THIS UNIT IS ASSESSED USING A STANDARD THAT
EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2012
NCEA Level Two – Art History
Looking at Art Works
Student Information
This task is designed to be offered as an “extra” for students who are interested in
extending their Visual Arts practice into some Art History/Theory. It was conceived as a
way to offer an introduction to Art History/Theory even though we didn’t have enough
interested students to create a full NCEA Level 2 Art History class. The teacher could
specify the works to be looked to ensure that they were complimentary to the students’
practical investigations.
Level 2 Art History 2006
THIS UNIT IS ASSESSED USING A STANDARD THAT
EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2012
NCEA Level Two – Art History
Looking at Art Works
Student Information
The assessment requires students to: Examine artworks in their environmental contexts by
describing their functions and explaining the influences on them.
This will allow them to:
 develop their ability to research and analyse approaches to contemporary art
practice
 critically reflect on, respond to and evaluate others’ art practice
 develop their understanding of the way contemporary communications technologies
affect the production, viewing and valuing of artworks
Achievement Standard 90232 version 2: Examine art works in their environmental
contexts
Credits: 4 (Level 2, Internal)
Duration: 6 weeks homework time, plus holidays.
Due Date: 3.30pm, Friday 4th August, 2006.
Achievement Standard 90232 version 2: Examine art works in their environmental contexts.
Evidence
Achievement
Achievement with
Achievement with
Merit
Excellence
One essay –
approx 750
words
Describe selected art
works and their
environmental contexts.
Identify the functions of
art works in their
environmental contexts.
Explain influences
evident in the art works.
Explain how art works
reflect their functions.
Evaluate the
relationships between
environmental context,
influences and functions
on the art works.
It will be helpful for you to be aware of the following explanatory notes and definitions:

Art: people within their societies and cultures make art works for many different
purposes. They know of, possess and use many kinds of art works, which they
respond to and value in different ways. Art is therefore concerned with the
making of many kinds of art works, with the ways people and societies obtain
and use these and the values they give them. The term ‘art’ refers to all such
actions and the relationships between them.

Art works: art works include such things as paintings, sculptures, architecture
and handcrafted objects found in both private and public places; the art works
children make in their classrooms or in their communities; the whare whakaairo
(carved meeting house) upon the marae with its treasures of whakaairo,
kowhaiwhai, and tukutuku; the mat woven for a matai; the environments we
create and inhabit; furniture, dress, utensils, and appliances. Art works, and
their design, production and use, reflect values and beliefs, style and fashion.

Environmental context: surroundings or conditions in which an art work exists.

Influences could include, but are not limited to:

Art historical
Level 2 Art History 2006
THIS UNIT IS ASSESSED USING A STANDARD THAT
EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2012
NCEA Level Two – Art History



Institutional – marae, schools of art, art societies, dealer galleries, public
galleries, museums, schools, corporations, trusts, art critics, patrons

Cultural – marae, religions, belief systems, gender, ethnicity, heritage

Geographical – local, regional, national, urban, rural.
Functions: purpose or intent, eg religious, didactic, cultural, political, personal,
utilitarian, experimental, decorative, commemorative, philosophical.
Evaluate: means critically comment on and/or explore the environmental
contexts, influences and functions.
Looking at Art Works
Student Task Sheet
Task 1 – Selection of artworks
Select two artworks.
This assignment requires you to evaluate the relationships between the environmental
contexts, influences and functions of the artworks. To assist you with this evaluation you
will need to select two artworks by the same artist. They may be presented in two different
contexts (a public gallery and in someone’s private collection, for example).
It is sensible to select artworks which you can engage with (although not necessarily works
which you ‘like’). You need to be able to see and interact with these works in their original
form (not in a book or on the web).
Task 2 – What influences can you see in the works?
Consider the elements that have been influential in the making of your selected art works.
Think about artists and artworks their maker my have been influenced by, the place and
time in history the works were made, and the background of their maker.
Make notes and drawings to record this information. It is likely that you will need to do
more than just look at the art works to complete this task.
Task 3 – Consider the function of the selected art works
What is the function of each of the artworks that you have chosen? How is this function
reflected in the artwork and the context in which it is presented?
Make notes and drawings to record this information.
Task 3 – Consider the environment in which the selected art works are presented
What kind of environment are each of the artworks presented in? How does this
environment affect how viewers perceive them?
Make notes and drawings to record this information.
Task 4 – Evaluate the relationship between context, influences and function
Level 2 Art History 2006
THIS UNIT IS ASSESSED USING A STANDARD THAT
EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2012
NCEA Level Two – Art History
Write a short essay (approximately 750 words) evaluating the relationship between the
environmental context in which you saw the artworks, the influences you see within them
and the function of the artworks.
Level 2 Art History 2006