The IB Organization believes that visual arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries. Supporting the IB mission statement and learner profile, the course encourages students to actively explore the visual arts within and across a variety of local, regional, national, international and intercultural contexts. Through inquiry, investigation, reflection and creative application, visual arts students develop an appreciation for the expressive and aesthetic diversity in the world around them, becoming critically informed makers and consumers of visual culture.
- Artist in Residence Program
About David Reid
David Reid is an independent artist with over 30 years of art practice. David first exhibited his work at the Shanghai Art Fair in 2005 and was invited to return in 2006, when he was awarded a grant by the Government of South Australia. With this assistance he has continued to develop his relationship with Asia’s most exhilarating city, regularly traveling to Shanghai.
David’s approach has attracted attention from Chinese art professors and curators alike and his works are sold in Australia, China and around the world. His series of works including a five panel painting and the work River Rocks X was recently purchased for the On the North Project – the Shanghai Yacht Club and Marina.
David has developed a unique way of making paintings and works on paper, which employs some of the major ideas and explores many of the materials found in Chinese art yet never seeks to imitate them. David’s work has taken many years of patient development to come to its present fruition, and it sometimes contains quirky or humorous references as well as large ideas. His use of shape, color and negative space are immediately recognizable to audiences in Shanghai and have drown much attention.
David’s Approach to Arts
Step 1 – Observation and Practicing
David has already started his first session of the above-mentioned program. Students were directed to observe each other and paint their friends down with a charcoal pencil, through which they made art through a process of investigation, thinking critically and experimenting with techniques. Students are required a lot of practice as well to cultivate their skills. On all accounts, one cannot express his or her feelings without basic painting techniques.
Step 2 – Immersing into Environment and Culture
While working with multinational enterprises like Gensler, BlackRock and Boston Consulting Group, David is also obsessed with Chinese culture and arts. David’s art works are featured by integrating Chinese and Western cultures and techniques alike. We can see a strong hint of Western pattern on a Ming dynasty style porcelain vase, unique ink saturation on a Chinese-silk-made canvas, also chemical elements like alum being used in the painting to make more special color effects.
In David’s opinion, rather than reflecting specific scenarios on a photo, he prefers drawing his impressions out as an expression of his feelings to the scene and its culture background alike. Thus, he took students out to Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area which is characterized by beautiful nature scenery and rich historical culture. By immersing themselves to local environment and culture, students were bound to be enlightened.
Step 3 – Curatorial Practice
The visual arts are an integral part of everyday life, permeating all levels of human creativity, expression, communication and understanding. We celebrate the visual arts not only in the way we create images and objects, but also in the way we appreciate, enjoy, respect and respond to the practices of art-making by others from around the world.
With their techniques and culture understanding, David believes students are able to create art works that stun us. So why not expect a successful Exhibition? Besides, David is also setting up his studio in BIS, decorating with his amazing works.
Looking forward to this special art tour where students’ potentials will be exploited!