A year in Art Risk, revelation and the power of independence
A t the heart of our Art Department lies a powerful belief: that student ex- hibitions are not just milestones, but transformational experiences. They are the moments when the students step into the spot- light, take creative leaps of faith, and discover their independent voices to emerge as young artists. Each exhibition, from Year 10’s inaugural showcase to the ambitious senior displays, offers students the opportunity to go beyond the expected, to challenge convention, and to fully embrace their creative moment.
The Year 11 exhibition, ‘Reveal’, was a stunning declaration of this tirelessly pursued spirit. With traditional skills colliding with contemporary media stretching from studious detailed pencil work to high-tech Blender animations. These are students who push artistic boundaries. The diversity of ideas and approaches came together as a celebration of innovation and problem-
by Mary Jo Doherty, Head of Art
For the artists in Year 13, ‘Pulse’ recorded the cul- mination of a four-term creative journey. The ex- hibition pulsated with layers of both personal sto- ries and intuitive exploration. Students embraced the unknown, welcoming investigative accidents within their studio practice as revelations rather than setbacks. Their multimedia works tackled themes of identity, transformation and, important- ly, unity in a divided world. Pulse was more than a show; it was an honest, often raw conversation between the artist and society, and a testament to art’s power to enable reflection and healing. In ‘Serial’, our Year 12 students grappled with the transition from structured foundation studies to self-initiated independent inquiry. The exhibition invited viewers into the heart their process; re- vealing the unpredictable path between idea and execution. Whether through plaster casts, digital animation or intricate printmaking, each artist confronted uncertainty head-on. The themes en- compassing vulnerability, societal scrutiny and inner landscapes demonstrated a willingness to dig deep, to challenge themselves, and to begin defining a personal artistic language. For our Year 10 artists at the start of their unfold- ing creative story, the exhibition ‘Ignition’ lit that
vital initial spark. As their first public exhibition, it was a thrilling debut into the world of art viewed as a dialogue. Utopia/Dystopia and Memory were themes tackled with clarity and daring. From ex- pressive mixed media assemblages to large-scale 3D installations, students showed that even at this early stage, they are ready to wrestle with big ideas and bold forms to solidify their future intentions. Individual and externally recognised achieve- ments have shone brightly, further illuminating the creative calendar. Henry Yang’s solo-show of hyper-realistic self-portraits mesmerised au- diences with an engaging human connection and deftly controlled technical precision, while his experimental coursework blended surreal- ism, digital artifice and traditional oil on panel pieces in unexpectedly striking harmony. Henry, alongside fellow Year 13 students Aristou Mee- han and Alexander de Almeida was shortlisted for the Sovereign Art Foundation Student Art Prize 2024, underscoring the professional cali- bre of our student work. The annual Young Art competition drew further success with four stu- dents winning national prizes. Zishan Ismail and Atticus Dewe (both Year 11) and younger artists Josh Doig and Harry Davison, demonstrated the power of printmaking and drawing as tools for
solving. In ‘Reveal’, art was not confined by the perceived limitations of a syllabus; it became a dynamic arena for self-expression, risk-taking, and fearless experimentation.
Each exhibition offers students the opportunity to go beyond the expected
Artwork: (from left to right) 1. Freddie Michalowski-Howells (Year 12) 2&3. Milo Ogidel (Year 12)
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