SUIS-Gubei is immensely proud to present a selection of outstanding artworks by the students of Grade 9. The artworks on display explore the students’ biggest fears. Even as adults, scrutinizing our fears is an uncomfortable experience, and we attempt to avoid it as much as possible, even though it can negatively impact our mental health. We applaud the students of Grade 9 for their willingness to tackle this theme and to examine the unpleasant aspects of their identity without trepidation. They provide an exemplary example to their peers in Grade 9 and beyond.
Projects like this are developed with the IB attributes that SUIS-Gubei endorses in mind; through examining their fears, we challenge the Grade 9 students to become indefatigable inquirers and daring risk-takers that are capable of deep reflection.
In Grade 9 and Grade 10, the students investigate the concept of identity and use their research to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional artworks that incorporate a variety of media in unexpected ways. The students are encouraged to reflect on who they are as individuals and as members of one or more social groups. We, at SUIS-Gubei, feel that examining oneself is especially important given the negative impact of both social media and the attention economy on our ability to understand who we are and what role we have in a complex and ever-changing world. As Socrates so eloquently said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”.
As part of their investigation into the concept of identity, the students in Grade 9 have examined a multitude of fears, such as the fear of the ocean, the fear of public speaking, the fear of large objects, and so on. Even if two students explored the same fear, they did so in such drastically different ways that no two artworks are truly alike. Each artwork contains considered imagery that effectively communicates a student’s biggest fear, but in such a way as to provide an engaging challenge for a viewer keen on deciphering what they are seeing. Viewers will be awestruck at how adeptly the students have manipulated the medium of acrylic paint; they have incorporated a variety of acrylic painting techniques in such a way as to make many professional painters envious of their formidable talents.
We encourage all students and members of their families to come and view the artworks that are on display at the Visual Arts Department corridor on the 3rd floor during the upcoming SUIS-Gubei Community Event, which will take place on the 28th of June. Alongside the artworks, you will find a selection of process boards that elucidate the process behind some of the masterpieces on display.
▲ Art Department
Written by Keith Blake (Visual Arts Teacher)