Repton Family of Schools in UAE hosts noteworthy student exhibition

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

The Repton Family of Schools in the UAE - Repton Dubai, Al Barsha and Abu Dhabi - hosted its second annual students art exhibition (Oct. 30 – Nov. 2) at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. The event showcased a curated selection of work created by students from Year 9 to Year 13 from the Visual Arts and Design Technology departments. The show highlighted their diverse and creative achievements. This year’s collection encompassed a range of artistic mediums, including watercolour, oil paint, acrylic, and ink. The Design Technology department also presented objets d’art that incorporated contemporary materials such as recycled plastics, metals and wood, demonstrating the innovative spirit of the students. From intricate paintings to cutting-edge furniture designs, each piece on display offered insights into the minds and imaginations of the young artists.
Gillian Hammond, Principal, Repton School Dubai, in a speech that spoke about the contents of the exhibition and the efforts of the students and faculty, said that “we are immensely proud of the work our students produced. This exhibition not only provides a platform to highlight their artistic talents, but also offers them an opportunity to engage with the wider community and receive recognition for their hard work. Art and design play a vital role in developing skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, and it is exciting to see the diverse range of ideas brought to life by our talented students.”
Nitesh Rajendra Joshi, Head of Design Technology & Innovation, Repton Dubai said that “we’ve just celebrated our wonderful second-year Art & Design Technology Exhibition for Repton Schools. It’s been an incredible event, with students’ work that is nothing short of exceptional.” Gareth Pyper, Head of Creative Arts at Repton Dubai said that “we are immensely proud of our students and delighted they have the opportunity to exhibit their work at such an innovative arts and culture space like Alserkal Avenue.” Kate McLaren, Head of Art, Repton Abu Dhabi, and a practicing artist producing mixed media projects based on landscape and natural form, expressed satisfaction at the response the event had generated.
Mohammed Khoori, Year 13, Repton Dubai, was influenced by da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’. His piece showed five figures sitting at a table. The figure in the centre was the only one looking straight ahead; just his reflection was seen. The work conveyed the struggles encountered by individuals with ADHD, when loaded with the demands of school and how procrastination could often take over. Emile Moriettesala, Year 13, Repton Dubai, was inspired by John Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme’, a four-part avant-garde jazz suite. Interpreting Coltrane’s spiritual quest for purity, the artist explored the human search for love —platonic, romantic, or familial — placing a heart in the centre, symbolising its significance in her life.
Ankita Prabhu, Year 13, Repton Dubai, displayed a painting series which drew inspiration from the adage ‘You are your harshest critic’. It delved into the concept of women subjecting themselves to intense scrutiny, concerning their physical appearance. The piece introduced the theme of unrealistic or warped standards and perceptions of beauty in modern society. Atia Khan, Year 11, Repton Al Barsha, showed the profound influence of the natural world, highlighting its distinctive and intricate beauty through a mixed media collage, emphasising the nuanced complexity inherent in natural forms and structures.
Sara Butt, Year 11, Repton Al Barsha, explored the fragments of a person’s identity and culture, merging their past and present selves in an exploration of what it meant to be a third culture child, through a collage in acrylic paint, gold leaf, ink and lino printing. Amina Azhibekova, Year 11, Repton Abu Dhabi, looked at powerful figures, poses, and objects of peace in a collage-based composition with the theme of ‘Power’. Brian Mutai, Year 11, Repton Abu Dhabi, based his work on the theme of ‘Coast’. He looked at the work of Ben Nicholson to create the outcome, which combined shapes found in aerial imagery, along with coastal imagery and associated colours.
Ryan Arjomandi, Year 11, Repton Al Barsha, symbolised time and physical power in his artwork, through the movement of arms and various locations where people exercise. The piece enveloped the viewer in a time-lapse sequence of events, using a monochrome and distorted effects, from specific sections of a gym. The sections were composed of images taken from different perspectives and overlaid, to produce distorted appearances. The images were monochromatic, to convey the passage of time.
Andrea Rahal, Year 11, Repton Dubai, designed an interior light that captured elements of Dubai’s architecture. The light, contemporary and innovative, incorporated features that are unique to Dubai’s skyline. It was also functional, providing ample illumination for any interior space. Ameer Aboobackar, Year 11, Repton Dubai, created a comfortable and visually appealing piece of furniture that can be produced using CNC technology. The furniture was made from durable materials and was suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. It was also designed for easy storage and transportation.
The exhibition, which showcased the skills and imagination of students across various artistic and technological disciplines, was a unique fusion of traditional art and contemporary technology. Students spent months developing their pieces, each reflecting a personal journey of discovery and technical mastery. It was a celebration of their hard work and artistic vision, culminating in a professional-level display at one of Dubai’s most esteemed art venues.