A Look Back in Time

Visual Art serves to showcase the creative pursuits of people. Expressions, passions and aspirations are commonly exhibited through images that connect people across cultures and experiences. For those creating it, visual art offers a way of exploring and expressing one’s deepest imagination. For those encountering it, it can offer moments of inspiration, understanding and wonderment.

It is true that our experiences and environment provide us with much inspiration and provocation, yet it is also true that artists who have come before us offer stimulus for future projects. We hear it on the radio where lyrics or tempos from yesteryear have been remixed, and the same applies to Visual Art, where influences from centuries ago can be recognised within current work.

Introducing students to a broad range of art movements, styles, artists, media and techniques provides authentic links to the learning that takes place in the Art Studio.

Recently, Year 4 students observed the work of Hundertwasser, an Austrian naive abstractionist. His influence - onion domes, multiple eyes, lollipop trees, complementary colour schemes and merging, rhythmic lines - can be seen in the students’ portraits. Year 6 students were influenced by mosaics from the Byzantine era (6th century), and in particular the Empress Theodora mosaic. As a practising mosaic artist, it was a fantastic opportunity to share my work and mosaic techniques with the students.

Gymea N

Jenna S

Ting'en L

Audrey W

In nurturing one’s imagination, it is important for students to draw from within themselves as well as from beyond. The creativity and imagination of our students has been evident this year and also highly commended, with many Year 4 and 5 student artworks having been selected for exhibition in the Zart Art Student Gallery.

Ms Petra Glaser - Wardle House Art Specialist