Risk

Progress involves exposing ourselves to and considering the impact or forms of danger, harm, uncertainty or opportunity.

13 April 2020

In our follow-up to our Renaissance explorations and art historical mashups, Grades 8 and 11 students in e-learning mode took up the same task of composing engaging and dynamic digital collages recontextualising artworks of different times, places and cultures but with a greater focus on the visuals of local cultures. With all my students in these grades being Vietnamese or Korean, this was a great opportunity for them to create collages using artefacts that draw from their unique cultural histories, traditions and identities.

Many students chose to include in their collages the likeness of Ho Chi Minh, North Vietnamese revolutionary and politician and the first president and prime minister of modern Vietnam. Another common element used was the Rat’s Wedding, a popular Vietnamese folk allegory and perhaps the only Dong Ho folk painting that focuses on the rat, the first of the 12 signs of the zodiac and this year’s zodiac sign. Amongst Korean motifs is the irworobongdo, a painting on a folding screen depicting the sun, moon and five mountain peaks, which sat behind the thrones of many generations of Joseon kings. Some interesting creatives choices were made as well to assemble Vietnamese and/or Korean motifs with art historical or contemporary elements, including Flemish Renaissance and Post-impressionist painting, graphic design from mid-century Vietnamese posters and propaganda, and contemporary global pop art. In addition to remaining engaged in their learning in an online setting, all my students did a great job putting together rich and complex images using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.