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St Christopher’s Senior School recently opened its annual art exhibition, displaying the work of students in Years 11-13.
Many of my friends are exhibiting their work, and this, in connection with personal curiosity and a deep-rooted appreciation for art, persuaded me to attend and witness the beautifully diverse canvas of ideas and mediums that the students have been working on for their examinations and course work.
Seeing the incredible show of technique and dedication required to put together such an extensive gallery of work truly made me believe that the ardent passion for art is present within teenagers here in Bahrain.
Attention to detail, focus and unmapped creativity all contribute to a successful art student; techniques range from the use of charcoal and sketching pencils to incorporating electronic media or three-dimensional elements in the artworks.
Each year the students are assigned a theme each to interpret as they wished, from ‘distortion’ to ‘role models’ to ‘advertisement’: the possibilities for artistic licence were endless. Speaking to parents, teachers and students, there is a palpable sense of growing artistic cultivation in Bahrain.
The Arab world has long been famous for its distinctive calligraphy, the precise skill of the pottery craftsmen, and the meticulously geometric architecture applied to many significant buildings in its culture.
It is fascinating to see so many young individuals inspired by these great works of creativity in their own art; personally I felt privileged to be a part of such a culturally-aware and yet individualistic exhibition, and am proud that such innovative ideas are being given the chance to surface on our island.
