Tama Art University

Three Policies
Department of Sculpture

Purposes and Educational Goals (Diploma Policy)

As the concept of sculpture, as well as contemporary art in general, continues to expand as globalization progresses, here in Japan with a unique cultural heritage unlike any other in the world, students in the Department of Sculpture learn from history without placing innovation and tradition in opposition to one another. We aim to develop human resources who will lead the next generation while exploring the potential of contemporary expression.

We believe that in studying art during an era of rapid social change, it is important to look at the world around us without being distracted by a flood of information. Sculpture is a field of art in which diverse materials are employed, so it can be considered an extensible field that can be related with or linked to all media in our lives, while at the same time there is no future in sculpture unless we continue to pursue it with awareness of the role it has traditionally played in the visual arts. Thus, “global” does not mean uniformity of value systems worldwide, but rather respect for one another's values, and recognition of the diversity of art rooted in regional culture and history.

To develop artists who can achieve the educational and research goals of the Faculty of Art and Design, the Department of Sculpture aims to foster those capable of independent and self-motivated sculptural and three-dimensional art that is not overly swayed by current trends. Students engage with the relationship between “matter and form” and “techniques and ideas” in various ways using various techniques and theories, and acquire the basic technical and expressive skills for sculptural expression. They also sharpen their application and thinking abilities by finding their own direction to take with each assignment. Students who have achieved these goals receive bachelor’s (BFA) degrees.


Curriculum Policy

In the Department of Sculpture, curricula are organized and implemented systematically, so that students can achieve the goals shown in the Diploma Policy.

Introductory classes in the basics of sculpture are founded on the premise that the techniques and knowledge of sculptural expression are rooted in all human cultures and their histories.

In the introductory first and second year courses, students study “matter and form” and “techniques and ideas” systematically based on relationships that form the basis of the visual arts. They undergo basic training and develop modes of thought using the traditional materials and techniques of sculpture. In addition, they explore the extensibility of sculptural expression using a wide range of materials, in the context of contemporary expression.

In the specialized courses in the third and fourth years, in order to deepen and develop their own art based on their experience in the basic classes, students freely select a studio according to the theme, material and expression method for each assignment and proceed with their studies. They aim for open-ended expertise and contemporary expression through diverse and interdisciplinary workshop production and objective instruction by multiple teachers. In addition, they aim to expand their range of expression through research presentations and extracurricular seminars in galleries.

In the latter half of the fourth year, in order to realize their themes at a higher level, students carry out graduation projects while carefully planning means of expression, material, and workshop, as they aim to be independent artists.

To evaluate the results of study, rigorous grading is carried out based on criteria specified in advance. These results are then utilized for further improvement of educational methods.


Admissions Policy

The Department of Sculpture seeks to accept those who embraces visual arts and is eager to face the world and themselves through the ever-diversifying art based on the curricular contents, etc. of the Diploma Policy and Curriculum Policy.

The art world is no exception to the advance of globalization. Above all, sculpture has infinite possibilities as a three-dimensional genre that can connect with any and all media, but on the other hand, it is in a sense easily influenced by media that can be transmitted to others through computerization. In the Department of Sculpture, we aim to be truly independent from this point of view, and to foster artists and art that will not be swept up in the trends of the times.

To do so, we first conduct tests based on diverse values, containing problems that examinees can address with a high degree of freedom and demonstrate their individuality, willingness and concentration on visual arts, not limited to technique and training, and strive to discover their own unique sensibilities. Sculpture is an art form that involves application of all kinds of knowledge and techniques. To that end, it is essential to have “flexible ideas and the ability to apply them,” to have both creativity and the power to execute it. If one is only attuned to information and distracted from the big picture, it is difficult to create truly original work. We believe that by interpreting “global” as acceptance of diversity, rather than uniformity of values, we can foster genuinely original artists who make an impact on the world.