From early times our signature has been seen as a visual seal of our identity. It certifies our ideas, wishes or opinion at that time. Our autograph is not always identifiable as a ‘name’ but the style of line or shape is still identifiable as ‘us’ and so are the artworks we create.
At Thomas Hassall Anglican College we encourage our Visual Arts Students to look at ourselves as reflections of God’s image. Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Essentially we are His living and breathing portraits.
During Terms 1 and 2, Year 7 students have been looking at the portraits created by artists at different points in history and why and how they were created. Throughout history they have been used to suggest not only what we look like physically but ‘who’ we are as a person. Technology has greatly changed how we record these self-images and that has been part of our research and discussions too.
Year 7 art students have created a self-portrait or personal mask in class. These activities have involved using symbols, painting techniques, colours or objects to convey a message about “WHO they are TODAY”.
When we study artworks from the past we become the new audience in 2018. What we see now is influenced by what we have experienced in our own lifetime. By giving our students an understanding of the culture, politics and the social systems, at the time the artwork was created, we can begin to unravel some of the purposes of it and who the sitter is. That is why art theory is so important.
Did you know?
When the “Mona Lisa” was painted by Leonardo da Vinci (1503) it was ‘the look’ for woman to have no eyebrows! True/False
Answer: Ask your son or daughter for the answer.
We all hope you enjoy these insightful and interesting portraits of 2018!
Genelle Griffin
Secondary Visual Arts Teacher
