Green is ugly. Green is a simmering jealousy. Green is materialistic, sick and selfish. But then again, green is also beauty. Green is the purity of the natural world; a serene soul, young and naive. The color green is a powerful one that like many others evokes different connotations of emotion, and a world of possibilities to interpret.
Recognizing the depth and power that colors can have over emotions is what Anwar Al Mousawi, a Grade 12 student at The American International School of Kuwait (AIS) decided to throw herself into.
Recently, Anwar felt inspired to delve deep into different interpretations of green in specific via her Visual Arts IBO Diploma Exhibition titled “The Green Mood”. While exploring the juxtaposition of mood themes, Anwar uses her show as a platform to illustrate the contrast of moods housed under this multifaceted color.
The Visual Arts Program at AIS holds an exhibition annually to commemorate the students’ efforts in their highly challenging and rigorous two years of art study, focusing on artists of influence and a comparison of their works.
Under the patronage of High School Visual Arts teacher Mrs. Angie Hani, whose 12 year experience at AIS has led class after class of students towards positive self-expression via art, the course also involves an in-depth study of a wide variety of media exploration and experimentation leading into the execution of highly sophisticated artworks for the annual exhibition.
Students are encouraged by Mrs. Hani to push conventional media and mediums beyond the norm and utilize them in new and innovative ways. With Mrs. Hani, students are also required to focus on a concept and build upon these ideas in detail through a variety of mediums and practices to produce a body of works consisting of 11 pieces for external assessment.
Mrs. Hani says, “I push my students to go beyond their expectations, motivating them to create quality refined artworks with substance and meaning. The students are often involved in interviewing artists, visiting galleries, remaining aware of the context of where they live. Students are inspired by current issues in society that nurture their own in-depth detailed study of the concept of focus. My students are taught to be highly focused and manage their time to produce high quality works leading them into academic study in Kuwait or abroad”.
And so, Anwar relayed that push to create “Green Mood”. With the idea of “Green” looming deep within, Anwar worked over two years to produce a highly refined, deeply conceptual body of works, including the exhibition was a highly skilled and technically accomplished display of her drawings, paintings, sculpture, film and photography.
“I couldn’t have been prouder of the result,” Mrs. Hani weighed in. “I’m very proud of AIS’ Visual Arts program, and look forward to the exhibition each year, excited to see what each student will showcase.”
For more information on AIS, visit their website at www.ais-kuwait.org.
