MākZ2050

Drawing

3

Standing nude figure. Composition. Understanding the proportions of the figure. Dimensional drawing. Pencil, A2 paper.

Practical and individual work

Assessment show

MākZ2050

Sketching

There are no separate credits for sketching; students are marked for the Drawing course

Sketching the human figure for 5, 10, 15 minutes.
Objective: the act of drawing using various materials (charcoal pencil, pencil, felt-tip pen, sepia, acrylic, ink, etc.), developing visual perception, transferring it to the sketch.
Results to be achieved: a developed ability to understand proportion and to create individual handwriting in drawing using a variety of materials, taking a step back from the classical academic drawing.

Individual work

Assessment show

An individual class without a lecturer

MākZ1687

Art History of Latvia

6

The course is taught to Erasmus+ students, and its purpose is to give an insight into and a general idea of the development of Latvian art history in a cultural and historical context. Alongside art history, the course provides basic knowledge of Latvian history, ethnography, and architectural history. The lecture course chronologically covers the period from prehistory to the 20th century. Visits to exhibitions and museums are organized as part of the course to broaden and improve students' knowledge and to promote connection with contemporary cultural progress.

Lecture, visits to exhibitions and cultural sites

Written course paper

Ieva Rosne

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1686

Theory of Contemporary Art

3

The academic course deals with all the significant events in recent art history, starting from the international conceptual tendencies in the 60s, like land art, minimalism, Art Povera, Nouveaux Réalisme, Fluxus, and others, the postmodern narratives in the 80s and the 90s. The final part will be dedicated to the actual debates in the global contemporary art scene. Each lecture will be accompanied by rich visual materials, including films originating from museums. After finishing the course, the students will be able to recognize the most prominent personalities and their most iconic artworks.

Lecture, visits to exhibitions and cultural sites

Presentation

Raimonds Kalējs

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1677

Anatomy

1,5

Digitalized and interactive anatomy for art and design students to improve their drawing, painting, and sketching skills in anatomy. Based on Anatomy Next — anatomy learning tools for students and teachers. Anatomy Next is a very successful, world-known educational technology start-up to help students learn anatomy faster and more efficiently.

Lecture

Test

Uldis Zariņš

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1376

Art Pedagogy in a Cultural Environment

3

The course prepares students to conduct practical visual arts lectures in art exhibitions or a broader cultural environment. Such an experience is useful in any art communication process. Graduates will gain hands-on experience in discussing art with people of all ages, conducting informal art classes, and evaluating the learning process.

Practical work, seminar or discussion

Presentation

Ilze Vītola

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ5120

Interactive Technologies

3

This course focuses on an in-depth exploration of digital culture and the use of interactive technology in creative work. Students are introduced to the necessary software (Arduino, Unity). Students work on developing their own interactive creative work.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Kristaps Biters

MākZ5049

Work in Material

3

The course acquaints students with different screen printing principles: from simplest to technical and more sophisticated. The process of photosensitive exposure. Different kinds of screen printing stencil preparation. Types of printing surfaces and materials. Experiments (deviations from the norm) in the screen printing process.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Jānis Murovskis

MākZ3579

Typography

3

This course introduces typography as an important component of visual communication — its creative, functional and aesthetic significance. Students explore the anatomy of a typeface and the history of the development of Latin writing, learn terms, constructive components, aesthetic and emotional aspects. In the practical part of the course students use the acquired knowledge and skills and apply the principles of Latin writing. The result is a new visual language based on the Latin script.

Lecture, individual work, discussion

Assessment show

Ivs Zenne

MākZ3046

Introduction to WEB Design

1,5

This is a project-based course that teaches students to plan, design and build a simple website. Students learn how to select and adapt the content (text, images, multimedia) for the website and how to design and structure key elements (header, navigation, content area, footer). During the first semester students create the website's layout and graphic design.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Raitis Šmits

MākZ3599

3D Computer Studies

3

During this semester students learn to combine footage with 3D models using a 3D program environment; motion tracking, object tracking (MotionTracker, ObjectTracker). Finally, students create a video (30–120 sec).

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Aldis Kopštāls

MākZ5144

Sound Composition

1,5

In-depth study and exploration of sound as a medium. Sound recording, processing and playback. Working with Sound Processing and Production Programs (Adobe Audition, Ableton Live).

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Reinis Semēvics

MākZ5115

Text & Image

3

Creating visual stories through personal observation. Collecting and structuring informative material. Development of an image series, establishment of personal style. Interaction between students' own illustrations and text. Basics of Riso printing.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Maija Kurševa

Drawing

3

Large-format drawings. Same task as for painters, sculptors, and graphic artists.

Practical and individual work

Assessment show

Elective subject

Sketching

There are no separate credits for sketching; students are marked for the Drawing course

Sketching the human figure for 5, 10, 15 minutes.
Objective: the act of drawing using various materials (charcoal pencil, pencil, felt-tip pen, sepia, acrylic, ink, etc.), developing visual perception, transferring it to the sketch.
Results to be achieved: a developed ability to understand proportion and to create individual handwriting in drawing using a variety of materials, taking a step back from the classical academic drawing.

Individual work

Assessment show

An individual class without a lecturer

Elective subject

MākZ1687

Art History of Latvia

6

The course is taught to Erasmus+ students, and its purpose is to give an insight into and a general idea of the development of Latvian art history in a cultural and historical context. Alongside art history, the course provides basic knowledge of Latvian history, ethnography, and architectural history. The lecture course chronologically covers the period from prehistory to the 20th century. Visits to exhibitions and museums are organized as part of the course to broaden and improve students' knowledge and to promote connection with contemporary cultural progress.

Lecture, visits to exhibitions and cultural sites

Written course paper

Ieva Rosne

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1686

Theory of Contemporary Art

3

The academic course deals with all the significant events in recent art history, starting from the international conceptual tendencies in the 60s, like land art, minimalism, Art Povera, Nouveaux Réalisme, Fluxus, and others, the postmodern narratives in the 80s and the 90s. The final part will be dedicated to the actual debates in the global contemporary art scene. Each lecture will be accompanied by rich visual materials, including films originating from museums. After finishing the course, the students will be able to recognize the most prominent personalities and their most iconic artworks.

Lecture, visits to exhibitions and cultural sites

Presentation

Raimonds Kalējs

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1677

Anatomy

1,5

Digitalized and interactive anatomy for art and design students to improve their drawing, painting, and sketching skills in anatomy. Based on Anatomy Next — anatomy learning tools for students and teachers. Anatomy Next is a very successful, world-known educational technology start-up to help students learn anatomy faster and more efficiently.

Lecture

Test

Uldis Zariņš

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1376

Art Pedagogy in a Cultural Environment

3

The course prepares students to conduct practical visual arts lectures in art exhibitions or a broader cultural environment. Such an experience is useful in any art communication process. Graduates will gain hands-on experience in discussing art with people of all ages, conducting informal art classes, and evaluating the learning process.

Practical work, seminar or discussion

Presentation

Ilze Vītola

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ4170

Media Composition

4,5

Development of the creative assignment using different audiovisual composition elements. Students use found images and footage as materials for their video. During the course students are introduced to various methods of sampling, remixing and visual appropriation, acquire knowledge of various video formats, develop creativity and skills in video composition.

Lecture, seminar, practical work

Assessment show

Mārtiņš Ratniks

MākZ7397

Mixed Media Composition

3

This course offers students the opportunity to explore and develop their abilities outside of a specific discipline. The course focuses on creativity and individuality. Critical discussions and theoretical debates are an opportunity to develop one's own, individual perspective. The students' technical knowledge is improved by complementary lectures, which allow them to acquire skills for working with different types of devices. Contextual studies of selected topics, based on experimentation with ideas, are examined in interactive discussions in the lecturer's presence.

Lecture, individual work, discussion

Assessment show

Armands Zelčs

MākZ7360

Specialty Studies

3

In this course students work to define the context of their creative work, write their work concepts, analyze and critically evaluate their creative work in the context of contemporary art and theory. In the practical part of the course students develop a portfolio of their creative work, write a concept for new work, prepare information for social and mass media, document their creative work and give a public presentation of their work during review lecture.

Lecture, seminar, discussion

Assessment show

Līga Marcinkeviča

Drawing

3

Large-format drawings. Same task as for painters, sculptors, and graphic artists.

Practical and individual work

Assessment show

Elective subject

Sketching

There are no separate credits for sketching; students are marked for the Drawing course

Sketching the human figure for 5, 10, 15 minutes.
Objective: the act of drawing using various materials (charcoal pencil, pencil, felt-tip pen, sepia, acrylic, ink, etc.), developing visual perception, transferring it to the sketch.
Results to be achieved: a developed ability to understand proportion and to create individual handwriting in drawing using a variety of materials, taking a step back from the classical academic drawing.

Individual work

Assessment show

An individual class without a lecturer

Elective subject

MākZ1687

Art History of Latvia

6

The course is taught to Erasmus+ students, and its purpose is to give an insight into and a general idea of the development of Latvian art history in a cultural and historical context. Alongside art history, the course provides basic knowledge of Latvian history, ethnography, and architectural history. The lecture course chronologically covers the period from prehistory to the 20th century. Visits to exhibitions and museums are organized as part of the course to broaden and improve students' knowledge and to promote connection with contemporary cultural progress.

Lecture, visits to exhibitions and cultural sites

Written course paper

Ieva Rosne

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1686

Theory of Contemporary Art

3

The academic course deals with all the significant events in recent art history, starting from the international conceptual tendencies in the 60s, like land art, minimalism, Art Povera, Nouveaux Réalisme, Fluxus, and others, the postmodern narratives in the 80s and the 90s. The final part will be dedicated to the actual debates in the global contemporary art scene. Each lecture will be accompanied by rich visual materials, including films originating from museums. After finishing the course, the students will be able to recognize the most prominent personalities and their most iconic artworks.

Lecture, visits to exhibitions and cultural sites

Presentation

Raimonds Kalējs

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1677

Anatomy

1,5

Digitalized and interactive anatomy for art and design students to improve their drawing, painting, and sketching skills in anatomy. Based on Anatomy Next — anatomy learning tools for students and teachers. Anatomy Next is a very successful, world-known educational technology start-up to help students learn anatomy faster and more efficiently.

Lecture

Test

Uldis Zariņš

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1376

Art Pedagogy in a Cultural Environment

3

The course prepares students to conduct practical visual arts lectures in art exhibitions or a broader cultural environment. Such an experience is useful in any art communication process. Graduates will gain hands-on experience in discussing art with people of all ages, conducting informal art classes, and evaluating the learning process.

Practical work, seminar or discussion

Presentation

Ilze Vītola

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ6996

Composition / Interactive Media

4,5

During this semester students study the creative research process through interactive communication. They create an interactive composition assignment that focuses on the combination of idea and form. The final work, whether virtual or real, has interaction elements between the work itself and the viewer.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Aldis Kopštāls

MākZ6434

Composition / Silkscreen

3

The course acquaints students with different screen printing principles: from simplest to technical and more sophisticated. The process of photosensitive exposure. Different kinds of screen printing stencil preparation. Types of printing surfaces and materials. Experiments (deviations from the norm) in the screen printing process.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Jānis Murovskis

MākZ6436

Media Composition

3

Development of the creative assignment using different audiovisual composition methods. The expected result is a video composition or video installation project. Preliminary knowledge of video production technology is required.

Seminar, discussion, individual work

Assessment show

Mārtiņš Ratniks

MākZ6441

Composition in Electronic Art

3

Thoroughly master the process of creating electronic media art, its specifics and context. To master and know how to use different means and technologies of electronic contemporary art expression. (360° video and audio, photogrammetry, 3D printing, data visualization). Learning and applying art research methods. Additionally, to become acquainted with current electronic media art ideas and theories.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Raitis Šmits

Bachelor's degree in visual arts or design is required. Basic knowledge of two-dimensional computer graphics, digital photo, video, and audio technologies, as well as basic knowledge of network technologies (HTML, CSS) is required.

MākZ6999

Interactive Media / Technology

3

This course focuses on an in-depth exploration of digital culture and the use of interactive technology in creative work. Students are introduced to the necessary software (Arduino, Unity). Students work on developing their own interactive creative work.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Kristaps Biters

Drawing

3

Large-format drawings. Same task as for painters, sculptors, and graphic artists.

Practical and individual work

Assessment show

Elective subject

Sketching

There are no separate credits for sketching; students are marked for the Drawing course

Sketching the human figure for 5, 10, 15 minutes.
Objective: the act of drawing using various materials (charcoal pencil, pencil, felt-tip pen, sepia, acrylic, ink, etc.), developing visual perception, transferring it to the sketch.
Results to be achieved: a developed ability to understand proportion and to create individual handwriting in drawing using a variety of materials, taking a step back from the classical academic drawing.

Individual work

Assessment show

An individual class without a lecturer

Elective subject

MākZ1687

Art History of Latvia

6

The course is taught to Erasmus+ students, and its purpose is to give an insight into and a general idea of the development of Latvian art history in a cultural and historical context. Alongside art history, the course provides basic knowledge of Latvian history, ethnography, and architectural history. The lecture course chronologically covers the period from prehistory to the 20th century. Visits to exhibitions and museums are organized as part of the course to broaden and improve students' knowledge and to promote connection with contemporary cultural progress.

Lecture, visits to exhibitions and cultural sites

Written course paper

Ieva Rosne

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1686

Theory of Contemporary Art

3

The academic course deals with all the significant events in recent art history, starting from the international conceptual tendencies in the 60s, like land art, minimalism, Art Povera, Nouveaux Réalisme, Fluxus, and others, the postmodern narratives in the 80s and the 90s. The final part will be dedicated to the actual debates in the global contemporary art scene. Each lecture will be accompanied by rich visual materials, including films originating from museums. After finishing the course, the students will be able to recognize the most prominent personalities and their most iconic artworks.

Lecture, discussion

Presentation

Raimonds Kalējs

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1677

Anatomy

1,5

Digitalized and interactive anatomy for art and design students to improve their drawing, painting, and sketching skills in anatomy. Based on Anatomy Next — anatomy learning tools for students and teachers. Anatomy Next is a very successful, world-known educational technology start-up to help students learn anatomy faster and more efficiently.

Lecture

Uldis Zariņš

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ6753

Critical Design

3

The course provides a general insight into design progress, starting from the '90s, introduces major developments in design thinking and approach, and provides an in-depth look at the "Critical Design" trend that emerged during this period. Throughout the course, students are introduced to the concept of critical design, its goals and techniques, and discuss the specifics of design as an information medium. The course covers the theoretical foundations of critical design and illustrates it by numerous examples. It also deals with the problems of design terminology and the point of contact between design and conceptual art. This course aims to encourage designers and artists to think critically and to offer new tools for their artistic and design practices.

Lecture

Test

Liene Jākobsone

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ6271

Art in Public Space

3

The course aims to introduce the diverse manifestations of contemporary art in the public domain, exploring it in depth. The main goal of the course is to broaden the academic horizon by presenting and analyzing contemporary art events and highlighting their interdisciplinary nature, socio-political critical information, and exploration of alternative forms (lasting monuments, temporary art installations, art festivals, biennials, various interventions in a public contemporary art environment, value criteria in the contemporary art environment, etc.). The objective of the course is not only to inform and describe but to develop students' critical thinking, ability to think independently, analyze and evaluate contemporary art events in public space both in Latvia and worldwide. The course looks at the major artistic activities of the late 20th and 21st centuries in the public domain. Lectures present a wealth of visuals, as well as publicly available professional video materials (tate.org.uk, channel.louisiana.dk, royalacademy.org, moma.org, etc.), and DVD movie fragments.

Lecture

Test

Inese Baranovska

If the course is attended by Erasmus+ students, it is taught bilingually (in Latvian and English).

MākZ6819

Art and Culture in the Second Half of the 20th Century: Minimal and Conceptual Art

3

The course aims to give an insight into the minimalist and conceptualist artistic trends, their main representatives, and their typical work-creating strategies in a broader context of the second half of the 20th-century art, philosophy, politics, and ideology. The course will focus not only on visual arts, but also briefly on the direction of minimalism in music, literature, and architecture, as well as on the link between the emergence of conceptualism and the Fluxus movement and the musical avant-garde, focusing on the 60s and 70s, exploring the influence of the avant-garde art of the period on the different art world situations of the 80s and 90s and making comparisons with current events in Latvian and world art in the 21st century.

Lecture, seminar or discussion

Presentation

Jānis Taurens

If the course is attended by Erasmus+ students, it is taught bilingually (in Latvian and English).

MākZ6438

Media Composition

3

Development of the creative assignment using different audiovisual composition methods. The expected result is a video composition or video installation project. Preliminary knowledge of video production technology is required.

Seminar, discussion, individual work

Assessment show

Mārtiņš Ratniks

MākZ7317

Composition in Electronic Art

3

Thoroughly master the process of creating electronic media art, its specifics and context. To master and know how to use different means and technologies of electronic contemporary art expression. In-depth studying of different digital technologies, software and hardware to create artwork that links the real space with the computer and digital network environment. Learning and applying art research methods.

Lecture, practical work

Assessment show

Raitis Šmits

Bachelor's degree in visual arts or design is required. Basic knowledge of two-dimensional computer graphics, digital photo, video, and audio technologies, as well as basic knowledge of network technologies (HTML, CSS) is required.

Drawing

3

Large-format drawings. Same task as for painters, sculptors, and graphic artists.

Practical and individual work

Assessment show

Elective subject

Sketching

There are no separate credits for sketching; students are marked for the Drawing course

Sketching the human figure for 5, 10, 15 minutes.
Objective: the act of drawing using various materials (charcoal pencil, pencil, felt-tip pen, sepia, acrylic, ink, etc.), developing visual perception, transferring it to the sketch.
Results to be achieved: a developed ability to understand proportion and to create individual handwriting in drawing using a variety of materials, taking a step back from the classical academic drawing.

Individual work

Assessment show

An individual class without a lecturer

Elective subject

MākZ1687

Art History of Latvia

6

The course is taught to Erasmus+ students, and its purpose is to give an insight into and a general idea of the development of Latvian art history in a cultural and historical context. Alongside art history, the course provides basic knowledge of Latvian history, ethnography, and architectural history. The lecture course chronologically covers the period from prehistory to the 20th century. Visits to exhibitions and museums are organized as part of the course to broaden and improve students' knowledge and to promote connection with contemporary cultural progress.

Lecture, visits to exhibitions and cultural sites

Written course paper

Ieva Rosne

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1686

Theory of Contemporary Art

3

The academic course deals with all the significant events in recent art history, starting from the international conceptual tendencies in the 60s, like land art, minimalism, Art Povera, Nouveaux Réalisme, Fluxus, and others, the postmodern narratives in the 80s and the 90s. The final part will be dedicated to the actual debates in the global contemporary art scene. Each lecture will be accompanied by rich visual materials, including films originating from museums. After finishing the course, the students will be able to recognize the most prominent personalities and their most iconic artworks.

Lecture, discussion

Presentation

Raimonds Kalējs

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ1677

Anatomy

1,5

Digitalized and interactive anatomy for art and design students to improve their drawing, painting, and sketching skills in anatomy. Based on Anatomy Next — anatomy learning tools for students and teachers. Anatomy Next is a very successful, world-known educational technology start-up to help students learn anatomy faster and more efficiently.

Lecture

Uldis Zariņš

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ6753

Critical Design

3

The course provides a general insight into design progress, starting from the '90s, introduces major developments in design thinking and approach, and provides an in-depth look at the "Critical Design" trend that emerged during this period. Throughout the course, students are introduced to the concept of critical design, its goals and techniques, and discuss the specifics of design as an information medium. The course covers the theoretical foundations of critical design and illustrates it by numerous examples. It also deals with the problems of design terminology and the point of contact between design and conceptual art. This course aims to encourage designers and artists to think critically and to offer new tools for their artistic and design practices.

Lecture

Test

Liene Jākobsone

Special subject for Erasmus+ students.

MākZ6271

Art in Public Space

3

The course aims to introduce the diverse manifestations of contemporary art in the public domain, exploring it in depth. The main goal of the course is to broaden the academic horizon by presenting and analyzing contemporary art events and highlighting their interdisciplinary nature, socio-political critical information, and exploration of alternative forms (lasting monuments, temporary art installations, art festivals, biennials, various interventions in a public contemporary art environment, value criteria in the contemporary art environment, etc.). The objective of the course is not only to inform and describe but to develop students' critical thinking, ability to think independently, analyze and evaluate contemporary art events in public space both in Latvia and worldwide. The course looks at the major artistic activities of the late 20th and 21st centuries in the public domain. Lectures present a wealth of visuals, as well as publicly available professional video materials (tate.org.uk, channel.louisiana.dk, royalacademy.org, moma.org, etc.), and DVD movie fragments.

Lecture

Test

Inese Baranovska

If the course is attended by Erasmus+ students, it is taught bilingually (in Latvian and English).

MākZ6819

Art and Culture in the Second Half of the 20th Century: Minimal and Conceptual Art

3

The course aims to give an insight into the minimalist and conceptualist artistic trends, their main representatives, and their typical work-creating strategies in a broader context of the second half of the 20th-century art, philosophy, politics, and ideology. The course will focus not only on visual arts, but also briefly on the direction of minimalism in music, literature, and architecture, as well as on the link between the emergence of conceptualism and the Fluxus movement and the musical avant-garde, focusing on the 60s and 70s, exploring the influence of the avant-garde art of the period on the different art world situations of the 80s and 90s and making comparisons with current events in Latvian and world art in the 21st century.

Lecture, seminar or discussion

Presentation

Jānis Taurens

If the course is attended by Erasmus+ students, it is taught bilingually (in Latvian and English).