Art

ART

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus in Art is to prepare the
candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their achievement of the course objectives,
which are to:

1. exhibit knowledge of the fundamental elements, principles and terminologies of art;

2. show knowledge of historical dimensions of art with emphasis on Nigerian arts and crafts;

3. demonstrate knowledge of artistic techniques, processes, the use of materials and maintenance
of tools and equipment;

4. display aesthetic awareness of the environment, meaning and functions of art in society.

DETAILED SYLLABUS

TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES

SECTION A

1. CLASSIFICATION OF ART: Candidates should be able to:

a. Visual Arts: (Fine and Applied Arts) i. differentiate between the three branches of art;
b. Performing Arts: (Music, Dance and
Drama)
c. Literary Arts: (Poetry, Prose, Recital)
etc.

2. ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF

DESIGN:

a. Elements: line, colour, shape, form, ii. identify the elements of design;
texture, tone, value, space etc. iii. analyse the principles of design;
b. Principles: balance, rhythm, proportion,
harmony, contrast, repetition,
dominance, variety, etc.
iv. identify art terms;
3. ART TERMS: v. link the terms to their areas of art;
Pigments, motif, greenware, armature, vi. use the terms in analyzing artworks.
silhouette, chiaroscuro, cire-perdue, terra-
cotta etc.

23
 Art

TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES

SECTION B

1. HISTORICAL DIMENSIONS OF ART: Candidates should be able to:

a. Prehistoric, Greek and Roman Art; i. compare their materials, styles and techniques;

b. Medieval Art: architecture, surface ii. classify the periods and styles with emphasis on
decorations and calligraphy; architecture, surface decoration and calligraphy;

c. Renaissance Art and Artists: Giotto iii. compare the artists, their works and styles;
Di Bondone, Michelangelo Buonarroti,
Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael
(Raffaello Santi); e.t.c.

d. 19th and 20th Century Art Movements; iv. differentiate between the various art
Impressionism, Realism, Futurism, movements;
Cubism, Bauhaus, Pop art, Abstract v.
Expressionism and Fauvism. v. analyze their styles techniques, innovations and
influences;

2. TRADITIONAL AFRICAN ART:

Egypt, Ashanti, Dogon, Mossi, Fon, Senufo, vi. categorize works in terms of style, materials
Bambara, Mende, Kissi, Bamileke and and locations;
Bakumba.

3. TRADITIONAL NIGERIAN ART:

Nok, Igbo-Ukwu, Ife, Benin, Esie, Igala, vii. analyze the works in terms of functions,
Jukun, Akwanshi, and Mbari. characteristics and locations;

4. NIGERIAN CRAFTS:
Pottery, woodworks, cloth-weaving, carving, viii. trace the origins, locations and styles;
leather works, metal works, beadworks, body
decoration, mat and cane weaving.

5. DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEMPORARY
NIGERIAN ARTS AND ARTISTS:

a. Art Schools: Zaria, Nsukka, Osogbo group ix. determine the influence of the art schools
etc. and groups towards the development of art;

b. Nigerian artists and art educators; Aina x. assess the artists in terms of their works,
Onabolu, Ben Enwonwu, S. I. Wangboje, specializations, techniques and styles;
Jimoh Akolo, Dele Jegede etc.

24
 Art

TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES

c. Museums, galleries and art centres; xi. analyze the functions of museums, galleries, art
centres and art institutions;
d. Art institutions, cultural art xii. evaluate their impact on the development of
centres, national art organizations – art;
Nigerian Society for Education through
Arts (NSEA), Society for Nigerian Artists xiii. assess their roles and functions;
(S.N.A), National Council for Arts and
Culture (N.C.A.C), etc.

e. Major Festivals: Argungu Fishing Festival, xiv. examine the characteristics of major festivals
Eyo, Egungun, Iri-ji (New Yam), Durbar, of art and culture.
Igue, Ekpo, Odo, etc.

SECTION C

1. ARTISTIC SKILLS, TECHNIQUES AND Candidates should be conversant with:

PROCESSES

a. Two-Dimensional Art: drawing, painting, i. the techniques, skills and processes with
graphics and textile design. emphasis on tone, composition and colour
application;
b. Perspective:
i. Linear, angular, aerial, parallel etc. ii. the types of perspective;
ii. Perspective terms: foreground,
picture plane, eye-level, vanishing iii. the use of perspective rules and terms;
point, foreshortening, optical illusion,
depth etc. iv. techniques, skills and processes;

c. Sculpture, Ceramics and Crafts,

d. Computer Graphics: v. the basic tools of designs

CorelDraw

2. TOOLS, MATERIALS AND Candidates should be able to:

EQUIPMENT

a. Two-Dimensional Art Tools: brushes, vi. maintain art tools and art materials;
lino cutters, drawing instruments,
calligraphic pens, sharpeners etc.

b. Two-dimensional Art Materials: pencils vii. use art materials and tools;
charcoal, pastel, crayon, fixative, fabric,
dyes, lino, wood blocks etc.

c. Two-Dimensional Art Equipment:

air compressor, spray gun, enlarger, viii. operate and maintain art equipment;
computer etc.

25
 Art

TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES

d. Improvisation of tools, materials and

equipment; ix. improvise alternative tools, materials and
equipment;
i. Two-Dimensional Art: colours,
brushes, calligraphic pens etc.

ii. Three-Dimensional Art: spatula,

kiln, beater, etc.

SECTION D

1. ART APPRECIATION Candidates should be able to:

a. Man-made objects: architecture, i. identify the aesthetic qualities of natural and

sculpture etc. man-made aesthetic phenomena in Nigerian
environment;
b. Natural phenomena: Zuma Rock, Ikogosi
ii. differentiate between natural and man-made
Warm Springs, etc.
aesthetic phenomena;
2. MEANING AND FUNCTIONS OF ART
IN SOCIETY
iii. examine the meaning and functions of art;
a. Meaning of art;
iv. use art to enhance societal values;
b. Functions of art in the society:
religious, social, cultural, political,
therapeutic and economic needs.
v. assess the role of art in electronic and print
c. Functions of art in electronic and print
media;
media:
advertisement, education, recreation etc.

3. ART ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Job prospects in the Visual Arts:

vi. identify job opportunities in the Visual Arts.
Ceramist, Curator, Textile designer,
Industrial designer, Sculptor,
Photographer, Cartoonist, Illustrator etc.

26
 Art

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Banjoko I. (2000) Visual Arts made Easy: Textbook for Schools and Colleges, Lagos,
Movic Publishing Company Ltd.

Egonwa, O.D. (1991) African Art: A contemporary Source Book, Benin: Osasu
Publishers.

Egunlae, S.A. (1985) The Essential Ground work in Art and Design, Omotola
Standard Press and Bookshop (Nig) Ltd.

Erese, U. O. and Ogunsina E. D. (1989) Creative Arts and Crafts for J. S. S.

Onibonoje Press.

Nahab, S. J. (2003) Art of the Millennium for Senior Secondary Schools, Ehindero
(Nig.) Ltd.

Ogumor, E. (1993) Certificate Art for Junior Secondary Schools and Senior Secondary Schools, Ibadan:
University Press Plc.

Olaosebikan W. A. (1982) Cultural and Creative Arts, Evans.

Olurukooba, B. K. (1991) Art for Senior Secondary Schools, ABU.

Uzoagba I. N. (1982) Understanding Art in General Education, Onitsha; African Publishing Ltd.

Wangboje, I. N. (1982) A Textbook on Art for Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, Evans Publishers.

Oyedun Y.F. (2017) Excel in Arts, Photography, Dyeing, Starching and Bleaching, Lagos: Yemsol
Graphic Communication.

27