This key knowledge focuses on the specific methods — practical and conceptual — used to physically present finished artworks for viewing. In Unit 4 AoS 2, students plan and implement the display of their own work, applying their knowledge of display methods to their specific artworks and chosen space.
Hanging systems
- Picture rail and hooks: traditional system using rails fixed near the ceiling with hooks and wire; allows flexible repositioning
- Gallery track and clips: modern systems with an aluminium track and adjustable clips; clean, professional appearance
- Direct wall fixings: screws or nails directly into the wall; more permanent and stable but less flexible
- French cleat: a two-part interlocking wall bracket; excellent for heavy works
Mounting and framing
- Stretched canvas: displayed without a frame (asserting objecthood); or with a frame (referencing gallery convention)
- Float mount: the work appears to float above the wall surface; creates shadow and depth
- Conservation framing: acid-free mat, UV-filtering glass, sealed backing — appropriate for works on paper
- Box/shadow box frame: a deep-sided frame creating a three-dimensional presentation
Placement and grouping
- Single work: placed to be the dominant visual focus in its area
- Series/diptych/triptych: works displayed with consistent spacing to be read as a unit
- Grid hang: multiple works arranged in a regular grid; creates visual unity through formal order
- Salon hang: dense arrangement of multiple works; can create richness or overwhelming effect
- Sequential hang: works arranged in a narrative or developmental order
Plinth/pedestal: a raised surface for sculptural works; materials (white MDF, raw wood, black steel) make their own aesthetic statement; height determines how works are viewed
Vitrine: a glass-topped or glass-enclosed case for fragile, small or precious objects; creates distance between viewer and work while allowing close examination
Floor placement: works placed directly on the floor assert their material presence and scale; appropriate for works engaging with environment or domestic context
Wall-mounted: three-dimensional works mounted to the wall combine sculptural presence with pictorial placement
Site-specific installation: the work is created for the specific space; the space becomes part of the work’s meaning and cannot be separated from it
REMEMBER: Display methods should support the artwork’s intentions, not compete with them. A display decision that draws attention to itself at the expense of the artwork has failed its purpose.
EXAM TIP: For the Unit 4 AoS 2 critique and display plan, be specific about the methods chosen. Name the hanging system, the mounting approach, the lighting method and the spacing, and justify each decision in relation to the artwork’s visual language and ideas.
COMMON MISTAKE: Students describe where they placed works but not how they were displayed. “I hung it on the north wall” provides no information about hanging system, hanging height, mounting method, lighting or spacing — all of which are required for a complete display discussion.
