Compassion Articulated by Yara Almouradi, M.F.A.

from Jain Digest February 2022

Jain Academy of Scholars: An Excellent Opportunity for Scholars

Compassion Articulated

Yara Almouradi has a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Drawing and Painting, is the Co-Founder of the nonprofit Sight & Sketches and is a Visual Arts Professor at her alma mater, CSU-Fullerton. Yara just completed a solo exhibit ‘Seen and Heard’, at Muzeo Museum & Cultural Center in Anaheim, California and is preparing for an upcoming gallery in France. In her spare time, Yara enjoys spending time with loved ones and traveling.

It is thrilling, as an art educator, to see such diverse artwork, submitted on an international scale, exemplifying the ethereal concept of compassion. The International Art Contest: Compassion in Action 2021 globally united over 300 individuals of all ages, enthusiasts and professionals alike, with a single idea: how to successfully interpret the ideals of compassion in a creative manner.

Viewing these entries as a professional artist, educator, and judge, I assessed the success of each contestant’s submission in portraying the contest’s theme. Looking at both technical and conceptual aspects, I began to analyze each piece for correct uses of the formal elements of art: color, shape, unity, balance, emphasis, ease of thought, execution, and accessibility, taking into consideration the contestants’ age category.

Now, more than ever, compassion and understanding is needed in our lives. We are living in unprecedented times where multiple crises plague our world, from poverty, to discrimination and injustice, to housing insecurities, to famine, to wars, all the while dealing with an on-going pandemic.

Compassionate actions are taught to and observed by children and youth. The children and youth entries exemplify how they are actively learning about compassion as they navigate ways to articulate it in an artistic manner. Once completing this process, they are able to better explain themselves and their feelings, as well as teach others to do the same. Children are much more compassionate and caring by nature, and to have them be able to clearly grasp the concept and explain it allows their community to thrive.

This contest also served as a reminder to adults. The adults that were around the children and youth as they created their work were surely reminded of various ways they themselves could be more compassionate and caring towards those around them. As for participating adults, such as contestants, volunteers, event coordinators, or judges, they were able to re-discover art as a brilliant avenue of self expression, empathy, and mental healing.

When viewing children and youth entries, adults can reflect on an ever-pure worldview that exemplifies compassion in daily life.

The contest entries clearly revealed the artists’ priorities in living life compassionately and conducting oneself with empathy in mind on a daily basis, thus proving that compassion and kindness are a lifestyle and a daily choice.

By presenting the theme artistically, the genuineness becomes clear to all, and proves that art is a much better vehicle for invoking behavioral change than a lecture on the social and spiritual benefits of kindness and compassion. I am honored to have had the opportunity to be a judge for such an altruistic cause and an impactful international community project.

Please visit Virtual Art Gallery to view other winners and some inspiring artworks of artists of all ages.

https://www.internationalartcontest.org/art-gallery-part-1-1