IB Art Interviews – Romina and Alexia

As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming IB Art Show on April 3, 2025, we are excited to showcase the incredible talent and creativity of our IB Visual Arts students. In this virtual exhibition, we celebrate not only their technical skills but also the courage and vulnerability it takes to share their personal work with all of us. Their dedication and passion have led to inspiring achievements, and it is with great pride that we recognize their efforts. Please join me in congratulating the Class of 2025 IB Visual Arts students as we introduce their remarkable artwork. Today we will be highlighting the work of Romina Rivas Gutiérrez '25 and Alexia Fan '25.

Romina is from Irapuato, Mexico and has been attending KES for two years. She has chosen to share her painting called Nierika – Nierika, a Huichol word for vision or gateway to the spirit world. Romina’s painting was made with white marker and black acrylic on masonite board and is 1.5metres x 1.5metres.

Romina describes her artwork: “I drew inspiration from the rich traditions of Mexico’s Indigenous peoples, specifically the Huichol group. Their unique and vibrant patterns deeply intrigued me during my research. In this large painting, I sought to explore the spiritual connection between humans, nature, and the divine.

At the centre of the composition, a god figure symbolizes this deep connection, surrounded by nature, animals, and humans. The god’s presence represents the unity between all living beings. I chose to work in black and white to ensure the focus would remain on the intricate design elements and symbols within the piece.

Throughout the painting, I incorporated various Huichol symbols – such as the deer, which serves as a messenger from God. The surrounding figures represent the medicine men, spiritual guides who are intertwined with organic, flowing forms that connect all life. These elements reflect the Huichol belief in the sacredness of nature and the divine, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all things. These patterns are usually found around the Nayarit state and are often found on pottery, textiles and masks. These images are still used today for inspiration in contemporary Mexican artwork. My IB exhibition focuses on exploring and understanding my culture in depth.”

Alexia Fan is from Zhubei City, Taiwan and has been attending KES for four years. She has chosen to share her oil painting called The Pingxi Train which is 100cm x 76cm.

Alexia tells us a little more about her work: “I have chosen to share my oil painting of the Pingxi Train. The trains are an important mode of transportation in Taiwan. The railroad was originally built to transport coal and was completed in July 1921. It is now an attraction to the visiting tourists.

After researching photographs of this train, I decided to depict a night scene around the train station, emphasizing the light sources and the red lanterns.

In the past, red lanterns were used to inform families of safe arrivals. Today, they are released into the night sky to make wishes and are released into the night.

I chose to work with oil paint on stretched canvas to emphasize the rich colours and bright lights. I also wanted to have a diagonal composition as though the train is arriving into the station. The light sources form the shape of the buildings, and lanterns.

Throughout the IB program, my focus has been on exploring my culture, and this will be a central theme in my exhibition.”