Congratulations to Franci, Daria, and Adrian for hosting a very impressive Art Exhibition showcasing their IB artwork over the last two years! The creativity and emotion captured in the artwork was a true reflection of all the hard work and passion the three students have shown during their time at Sixth Form and a brilliant display of the culmination of skills developed throughout their course. When asked about their inspiration and processes for this final display, Daria commented:
"My exhibition explores how the female body and the issues surrounding it are perceived by society. The goal of this exhibition is to highlight the mental issues that arise from societal expectations, especially beauty standards and weight. These issues are seen throughout my work, and I want to challenge the viewer to reconsider those standards and the way women are judged, not only on their looks, but also their behaviour and the long-lasting impacts of those judgments.
The inspiration for my works comes from the many museums I was privileged to visit worldwide; in those, I was drawn to the traditional nude in oil. Initially, I was interested in the classical approach to the nude, but after engaging in life drawing classes and encouragement from my teachers, I discovered a strong connection to charcoal and acrylic paint, especially expressive mark-making. This passion developed over time. Instead of achieving anatomic precision, I wanted to capture the raw human emotions and the meaning behind every single line I drew and painted. To achieve this, I used gestures to convey anger, sadness, strength and vulnerability.
Two key artistic influences for my work are Jenny Saville and Tracey Emin. Saville’s use of scale and the depiction of the human body, challenging beauty standards, mesmerised me, shaping my approach to form and scale. Emin’s deep personal mark-making encouraged me to embrace the imperfections of the female form. These influences can be seen in my work “Triptych change”, where I used a large scale to critique societal expectations surrounding the process of growing up."
"All of my drawn or painted artworks originated from a life drawing; these provided a foundation for understanding the proportions of the female body better, but also inspired new works, like “Figure in Red”.
Most importantly for me, what made curating this exhibition was the interaction between the viewer and my artworks. “Hate. Love. Anger” plays a crucial role in this; I invited girls aged 15-18 to draw on the piece and express their feelings towards it. This transformed the piece into a collective expression of frustration, resilience and identity. The scale of my artworks, but also the arrangement, forces the viewer to reflect and interpret, which reinforces the impact. Each artwork is connected through the theme. This exhibition aims to question societal established norms. Through expressive mark-making, large scale and audience participation, I am seeking a dialogue on beauty, self-image and identity."
Discussing her own exhibition, Franci said:
"My exhibition explores what makes us human, inspired by personal experiences and everyday observations. It reflects on themes like love, betrayal, anxiety, war, and growth—universal experiences that connect us all. I used a variety of materials and techniques, from stiffened fabric and red beads to crochet and digital art, each chosen to express different emotions and ideas. The exhibition is designed as an immersive space, wrapping around the viewer and inviting them to reflect on their humanity through a carefully considered layout and unified colour palette. I enjoyed the making process, and I am really proud of the outcome."
