About Graphic Art department
It has frequently been said, in our country in particular, that graphic art is a very traditional branch of fine arts. Most probably it is the reason why this area of studies is chosen by presumably more modest personalities. This statement would have been right a few decades ago. However, now it would be very complicated even to define the concept of graphics; perhaps it would be easier to define the nature of studies in the graphics department. As these concepts cannot be taken apart, defining one we inevitably define another as well. Therefore, the studies in graphics department could be described in few words as follows: it is consistently becoming acquainted with graphics and the integrity of all contemporary art through a lot of the elements that are, in a way, related, sometimes seemingly not much, with graphics. Artists having extensive and diverse creative experience are currently working in the department of graphics. Undoubtedly, the experience they have is rather different. Thus, the students studying in the department almost always find a lecturer, whose experience of solving problems related to printmaking, book, graphic design and contemporary art, corresponds to their perception the best. This perception, in turn, should permanently change, as a gifted student of graphics department should not limit himself to what he has learnt so far, but constantly feel anxious about things that he has not thought about and has not tried or experienced. Here are the lectures to help him and a wide range of programme choices offered by the department of graphics. However, constantly growing links between different arts, have been pushing self-image of graphics (and other areas as well) beyond its traditional expression boundaries. Thus, the boundaries defining the purity of graphics are ever changing. Art is perceived without any classification, belonging to any workshop, as knowledge in a particular, in the context of the world, probably very narrow field and is treated not as unnecessary, but simply as artificially separating from much more efficient expression mediums. It is worth mentioning, that this new language encompasses almost all modified features of many traditional, including graphics expression mediums. The most important is that this new expression thinks and reflects itself; more reflects than thinks, as it is still wondering at its new opportunities. In this medium it is inevitable to return to the purity of graphics. Print making, book, graphic design, as subjects, defined their identity in the general context of visual and applied arts much time ago and still keep on expanding the boundaries. Taking into consideration constantly developing print and image creation technologies, it sounds obvious, that it is vital to become a graphics professional. Additionally to the above mentioned abstract thinking about graphics, it is necessary to mention, that some branches of graphics are simply imprinted in our everyday life. And the structure of the young minds is characterized by permanent efforts to radically change their, let it be even abstract, environment. The most gifted students create works that still expand, as it has already been mentioned, an existing broad definition of graphics; just diligent students gain particular experience and knowledge that could later be applied practically in various areas. Thus, studying in graphics department there is an opportunity not only to print a work of art, but to make a print into you, meaning, that ‘The Gutenberg Galaxy’ still rotates.