Contemporary Art
- Aug 31, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: May 12
This ESL Lesson Plan Contemporary Art dives into the provocative and playful world of contemporary art through the work of Austrian artist Erwin Wurm. Students explore what makes something "art" through a series of image challenges, then build specialist vocabulary before reading about Wurm's One-Minute Sculptures — ephemeral, absurd, and surprisingly thought-provoking performances that blur the line between artist, object, and audience. The lesson combines reading, video, discussion, a grammar focus on the zero article, and a personal writing task.
📄B2 ⏱️120 min 📁19 slides
Outcomes and skills:
Greater cultural awareness of contemporary art.
Understanding of One Minute Sculptures by Erwin Wurm.
Improved critical thinking through analyzing the meaning of artworks.
Vocabulary
contemporary
sculpture
temporary
ephemeral
performance
audience
transform
criticise
absurd
paradox
Lesson plan
Warm-up
Students answer four questions about their relationship with art — how often they visit galleries, what they last saw, whether they prefer traditional or modern art, and what makes something "art" — activating prior knowledge and personal opinions before the lesson begins.
Is It Art?
Three rounds of paired images: in each pair, one is a work of contemporary art and the other is an everyday object or situation. Students decide which is which and explain their thinking — a brilliant way to spark debate and curiosity about the boundaries of art.
History: Art Timeline
Learners look at six famous artworks across a timeline from the 1860s to the present day, covering modern and contemporary art: The Scream, Portrait of Dora Maar, Untitled by Pollock and Basquiat, Rabbit by Jeff Koons, and Coca-Cola Vase by Ai Weiwei.
Vocabulary Matching
Students match ten target words to their definitions: contemporary, sculpture, temporary, ephemeral, performance, audience, transform, criticise, absurd, and paradox. They take notes for reference throughout the lesson.
Reading: Erwin Wurm
Learners read two texts about the Austrian contemporary artist, including his background, his artistic philosophy, and his most famous works — One-Minute Sculptures, Fat Car, and Fat House.
Video: Erwin Wurm – One-Minute Sculptures
Students watch a short 1-minute 32-second video and pay attention to the target vocabulary as it appears in context.
Comprehension Questions
Six questions check understanding and push students to think more deeply: how the audience participates, why the sculptures are ephemeral, who Wurm is, whether students would take part, why artists use paradox, and what effect this has on the viewer.
Quote Discussion
Students read and reflect on a direct quote by Erwin Wurm about the art market and the role of humour, using it as a springboard for further discussion.
Critical Thinking: Think Questions
Four discussion questions encourage deeper reflection: How does art reflect its time? Is contemporary art hard to understand? How has technology changed art? Should art always be beautiful?
Grammar: Zero Article
A clear grammar table introduces the zero article (Ø) with six rules and examples drawn from the lesson's context — plural nouns, uncountable nouns, languages, meals, proper names, institutions, and creative fields.
Grammar Practice
Students complete nine sentences by choosing between a/an, the, or Ø — all sentences connected to art and the lesson content.
Writing Task
Learners choose one of Erwin Wurm's works (One-Minute Sculptures, Fat Car, or Fat House) and write a short personal paragraph about what they think and feel when they see it.