A Symphony of Hopes, Dreams, and Vision
10 Years of Walking with the World

This artwork, from the IPC unit “The World through Artists’ Eyes”, is a collaborative effort by two young artists who have explored various styles and movements in art. They have chosen to express their creativity through abstract art forms, using human figures as the primary design elements in their printmaking work. The arrangement and application of various elements such as colors, lines, shapes, and composition result in an artistic experience that diverges significantly from traditional representational art. The human figures depicted in this work are highly imaginative, and the strong color contrasts add to the visual appeal. A unique aspect of this work is the use of transfer printing, which produces a natural, unpredictable texture effect. This technique, combined with the stark black background, creates a strong impact. The result is an aesthetic experience that transcends the constraints of reality, offering a unique, pure, and freely creative expression of art.

As a new Foundation Year student joining the Keystone community, the young artist found himself immersed in a world brimming with fascinating discoveries and captivating knowledge. Inspired by this transformative experience, he created an artwork that beautifully captures the essence of his journey. In the piece, the artist depicts himself ascending from the vibrant Keystone campus in a whimsical hot air balloon, a vessel filled with hope and boundless imagination. The lines and colors throughout the painting breathe life into the scene, evoking a sense of childlike wonder and innocence. 

“Fun Palm Painting” is the inaugural set of artworks created by Grade 1 students as they embark on their educational journey. Through the imaginative use of their small hands, the children have crafted a delightful array of shapes and forms. Experimenting with watercolor pens, oil pastels, and watercolor paints, they have brought their creations to life. “The Little Tiger Goes to School” perfectly encapsulates the excitement and joy experienced by these young artists as they step onto the school campus for the first time. The artwork is characterized by captivating and varied shapes, along with a bold juxtaposition of colors that adds to its visual appeal.

In traditional Chinese culture, the fusion of poetry and painting is a significant art form. By observing and depicting the natural landscapes, characters, and emotional expressions described in poems, artists can transform abstract textual imagery into tangible visual representations. This allows viewers to gain a more profound understanding of the poet’s emotions and thoughts. Through the medium of visual art, the mood and artistic conception of ancient poetry are brought to life. As the young author engages in this creative process, he immerses himself in the spiritual connotations and aesthetic ideas embedded within the concept of “painting within poetry”. This experience deepens his comprehension and interpretation of ancient poems while simultaneously nurturing his pursuit of beauty and fostering his artistic creativity.

Exploring the theme of “embroidery” and delving into the traditional craftsmanship of Chinese ethnicities, the young artist employs lines and colors to capture the intricate textures of embroidery. With a palette that is both vibrant and bold, the artwork exudes a lively and assertive quality. The artist’s use of strong contrasts and striking juxtapositions elevates the embroidered pieces to a level of high visual appeal and impact. The incorporation of the Chinese dragon pattern, a symbol that coincides with the zodiac sign of 2024, adds a playful and childlike charm to the composition. As the young artist immerses himself in the exploration and appreciation of traditional Chinese craftsmanship, he gradually develops the understanding and ability to preserve and promote the traditional cultural heritage.

This oil on canvas artwork beautifully depicts two aplacas standing on vast and lush grasslands. The artist's meticulous use of texture and color creates a lifelike and vibrant representation of the scene, invoking a sense of serene beauty and tranquility. The selection of aplacas, known for their strength and grace, is not random. The artist's intention was to capture and communicate the majesty and resilience of nature, and its inhabitants, which often goes unnoticed. The aplacas stand as a symbol of the enduring beauty and strength that exists in our natural world. Their posture, standing tall and confident, is a tribute to the unyielding spirit of life that perseveres despite the challenges it faces.

The deep, inky background evokes the boundless sea, creating a timeless aura. The fish symbolizes prosperity and harmony, representing the intertwining forces of tradition, modernity, and commerce amid globalization. Moreover, the fish bones and the deep backdrop speak to the fragility of life and the relentless passage of time. This composition offers a profound reflection on the intersection of tradition and global exchange, embodying the delicate balance of life and culture.

Exploring the multidimensional nature of the female experience has been a central theme in many of my artistic endeavors. In this artwork, I employed a combination of mixed media, incorporating multi-layer stencils and spray colors to achieve the desired visual effect. "Shadow" speaks to the resilience of women living on the margins of today's world, where they face societal constraints yet persist with unyielding strength. This piece celebrates the essence of womanhood – its enduring spirit and relentless determination in facing adversity.

This artwork depicts the scene of a regular subway carriage, with a fish within which symbolizes people who commute daily through subway. This artwork contributes to explaining how repetitive tasks causes our life to be tedious and systemized. The use of opposite color, purple and yellow, creates an absurd and imaginary atmosphere. This artwork is inspired by my longstanding experience with Line 15 in Shunyi, Beijing.

“Under the Veil” is a series comprising four plastic etchings that intricately explore the theme of the pervasive sense of surveillance prevalent in modern society. The central figure, gazing downward at the viewer, evokes an atmosphere of indifference, symbolizing the perpetual scrutiny experienced by individuals. The intricate interplay of background lines signifies the invisible oppression and limitations imposed by our surrounding environment. The veil emerges as a metaphor for the surrender of individuality in the quest for societal conformity. The pressure to adhere to social norms often results in the suppression of personal expression, with the authentic self obscured beneath a facade.

With mosaic-like brushstrokes, I explored the sense of loneliness usually felt by individuals in cities: surrounded by blurry points of light that the world has painted as brilliant yet feeling far removed from this infinitely splendid world. Amidst the dazzle, one confronts the profound paradox of modern existence—simultaneously connected and isolated, yearning for authentic connection amidst the cacophony of superficial brilliance.

Lotus has been a typical feature of Buddhism and internal calmness. This work refers to the religious system on this planet includes mixed concepts: cube and circle, cold and warm. A chaotic ideological struggle.

This work illustrates the ties of a family through a historical perspective. The painting presents a young boy from a fish-eye lens, zooming into the eyes of the boy. He faced the struggle between new identity and family traditions of the Qing Dynasty. It hints family constraints on the development of individuals throughout history. 

For these classes these past few days, we’ve been working on an artwork that employs the use of the Traditional Chinese calligraphy brush paints, in which we practice the correct way of using the brush and harnessing our previous experiences with the practice. We learned several different ways of drawing lines by utilizing a variety of strategies, such as drawing short and stubby lines, or long, thin flowy lines etc. The beauty of this artwork is the embroidery on the woman’s sleeves, contrasting with the flowy clothes included in this artwork. I particularly like the usage of thin lines, which go well with the entire artwork.

My original approach was to first understand and learn the art of the calligraphy brush; and I choose some sketches down below where I modeled different aspects of Dunhuang elements such as the lilies and hair ornaments on the main lady of the portrait. She is also carrying this light pink silk fabric in her hands, which is a sign of young and lively characteristics represented by the color. Her hands are cupped into an elegant poise, which shows sign of high intelligence, and sharp-witted thinking. 

It is well known that I have always been fascinated by various mythological creatures. This project provided me with the perfect opportunity for independent creation, as the beautiful lines of Dunhuang seamlessly aligned with my personal vision, effortlessly outlining the image in my mind.

During the initial design phase, I swiftly determined the central theme: A Transtemporal Gaze. The celestial maiden, gracefully dancing, faces the majestic white dragon, embodying the enchanting fusion of human and divine elements. This juxtaposition represents the mysterious connection that spans across the two ends of time. Once I had settled on this theme, I promptly began seeking references to enrich and solidify the ideas that were floating in my mind, grounding them in tangible elements.

This artwork is a display of my identity in an abstract way. I included an orange as the main subject who holds my head in the center of the painting. I thought that the color orange brings energy and hope, which is the ideal mindset that I want to maintain in life.

"Dance" is a tribute to the spirit of perseverance and resilience in life. After experiencing pain and suffering in the midst of turbulent waves, broken and rebuilt, it can still produce new shoots of hope, grow into vines, and even blossom into the flower of life. The whole picture shows a phoenix dancing from afar, which is a double meaning of "phoenix rising from the ashes, reborn from the fire".

My painting, titled Tranquil Pink, is a night scene featuring clouds and a moon. One of the key techniques I employ repeatedly in my paintings is blending - for example, mixing a darker periwinkle blue with a lighter aqua blue to create a sense of clearer weather.

My primary aim in creating this artwork is to convey a sense of serenity and peace through the depiction of light, fluffy clouds. 

Two sailboats floating on the overcast waters.

This artwork, completed using the oil painting palette knife technique, is a vibrant fusion of colors that forms a striking backdrop for the white galsang flowers in the foreground. These white flowers present a sharp contrast against the colorful background, embodying the creativity of the two young artists. The flowers' purity and elegance are symbolized through this artwork, with the palette knife technique giving them a relief-like effect, making their forms appear more vivid and realistic. The artists have successfully captured the delicate textures and subtle color changes of the flowers, resulting in a harmoniously balanced composition that is both colorful and full of life. The artwork exudes a unique artistic charm, reflecting the artists’ deep understanding of the vitality and beauty of flowers. It gives viewers a sense of inner joy and hope, enhancing the emotional resonance and infectious power of this oil painting. 

The “Song of Life” art unit is a celebration of all forms of life on Earth, extending its reverence and respect to the entire natural world. The expression of this artwork allows us to appreciate the greatness and beauty of life, while also emphasizing the importance of environmental protection and ecological balance. In our rapidly evolving era, it encourages us to cherish the vitality of every life form, respect the laws of nature, and together, compose a harmonious “Song of Life”. The artwork employs delicate and precise woodcutting techniques, using the interplay of light and shadow to accurately depict the physical features of an elephant. The background is skillfully handled to create a sense of spatial depth, bringing the overall image to life. 

Upon Keystone’s 10th anniversary, students showcase their artistic skills by sketching the campus using perspective modeling techniques learned in their visual arts classes throughout the academic year. This artwork, created with unique perspectives and delicate brushstrokes, captures the distinctive architectural structure of Keystone’s Archway. Using monochrome, light and shadow, and perspective techniques, the young artist has skillfully presented one of Keystone’s most representative views. The artwork brings the campus to life, as if one can hear the laughter and feel the youthful energy of the students radiating from the piece. The interplay of light and shadow is expertly portrayed, while students’ emotions towards the campus are expressed vividly and authentically. This campus sketch not only serves as an impressive art piece but also encapsulates the beautiful memories of happiness and growth experienced by the students during their time at Keystone.

The plum blossom, known as the first of the “Four Gentlemen” flowers and one of the “Three Friends of Winter” in Chinese painting, proudly blooms on branches in the biting cold wind, symbolizing the heroic spirit of the Chinese nation as well as perseverance and noble character. This artwork features a large area of white space, combined with the thick and thin, dry and wet, and intense changes in the branches and trunks, as well as the opening of different plum blossoms. The composition creates a layered and rhythmic effect, evoking a unique poetic atmosphere and mood of the plum blossom, showing a vivid and expressive image.

In the eyes of a young artist, a sunflower is strange yet beautiful, with its round disc, large petals, and vibrant colors. This artwork comes to life through energetic hues and expressive flower gestures, inspired by the freehand depiction of nature. This approach infuses the piece with a sense of vitality and dynamism. Through the young artists’ perspective, the world around them is transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, where every object is imbued with its own distinct beauty. Art enables us to discover and showcase the inherent splendor of nature and invites us to step into the extraordinary realm of imagination. As we immerse ourselves in their painting, we can appreciate and feel the life force that pulses through every brushstroke.