Capturing Lives in Scotland's Communities
- an Arts Award Explore Online Project
The project aims to bring together young people aged 11 - 18 from across Scotland to explore and document life in their own communities in 2020. The team start by exploring questions of what a community is and how people capture different aspects of life happening in communities.
The project ran in June 2020, which is a pandemic period when the events are mostly based on Teams. Each week discussed and explored a different theme and medium of art including photography, oral histories, landscape painting and public art. I was one of the mentors working in group 9, collaborating with Eva to monopolise the weekly tasks, and discussions and acknowledge mentees' contributions positively.
I have come to the realization that my previous conception of art education was founded on Discipline Based Art Education, focusing on people's knowledge of art history, art criticism, and art interpretation. This leads to limitations in contemporary visual culture and students' critical thinking and creativity. My experience informed me that such a mode might potentially disassociate people from contemporary society and culture, thus resulting in a limited relationship between people and art. I want to see art education proactively integrate art into people's lives, rather than confining it to museum exhibits or remote areas that are largely disconnected from our everyday lives.
Through my participation in volunteer mentoring, I gained valuable insights regarding the need to change the mode of art education beyond the traditional focus on aesthetics and art criticism. I became aware of the importance of promoting a broader understanding of contemporary visual culture, encouraging students to recognise the presence of visual arts in various media throughout their daily lives, including television, magazines, theatres, concerts, computers, and mobile phones. People can develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the visual phenomenon by exploring the relationships between contemporary society, culture, and art in these different contexts. I believe that art education could involve extensive discussion and communication, allowing students to experience not only the themes of the different art curriculums but also their personal feelings and experiences related to the world around them.
Drawing and Painting
Aimal's cat drawing
Sunflower water by Daisy
My Life in Lockdown by Ella Crozier, 2020
" I made this mural to show what life is like in lockdown, using fine liners and pens. Where the light shines in the centre is life in lockdown and the darker bits outside the light are the things we can't do because of restrictions."
Land Art by Vinita
"Due to the two metres rules, we haven’t been able to hug our friends. Touch is human nature, so normal and now suddenly, we can’t do it. I’m trying to emphasise the importance of touch. Also, both hands are different colours so it can also represent unity and that no matter what colour you are, we need to stand together. This is everything 2020 has taught us."
Playing with rocks
Grace's Land Art
“ I have chosen to do a Representation of a sculpture in Alloa called lifeline which symbolises the role of emergency services and the arm forces, by the artist Andy Scott also known for creating the Kelpies”
Keira's Land Art
“I have recreated this statue near me by using rocks and twigs ”
“I was inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy who uses materials in nature to create his work. ”
Photography
Photo by Aimal
Photo by Ella
Art with Isabel: play and communication
Isabel painting in her studio