Art education has always been a prominent feature and strength of Pao School. This is easily seen in visual arts education, where students are guided to explore a wide variety of different art forms and methods of expression. Emphasis is placed on the creative process being as important as the final outcome, so that students are encouraged to think as they create.
Among this year's graduates, 11 students had opted for IB Visual Arts. These students had embraced Pao School as a place in which to explore and experiment, cultivating their own distinct personal interests. Their choices of college majors have been equally varied, encompassing fields from art, spatial design, architectural design, and urban planning, to psychology, environmental studies, finance, and economics.
Alyssa Liu, Head of the High School Art Department, explained that the IB Visual Arts course requires students to apply themselves to a wide range of art theories and practices, encompassing art appreciation, work analysis, painting, sculpture, photography, and more. The curriculum also introduces students to the realm of digital art and new media, encouraging them to familiarize themselves with various digital tools and software applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D modeling software.
The Pao School Art Department teachers are dedicated to nurturing students' soft skills, focusing on enhancing their logical thinking, data retrieval, writing, and communication abilities. To bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and its real-world application, the course organizes regular visits to art galleries and museums. Such visits deeply enrich the students’ understanding of curatorial intentions and concepts, allowing them to apply these insights to their own exhibitions, while enhancing their practical skills and art appreciation.
Additionally, the art teachers conduct frequent art workshops and invite professional artists to engage with students, which allows them to seek direct guidance from experts while gaining valuable creative experiences.
Poem Dang
Princeton University, United States
Major: Finance and Economics with a focus on Art
Poem Dang, is heading to Princeton University in the United States, where she will study Finance and Economics with a focus on Art. She recalls Pao School's educational support and resources, such as the IB Art Centre, with its specialized art rooms, for activities such as costume design, printmaking, painting, and ceramics. She found teachers at the school to be highly supportive and respectful, encouraging students to freely explore and express their ideas and creations.
“The students all have distinctive hobbies,” she says. “They were able to find things they love, and focus deeply upon them. They motivated and elevated each other, creating a healthy and positive competitive atmosphere." Poem’s own hobbies included participation in the Model United Nations club, joining the varsity tennis team, and engaging in strength training, among others.
Beyond the Embrace
While highly successful at school, Poem Dang’s commitment to art transcends academics. For her, it has been a passion since childhood, when, spending hours in front of her drawing paper, yet it was merely one thread in an art education involving boundless possibilities. In art class, teachers guide students through the study and appreciation of artists across different epochs and regions, intertwining creators' narratives, their historical contexts, artistic media, and techniques, to evoke the creative process of their predecessors.
In her IB artworks, Poem Dang explores themes of identity, relationships, and the influence of modern technology on individuals. One of her works, called ‘Fluxion’, centres on the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures. She notes that the school places a strong emphasis on traditional cultural education through activities such as guqin, Chinese percussion, tea ceremonies, and the Chinese Literature Club, all of which offer avenues to a deepened understanding of Chinese traditions.
Fluxion
Ningning Xu
Cornell University, USA
Major: Urban Planning and Spatial Design
Ningning Xu, who also studied IB Visual Arts, joined Pao School in Year 1, and will be heading to Cornell University this year to study Urban Planning and Spatial Design. She believes that the most precious thing she has gained during her 12 years at the school is the experience of a holistic education "Whether at elementary school, middle school or high school, the school always helps you develop your personal interests," she says. Recalling her pottery class in the primary school, when they would sculpt totems and assemble finished totemic porcelain pieces. Even today, the entrance of the Primary School still displays the children’s handmade totem ceramics. Ningning says that she was particularly inspired by the ceramics course, and has always since had a strong interest in 3D design, which influenced her choice of higher education study.
Urban forest
Discussing her IB artworks, Ningning says all her pieces revolve around the theme of self-awareness, drawing from her childhood experiences, and the culture of Shanghai. Among her works, her favorite, called ’Urban Forest’, constructs a replica of a soon-to-be-demolished Shanghai alleyway,. Through this piece she aims to illustrate life's resilience amidst adversity. She believes that old buildings symbolize a city's history, contributing to its distinct culture and charm, and these qualities should not be overshadowed by skyscrapers. For Ningning, these old alleys hold a profound significance, as they were integral to her childhood, fostering close relationships with neighbors. Shanghai's “lilong” or “lane houses” represent the essence of the old city, and urban development should prioritize the preservation and revitalization of such historic structures.
Lighthouse
