1919-The Epoch of Rebirth of Art and Design Education and Recent Trends

Abstract

Art and Design schools are educational institutes with main focus on creativity and analytical thinking through exploration of various visual arts and designs. Many art schools established to meet the craft, design and drawing need during the industrial revolution. Exception to that; in 1919, Kala –Bhavan at Visva-Bharati University, Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan in India was established by Rabindranath Tagore to promote culture specific modernism. It became the centre of the revival of Indian art at the time when Nandlal Bose became the principal. Meanwhile at the same time in 1919 Bauhaus was founded in Germany by German architect Walter Gropius to reimagine the material world. It was an effort of interpreting the bond between society and art or technology. Both institutes focused on amalgamation of arts and crafts. The approach of Bauhaus was very practical towards teaching methodology and giving tasks while approach of Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan was inspired by ancient Indian teaching pedagogy. The two institutes had different vision but created great impact on the art world. This paper is focused on the comparative analysis of both the institutions and their respective pedagogies. Their approach changed the paradigms of art and design education. Since this paper is from academicians’ point of view, it will analyze the impact of both the institutes on recent trends in art and design education. It will examine the qualitative data. It is focused on the impact of revivalism and modernism. The observations stated will throw a light on the contribution and the influence of both the institutes which were running parallel in education and design industry.