New art program defies ‘traditional standards’
Print Edition
AS Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Affiliated School (XJTLU-AS) continues to grow and change, the school has expanded from just offering the core classes to a curriculum that also focuses on art and health. This prestigious school in Suzhou combines both international thinking and perspectives with traditional cultural roots to create a fusion in education, taking the best factors of each environment to nurture the students. In the current Chinese education system, examinations and test grades are given very high importance, as they are considered to be accurate measures of a student’s ability and quality of work.
While XJTLU-AS continues this traditional practice of education through emphasizing core classes and assessments, it also promotes a better-rounded perspective on education, incorporating classes that develop the talents and personalities of the students. The target of the school is to not only grow the intellectual abilities of the students but also to nurture their interests.
Young artists at XJTLU-AS
The art program at XJTLU-AS has quickly become a popular and important aspect of the school. Art allows the students to express themselves and their personalities through different means, expanding the traditional setting in the classroom to incorporate more abstract learning principles of art.
Zhao Hong, the art program director at XJTLU-AS, believes that art can improve and enhance the quality of a child’s life. Zhao hopes to break traditional standards by allowing students more freedom in art classes, encouraging them to experiment with different mediums and materials, from wood cutting to Chinese paintings to stone drawings.
Within the art curriculum, there are lessons that teach calligraphy, line drawings, doodling, line sketching, oil painting, print making, and digital photography; with a wider range of artistic styles to choose from, students can grow to their full potential as artists. In fact, in March, students from the Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Affiliated School had their artwork displayed at the Golden Hall of Suzhou Municipal Education Bureau. These beautiful works of art created by the talented students exude artistic styles of imagination, uniqueness, culture, and personality, and were on display for two weeks. In the school’s own art gallery, the artwork of students at XJTLU-AS is displayed for fellow students and community members to admire.
Three-step program
Director Zhao has identified and defined three stages that children/adolescents go through in their artistic journey. The first stage is the doodling or graffiti stage of children aged 3-7; in this critical first stage, the young artists begin to form their imaginations and thoughts into tangible, conscious products. This is the beginning of the artistic process, when the painting and art at this period still rely on a completely basic skill set. Emphasis is placed on the children’s imaginations. Painting at this stage is characterized by unlimited possibilities, joy, and freedom. After this comes the second stage. In this level of artistic ability, the children, in year one and two in elementary school, are able to move past the egocentric and begin to express their creations through viewing or taking into account the perspectives of others. Rather than solely basing an artwork through their mindset and lens, they may be able to look at art more objectively. Here, children are trained to identify basic shapes and increase their spatial perception on a more education-oriented level. Finally, students older than 8 to 9 years old go through the last stage. These children are now capable of understanding abstract concepts of art, and move towards a more advanced creative future, completing the transition from simply “creating art” to true “painting.” Through these three identified stages, Zhao creates an art curriculum that can benefit the students, academically and creatively.
Professional teachers
Last year, 41 ninth grade art students all passed Jiangsu Province’s art examination under the guidance of Li Lei, a professional art teacher at XJTLU-AS. Among them is Xu Yuhui, who scored a 273 and ranked 46th in the province.
Graduated from Anhui Academy of Fine Arts, Li is a member of Suzhou Artist Association and has held five solo exhibitions, two national exhibitions and five provincial exhibitions.
The newly launched Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Affiliated School Art Center features artwork collections, art education presentations and culture studies. A highlight of the program, the art center combines traditional and digital methods of teaching.
At XJTLU-AS, more and more students have access to fine arts and are able to experience an environment of diverse culture.
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