The recent IB DP Visual Arts Exhibition and Vernissage served as a powerful testament to the creativity, resilience, and technical skill of our graduating artists. Unlike traditional academic milestones, this event transformed the school gallery into a space of profound personal storytelling.
As our Head of School, Mr. Timothy Thomas, noted in his opening speech at the vernissage, the IB Visual Arts class holds a distinct place in the Diploma Programme curriculum. He remarked that “unlike other IB Diploma Programme classes, which end in an exam and a score, the IB Visual Arts class is unique. It culminates in an exhibition of deeply personal student work for all to see and to critique. It takes boldness to showcase two years of introspection and artistic output.”
This exhibition is the result of a rigorous two-year journey. IB DP Visual Arts teacher Dana Hoit explains that the Exhibition and Curatorial Rationale comprise 40% of the final DP Visual Arts Grade. Throughout the course, students have "free choice of materials and thematic elements and subject matter," leading to a diverse range of outcomes. While Standard Level (SL) students present 4-7 artworks, Higher Level (HL) students curate a collection of 8-11 pieces, all of which must be accompanied by a written rationale that justifies their selection and spatial arrangement.
Featured Student Perspectives
The gallery walls were filled with a variety of thematic explorations, ranging from surrealist metaphors to the psychological impacts of global conflict.
In her exhibition titled Essence, Sieun Kwon utilized ocean life as a metaphor to explore themes of identity and alienation. Inspired by the surrealist works of René Magritte, Kwon’s work frequently features clouds and dreamlike imagery to visualize her feelings of being "out of place". She notes, "I liken my experience to that of a fish left on a shore, reflecting feelings of anxiety and being out of breath in crowded places". By using vibrant shades of phthalo blue in works like Astronaut, she guided viewers through a narrative of childhood nostalgia and melancholy.
Sofiia Spatar presented a haunting and reflective body of work titled The Red Thread of Ruined Innocence, which examines the impact of war on childhood. Spatar explained that her art became a way to process the "loss of childhood wonder" and the uncertainty shaped by trauma. Her exhibition used a muted black and white palette punctuated by the color red, which she notes "not only references blood and violence, but links to memory, thus symbolizing an underlying motif of loss of self".
Leonard Lee’s exhibition, Think With Your Eyes, reimagined the visual language of Western comics and Eastern manga as a tool for exploring memory and emotional vulnerability. His display was structured to mirror comic panels, guiding the viewer through a deliberate narrative rhythm. Lee’s work included a unique animated viewing experience titled Rivals, placed in a darkened space to shift the audience's focus from mere observation to total immersion. He aimed to transform character imagery from surface-level entertainment into a "vehicle for exploring memory, identity, nostalgia, and vulnerability.”
The IB Visual Arts Exhibition is more than a grade; it is a professional-level showcase of technical competence, conceptual qualities, and curation. By inviting the community into their inner worlds, these students have demonstrated the exact "boldness" Mr. Thomas described, proving that art is a vital medium for understanding both the self and the world around us. Acknowledging the success of our student artists, we are proud to share that this event was a remarkable conclusion to their two-year creative odyssey.
