Meet our Talented Grade 12 IB Visual Arts Students

This term, our talented Grade 12 students from both the IB Visual Arts and academic art courses have come together to embark on the final leg of their creative journey, preparing for their International Baccalaureate Visual Arts exhibition and exam. The grand event kicks off with the opening night on Thursday, April 3, 2025, and will be on display for two weeks at the Stanfield Dining Hall/McLellan Annex.

 

In the weeks leading up to the exhibition, after the March Break, our students will immerse themselves in the crucial stages of planning their displays, crafting rationales, writing exhibition texts, and uploading their masterpieces. Each artist has worked tirelessly to create a series of original works centered around a personal theme or direction, taking months of dedication and self-reflection to complete. With seventeen Grade 12 students participating this year, the event promises to be an impressive showcase of creativity, depth, and expression.

 

What makes this experience even more special is the involvement of our Grade 11 art students. Not only will they assist in setting up the displays, but they will also have the opportunity to exhibit their own work, sharing in the excitement and energy of the event.

 

In the lead-up to the exhibition, we will be spotlighting our artists in our weekly newsletter, giving you a glimpse into the passion and inspiration behind some of their favourite projects from the past two years. We hope you enjoy getting to know these brilliant young artists and their journeys as much as we have!

 

This week, we're thrilled to highlight the extraordinary work of Caitlin Behan '25 and Yurika Tateno '25.

Caitlin is from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and has been attending KES for seven years. She has chosen to share her acrylic paint on board, titled Sails. It is one of the largest paintings that she has worked on being 123cm x 123cm.

Caitlin shares what this artwork means to her, “I was researching black and white older photographs and designs of boats, when I was inspired by a series of black and white photos focusing on the composition and designs of sail boats and the sails.

I chose these colours because they are nautical and reminded me of the ocean. Using Phthalo Blue as the background and to contrast the sails with a cooler blue. I wanted to simplify the sails, lathers, and lines, so the focus would be on the shapes and design.

My IB portfolio reflects my interests, which are sailing, skiing, and travelling. I am looking forward to the IB exhibition and sharing my journey in this course with everyone.”

Yurika is from Shibuya, Japan, and has been attending KES for three years. She has chosen to share her oil painting of a traditional Japanese New Year's meal, Osechi. The meal, typically served in a box divided into small compartments, carries symbolic meaning, with each food item representing wishes for good fortune, prosperity, health, and longevity in the coming year.

Osechi is a beloved tradition in Japan, with each dish serving as a prayer for family happiness and success. For instance, shrimp symbolizes longevity, as its curved shape resembles the bent back of an elderly person, representing a wish for a long and healthy life. Bamboo shoots represent growth, prosperity, and promotion, symbolizing youthful energy and hope for the future. Datemaki, a yellow, scroll-shaped dish placed behind the salmon roe, symbolizes learning, knowledge, and cultural development. Black soybeans (kuromame) symbolize health and diligence, as the word “mame” also means hardworking, representing a wish for both health and longevity.

This painting will be featured in the upcoming IB art exhibition in April, where Yurika is excited to share her work and culture with the public.