Students collaborate on sustainable art project

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

A group of students from two academic institutes have join hands to create an art project on the theme of ‘sustainability in Nature’. The result comprising a number of art pieces will be showcased at two high profile art showcases – DIFC Art Nights on March 18th and World Art Dubai from April 3rd to 6th.

The students from the Repton School Dubai and Manzil, one of the renowned non-profit centres focusing on social inclusion of people of determination, joined hands to create for the art project.

A workshop focused on ‘Sustainability in Nature’ held at Repton Dubai saw 12 children from years five and six working closely with 12 children of mixed ages from Manzil. Each Repton pupil was paired with a Manzil pupil so that together they could explore the key themes of recycling, the environment and sustainable practices through art.

Children were encouraged to utilise different forms of media and arts, including photography, acrylic paint and other mixed materials to produce a series of art works – a total of 12 canvases and 12 print works. The creative opportunity provided an exciting experience for the children to work together on ideas based on their experience and unique perspective, which also promoted teamwork, goal accomplishment within timelines, persistence and self-confidence.

Kay Bathke, Head of Creative Arts, Junior School, Repton School commented: “Our pupils had a fantastic experience working closely with the very gifted children at Manzil; the results of our project have been nothing short of astounding. The collaboration structured their thinking, where children were able to brainstorm as a team and visualise each other’s ideas. It also served as an instrument of communication to stimulate awareness on sustainability, a topic which is continually relevant to the world in which we live. The idea was to promote mutual understanding, cooperation and teamwork while encouraging these young artists to demonstrate their creative expression.  The resulting masterpiece is something in which all of the children can take enormous pride, and we are looking forward to the response from the general public when we exhibit it at DIFC Art Nights and at World Art Dubai.”

Dr Ayesha Saeed Husaini, Director at Manzil commented: “The workshop was a great opportunity for our pupils to experience learning in a different environment.  Creative expression is a key element of personal development and it proved a very positive experience for our pupils to be working with other children, communicating their opinions sharing ideas and showing off their skills, while at the same time learning about the importance of a sustainable world.  Together, they have produced anoutstanding visual spectacle, and seeing it displayed at two key events over the coming weeks will be very encouraging for the pupils, parents and staff of both schools.”

Set in Gate Village, DIFC Art Nights is a community event that showcases installations from around the world and a great platform for UAE-based artists to gain exposure to a global audience. For Manzil, it will be the first time to participate in the exhibition and the centre is pleased to collaborate with another school for the initiative to promote inclusion.

Presenting a unique fusion of art, education and entertainment, World Art Dubai, set to take place in Dubai World Trade Centre, is an accessible art fair concept designed to unite global artists with Dubai’s international community. This is the fifth time that Repton school has showcased its skills and the first time that it has joined forces with another school to produce artwork at the affordable art fair.