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Art Exhibition “Drawn”

November 20, 2014

Art Exhibition “Drawn”

On November 15th, the art exhibition “Drawn” was held at Hengshan Picardie Hotel. Displaying works of twelfth grade AP Studio Art, it was an exhibition scarcely equal to any of its predecessors.

It is a noteworthy fact that this exhibition took place not on campus, but rather in a 5-star luxury hotel. Keiko Hirakawa, the organizer of the event, passionately explained, “We have young geniuses. There is action in every brush-stroke; the canvas is instinct with life and energy. These young geniuses should not confine themselves chiefly to a limited space with limited spectators. I wanted to show these eminently pleasing works to a wider and more diverse audience.” With a grin, she added, “I really wish this can serve as a useful starting point for our future careers. Perhaps years later we can all meet again and open another exhibition together, conjuring up memories of today’s experiences.”

Of course, it wasn’t easy for Keiko to mount an exhibit of artworks as a student. Initially she planned to run the show in Tianzifang, but at the last minute the original plans completely fell through, driving Keiko into despair. “Fortunately,” she said, “I could adjust to the circumstance and quickly modify the plans. The new location was provided by my mom’s friend, who was happening to look for artworks to fill up her gallery.” However, this was not the end of the hardships. Students were so busy with college applications and midterm preparations that it was a tough decision for them to spare time and consideration for the gallery.

The result was a far cry from Keiko’s initial worries about the exhibition. The artists’ perfection of technique and fineness of drawing doubtlessly appealed to the spectators, including those without artistic expertise or any specialized knowledge. Although the works could be appreciated without background knowledge, peeking into the artists’ personal inspiration and motivation behind the works could lead to deeper exploratory to and appreciation of the artworks. Hillary Wan from 12(6), who displayed several works of distinction, recollected what stimulated her to determine the subject of her paintings. She titled all of her works in French, including “Fleur du mal”, which means “Flowers of Evil”. The painting mixed vibrant colors and created a cubic effect through the use of thick oil paints. Flowers of different colors represent the colorfulness of life: although people only “blossom” for a short time, this brief span of life is still colorful, full of vitality and vigor. Another drawing, named “Quai de la seine”, or “Quay of the Seine”, literally paints the scenery of the Seine River in Paris, France. When Hillary saw the scenery during her visit to Paris in the summer, she was swept away by a sudden impulse to capture that moment into her paintings. To her, the Seine River was indeed the sole representation of Paris.

Perhaps the most striking and certainly one of the most admired artworks on exhibition was “Pork for Thought”, drawn and displayed by Christina Wang of 12(6). On six different plates, portrayed series of events in chronological order, from the death of pigs to the process of delivering pork and the sale of “lamb skewers”. Inspired by current events and contemporary issues, Christina tried to raise environmental and health issues. With a wicked smile, she said, “What you think might not be what it is. Be careful what you are eating.”

With a fine touch of humor, sincerity, and originality, the artworks displayed in Hengshan Picardie Hotel had few equals. Jennifer Kim, an eleventh grader taking AP Studio Art, expressed her pleasure admiring the artworks. “This exhibition drove me into deep inspiration and transformed my vague ideas about future tasks into more concrete, solid thoughts. The arrangement of the paintings, exploiting the lights to emphasize the most conspicuous characteristics of the works, was really admirable. I was overwhelmed with the general atmosphere of the exhibition along with the luxurious location. The artworks further surprised me; now I’m encircled by modesty and humility.” After appreciating the art exhibition, Jennifer’s adherence to her artistic beliefs was intense and her will was indomitable.

The pictures on exhibit were painted with the artists’ own hearts. Their passion, determination, and their masterly treatment of artworks will become the exemplar inspiring another generation of young geniuses.

Written by Grace Kim; Picture by Julia Xu