Visual Arts Exhibition 1.1

We believe that the studying and understanding of the Arts is of fundamental importance to enable students to understand, analyse and affect their world and that this opportunity, open to all is of great educational benefit.

- Mr. Ryan, Head of Visual Art

Many NACIS teachers and students have visited the classroom in the corner of the NACIS secondary teaching building recently. It turns out that the first Visual Art Exhibition 1.1 of NACIS Shanghai was officially launched.

The exhibition is a celebration of the learning, knowledge and hard work that takes place in the classroom. It offers each student the opportunity to display their work in the new gallery setting. In order to create a more artistic exhibition environment, the separate gallery was especially set for the NACIS secondary students to display their work.

These artworks with various styles were created by students from grade 6 to 10. Each work passed through layers of screening, which allowed us to see the "unique and interesting soul" behind it.

Students' works varies in styles including traditional oil paintings, collages, pen-and-ink paintings, ink paintings, modern photography and digital media, which reflect different artistic thinking and unique aesthetics. Some students who love to work with hands made ceramics and other artefacts, while others created a 3D model of a polar bear by integrating 3D printing technology in STEAM.

The 3D model of the polar bear was created using the software Blender and 3D printed with the assistance of the STEAM department.

Based on the progressive blend of core elements of the Shanghai National Curriculum with other renowned international curricula, our visual arts curriculum provides a clear structure to develop knowledge, skills and understanding whilst making subject learning (STEAM, Chinese, Maths, etc) more connected. We collaborate with numerous departments throughout the school and we look at the Key skills and Techniques in every medium linking to Art History, the IB learner profile and the Shanghai National Curriculum.

The colourful flowers in the middle of the hall were created by Justin from Grade 11. Influenced by ancient Greek culture, he created the piece in reference to the crumbling architecture and ruins he experienced on a family holiday. He was inspired by the contrasting colourful flowers which symbolised new life to the decaying environment they were flourishing in.

The IB Diploma Programme encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries. It is a thought-provoking course in which students develop analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking, while working towards technical proficiency and confidence as art-makers.

The course encourages students to actively explore the visual arts within and across a variety of local, regional, national, international and intercultural contexts. Through inquiry, investigation, reflection and creative application, visual arts students develop an appreciation for the expressive and aesthetic diversity in the world around them, becoming critically informed makers and consumers of visual culture.

NACIS students will have the opportunity to visit the exhibition over the week. On the opening day, they crowded into the gallery with great enthusiasm during break. Some gathered around the paintings to appreciate each brush stroke, while others exchanged their favorite works. Through regular work exchange, our students will grow into art learners, creators, appreciators and reflectors in such a learning atmosphere.

The exhibition was curated by G12 students. In addition to completing their own visual art works, IB students were also responsible for the planning, arrangement and on-site interpretation of the art exhibition. During the one-month curation process, we witnessed the change from an ordinary classroom to a well-planned and personalized NACIS art gallery.

The walls are covered with sketch painting, oil painting and photography works with colorful electronic playing in the mobile LCD screen. In the center of the gallery are several separate shelves where students' handcrafts are displayed. Art works hanging in the air can also attract audience's attention.

In front of the enthusiastic audience, our IB students also explained the connotation and ideas behind the works. Since the secondary PTA who attended the exhibition had doubts about university application, our IB students (Vivian, Ruby and Rita) who have successfully received many offers from well-known overseas universities also shared their experience of university application with parents.

It is worth celebrating that Vivian has received several offers from the world's top art colleges with her outstanding performance in visual arts, including California Institute of The Arts, Pratt Institute of Art in New York and Parsons School of Design in New York. Ruby has also received offers (major in business) from some top universities in the UK. We hope that they can fully show their talents in their favorite fields in the future.