Structural Lens

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Students consider the following questions when applying the Structural Lens:

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• How has the artist applied the art elements of colour, line, shape, form, texture, tone, light, sound and time, and the art principles of emphasis (focal point), movement, rhythm, unity, variety, repetition (including pattern), balance, contrast, proportion, space and scale? What effect has the use of art elements and principles had on the artwork?

• How do the art elements and art principles contribute to the meanings and messages of the artwork for different audiences in different contexts?

• What materials, techniques and processes have been used? How is the interpretation of the artwork shaped by the materials and the techniques or processes used by the artist? Is the interpretation informed by the inherent qualities of the materials or by their selection and application by the artist?

• Are 21st-century media and technologies or approaches to making and presenting works of art evident in the artwork? How is the interpretation of the artwork shaped by the artist’s use of these?

• What is the distinctive style of the artwork and how does it contribute to the meaning of the artwork? How does the artwork relate to other artworks in a similar style or from the same philosophical, ideological, social, historical or cultural context?

• What physical aspects of the artwork, such as the context of where the artwork is presented, its presentation with other artworks and characteristics such as framing, display on plinths or printing of artworks, contain or suggest symbolic meaning?

• How might the artwork be interpreted in different contexts by different audiences?

• Does the placement or location of the artwork in a setting other than the intended setting impact on its aesthetic, cultural or economic value? Does the placement or location of the artwork impact on the communication of meaning? How does the context of where the artwork is presented communicate the beliefs of the artist, audience, culture, time or place in which was made and viewed?

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Personal Lens

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Students consider the following questions when applying the Personal Lens:

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• What relationship does the artwork have to the artist’s life and experiences? What visual evidence in the artwork supports this reading?

• Has the artist used a specific practice in creating the artwork that may reflect their personal ideas, beliefs, values and experiences?

• What is the artist’s world view? How might the artwork be linked to people, places and experiences of personal significance to the artist, such as the artist’s personal feelings, thinking, aspirations, beliefs, desires or preoccupations; or to memories, dreams or a personal world of fantasy? How are these represented in artworks?

• What ethical ideas and issues are important to the artist? How have they considered or referenced these in the artwork? How are these ideas and issues represented?

• What 21st-century art ideas and issues are important to the artist? How have they considered or referenced these in the artwork? How are these ideas and issues represented?

• Has the artist collaborated with others in the creation or presentation of the artwork? Does this affect your interpretation of the artwork?

• What personal symbols or metaphors are explored or represented in the artwork that contribute to the meanings and messages?

• How does the life experience and background of the audience affect the interpretation of the artwork?

• What current art ideas and issues important to you as the audience are evident in the artwork? How do these influence your interpretation of the meaning and messages of the artwork?

• Is collaboration or participation of the audience encouraged and if so, how does this affect their interpretation of the artwork?

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Cultural Lens

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Students consider the following questions when applying the Cultural Lens:

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• How do the social, historical, political, philosophical, cultural, economic, artistic and / or religious contexts of the artwork contribute to the meaning and messages of it?

• How have historical or contemporary events shaped the intention of the artist or our understanding of the meaning and messages of the artwork?

• How are social values, beliefs and attitudes existing at the time the artwork was produced reflected in the work? How do these values, beliefs and attitudes compare to the values of today?

• How does the cultural background of the audience influence the interpretation of an artwork?

• How does the context of where the artwork was made and exhibited affect the interpretation of it?

• What cultural symbols or metaphors explored or utilised in the artwork contribute to the meanings and messages?

• How was the artwork reviewed or critiqued during the time in which it was made or since the work was made? Was the work considered challenging or innovative?

• Is the artwork presented in a different location to where the artist intended the artwork to be exhibited and, if so, how does this influence the interpretation of the artwork for the audience?

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(Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, n.d.)