Presentation

The Observatory is the research unit of ÉSAD Pyrénées###.

The Observatoire research unit has been designed to provide the intellectual, functional and material structure for the school’s current research programs in art and design. It also ensures their coherent development and identifies their needs. It supports their development from the local to the international level. It reports on the exploration of various forms and methodologies, particularly with regard to the links between creation and theory, and between art, design and the social sciences. It also encourages the production of works and images, in all formats and media, giving visibility to the personal projects of future artists and designers.

The Observatory brings together artists and designers, art and design theorists, and other researchers (physicists, astronomers, philosophers, archaeologists, iconologists, sociologists, anthropologists, etc.) and cultural professionals (museum curators, exhibition commissioners, theorists and critics, etc.). Artists and designers are involved in mediums as varied as ceramics, painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, video, webdesign, typography, publishing, signs (logo, sign…) in the public space. Art and design theorists come from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, literature, art history, architecture, visual semiotics, anthropology and sociology.

The unit combines teaching, the production and dissemination of forms and knowledge, and investigations specific to the fields observed. It therefore encourages the decompartmentalization of disciplines and collaboration with other local, national and international centers of higher education and research (universities, specialized schools, industries, art centers, etc.). It organizes numerous trips, conferences, study days, seminars, symposia and workshops. It produces exhibitions, catalogs, publications, reviews, etc. It develops experience, the invention of research topics and the emergence of innovative teaching methods.

The scientific orientation of ÉSAD Pyrénées is an extension of its pedagogical orientation. Ceramics, traditionally explored on the Tarbes site, is naturally included, as are other contemporary forms and formats of creation. Research into multimedia graphic design, on the Pau site, anchors its productions and reflections in the relationship with territories, signs, new editorial forms, low tech and 3D.

Advanced degrees :

DNSEP art, mention art-ceramique
DNSEP design, mention design graphique multimédia