second year, you will begin to work on your graduation project. Most of your time will be devoted to working on this project. There will still be classes, although less than in the first year. Supervisors will advise and guide you and encourage your progress. Your goal is to realise your research project and write your master thesis. There will be plenty of opportunities throughout the year to share what you have learned and experienced with others during sessions, discussions and presentations. Depending on what you need, we will ask guest lecturers to contribute to the supervision of your research project. During a series of public dialogues, second year students will also discuss their work with guest lecturers and others, helping you to improve your work and take it to the next level.
Applying for prestigious awards
In addition, as a second year master student you can apply for special awards for excellent students of fine arts, for instance the 'George Verberg Grant', an annual, prestigious award of 10,000. This award enables the winner to spend a year in one of the Baltic States, Germany, Poland or Scandinavia in order to work there as an artist.
Second year highlights
- Working in your studio, individually or in collaboration with others, focusing on your work and research.
- Attending a series of lectures on relevant subjects at the University of Groningen, like history of art, psychology of art and art philosophy.
- Studying independently, supervised by your lecturers.
- Joining projects, collaborating with the Centre of Applied Research and other Hanze
partners. - Visiting international exhibitions, biennials and triennials and an intensive study trip to New York.
- Regular sessions, where you and your fellow students present and discuss the results of experiments, workshops, research projects and your own work relating to your final project.
- Presenting and discussing your work at public occasions, exhibitions and public lectures.
Graduation work and master thesis
Towards the end of your second year you will create your graduation work and write a master thesis, showing your analytical skills, critical view and ability to reflect on your own work, as well as illustrating your research abilities. With this thesis you will also show us your future place in the world of art. You will present your artistic work and your master thesis at your public graduation. Upon your graduation you will be awarded the degree of Master of Fine Arts.
Work & Practice
Work and practice
To help you to reinforce your artistic profession you will visit relevant institutions, centres of expertise and art fairs. This way you will meet a broad range of people from the professional field so that you can build your own network of useful and inspirational contacts. In addition, you will work within an open, cross-media network of artists, technologists and scientists to develop your entrepreneurial attitude, realise your ideas, sharpen your vision and share your questions and solutions. What is just as important, is your artist attitude. We expect you to think and act like an investigative artist in an international practice, bringing together different perspectives in exciting work and projects. As such, we will help you to master these organisational skills, to raise funds, organise support and promote projects to the public.
Partners in art
To allow you to meet the right people and work with the technology you need for your projects, we have strong ties to a number of institutions and organisations. Like our Art & Society Research Centre, which covers the practice based research of the Minerva Art Academy and consists of three research groups: Lifelong Learning in Music, Image in Context and Popular Culture, and Sustainability & Innovation. Through these partners you will be able to get in touch with researchers of the University of Groningen.
Working with the University of Groningen
We also work closely with the University of Groningen, where you can attend lectures. Furthermore, we have contacts with different university researchers working at an expert level, for instance in the field of cultural geography. Depending on the nature of your artistic project, we will also help you to meet new partners. In addition, we organise international trips and visits to relevant biennials and triennials, cultural institutions and exhibitions in order to broaden your perspective. This includes a trip to New York in your second year.
Experimental art spaces
As a master student you can take part in exhibitions and projects of several of our partners. We collaborate with NP3 for instance, one of the experimental art spaces in Groningen for projects and exhibitions, with three totally different locations. We also work with Sign, a gallery that focuses on interdisciplinary, experimental and contemporary art, with the Visual Arts Centre in Groningen, Assen and Emmen and with the PeerGrouP in Donderen. Another partner is the Institute for the Unstable Media in Rotterdam.
Room for debate around art
During this master programme we encourage you to show your work and present your findings in a public debate. This allows you to enter into a dialogue with society concerning your artistic position; transforming the way people experience art, shaking them up, responding to their reactions and allowing others to influence your view of art. It is therefore not only the final result of your work that counts, but the process you go through to get there.
To show the world what you are doing, you are invited to join projects and take part in national and international projects and exhibitions. In the past our students have taken part in our own Energize Festival and the International Student Triennial Istanbul, for instance. We also participate in exhibitions and projects with Forum Images and other cultural institutions. During our Open Days Show you can show your work and get the possibility to work with a professional curator.
Other collaborations Frank Mohr Institute:
- University of Gießen (Germany)
- Edith-Russ-Haus für Medienkunst in Oldenburg (Germany)
- Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul (Turkey)
- The Rekencentrum, Groningen
- Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen
- Art History
- Art, Culture and Media - High Performance Computing & Visualisation (HPC & V) and the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) lab, part of the Institute for Movement Sciences. Both belong to the University of Groningen
- The CAVE, part of Hanze University's Computer Centre, Groningen
- Culturele Activiteiten voor Studenten (CAST), Groningen, part of Hanze University Groningen of Applied Sciences
- Hanze Institute for Sensor Technology (HIT), Assen, part of Hanze University Groningen of Applied Sciences
- Sign, Groningen
- NP3, Groningen
- STEIM, Amsterdam
- V2, Rotterdam
- Groninger Forum, Groningen
- PlanetArt, Enschede and Amsterdam
- Grand Theatre, Groningen
- The Noord Nederlandse Dans, Groningen
- Noord Nederlands Toneel, Groningen
- The Citadel, Groningen
- The Oerol Festival, Terschelling
- Tryater, Leeuwarden
- the Peer Group, Donderen
- Stedelijk Museum Assen voor Hedendaagse Kunst, Assen
- Groninger Museum, Groningen
- Centrum voor Beeldende Kunst, Groningen
Lecturers
Tutors
- Ton Mars
- Margo Slomp (theory)
Semester tutor Spring semester 2013-2014
- Wjm Kok
Semester tutors 2007-2014
- Eric Jan van de Geer
- Anne Jaap de Rapper
- Sara van der Heide
- Nanda Janssen
- Klaas Kloosterboer
- Eelco van der Lingen
- Ronald Ophuis
- Roland Schimmel
- Berend Strik
- Guido Vlottes
- Barbara Wijnveld
- Ingrid Commandeur
- Kie Ellens
- Martin van Vreden
Guest tutors / workshops 2007-2014
- Frank van den Broeck
- Aquil Copier
- Gijs Frieling
- Bert Frings
- Eric Jan van de Geer
- Mariska de Groot
- Katalin Herzog
- Liet Heringa and Maarten van Kalsbeek
- Aukje Koks
- Danielle Kwaaitaal
- Sjaak Langenberg
- Jos van Merendonk
- Erik Odijk
- Jacco Olivier
- Libia Castro & Ólafur Ólafsson
- Charlotte Schleiffert
- Janwillem Schrofer
- Elly Strik
- Esther Tielemans
- Guido Vlottes
- Rob Voerman
- Anne Wenzel
- Tiong Ang
- Roel Arkesteijn
- Ingrid Commandeur
- Mariette Dolle
- Kie Ellens
- B.C. Epker
- Denise Green
- Colin Huizing
- David Jablonowski
- Natasja Kensmil
- Sanja Medic
- Aji Valliathu Narayanan
- Mechtild Prins
- Frank Reijnders
- Arno van Roosmalen
- Wilma Sütö
- Leif Trenkler
- Tim Voss
- Rob van der Werf
Accreditation
The programme is formally accredited by the Dutch government (NVAO).
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