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For the sixth episode of the ‘Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast’, we’re joined by Dr Lee Beard, Head of History of Art, Tiggy and Tara (SFC1) to explore the value and importance of History of Art.
They’ll be sharing their love and passion for the subject, whilst discussing to what extent art is factual and reflecting on feelings and perspective.
Dr Beard explores the meaning of History of Art and explains how art of any form has the power to challenge conventions.
“If you think about the Edward Colston statue that was taken down during the Black Lives Matter protests a few years back, this was an artwork that had been in place for over a hundred years, it stood in the middle of Bristol and many people had just ignored it.
The paradox of public sculpture - it’s the most public art but often the most ignored or the most invisible. This statue of Edward Colston had been passed by but of course within the political context and the protest of Black Lives Matter it took on great significance and particularly the removal of the sculpture in the way it was removed… that was challenging conventions; the treatment of minorities in recent times but also going back to protest the realities of the slave trade and how that has impacted or the long shadow that had cast on British society.” - Dr Beard
Tiggy and Tara articulate how choosing to study the subject has helped broaden their knowledge of history, culture and society.
“I have a more contextualised understanding and now I can recognise artistic styles and movements… I have more cultural awareness and I know what’s going on. I know more about societal issues.
I have also developed an aesthetic appreciation and I have a better understanding of the human form and ways of human expression.” - Tiggy
One of the key messages that underpins the episode is recognising the power of art and how it can trigger feelings.
“Georges Braque who was a 20th-century French painter said, “you can describe everything about a painting apart from the bits that matter”… I think there’s something important there that it’s not to loose sight of the power of art to trigger emotional responses.”
It’s not just a documentation of facts, it’s a documentation of feelings. It gives us those insights into people of the past.” - Dr Beard
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