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A kaleidoscope can transform a single beam of light into different images, which can be interpreted from the human’s eyes as either confusing or beautiful. This is parallel to how one can transform the same change that overwhelms them into one for the better, simply by finding a different perspective.

Just like a kaleidoscope, our lives as students are constantly changing; a perpetual whirlwind of highs and lows. Every day, we learn new things, gain new experiences, and make new memories. Sometimes, the very change that spurs us on can also overwhelm us. Instead of letting the change get the best of us, we wish for our exhibition to provide a lens through which we can view change in a positive light. Hence, this year’s Art Fest theme took shape in the form of the symbolic “Kaleidoscope”.

Our artworks range from being thought-provoking to overwhelming, and even surreal. “Kaleidoscope” showcases change in a different light. Our artworks hope to inspire viewers to welcome change openly. These artworks can be deciphered in different ways. On one hand, the riot of colours in some artwork symbolises that change is everywhere, and is the only constant in life. You can only change the way you see change, so you should not let it consume you. On the other hand, other artwork’s harmonious blend of colours creates a space to rest your mind, heal, and rejuvenate before reality resumes.

With this in mind, Art Fest 2020: “Kaleidoscope” seeks to deliver a space for us to pause, encouraging us to take the time to reflect on our view of “change”. Through the expression of art, “Kaleidoscope” aims to introduce the notion that art is healing and has the power to influence people’s mindsets. With this, we hope to inspire others to share the appreciation and love we have for art.

Love,
ASRJC Visual Arts Club

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For a more pleasurable viewing experience, please view this website on your web browser & click on the 3 dots on the top right hand corner of each post and select 'Expand post' to view the artwork.

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Louis Ng Ming Gin
Class 20/13

Digital

A pun. On a more serious note, this artwork depicts the importance and role of money. The repeated imagery in a kaleidoscope pattern showcases the abundance of money and signifies how it can be used to connect us together, serving as a common 'language'. This artwork was created to raise awareness and appreciate for the use of physical cash for transactions, as society moves toward the adoption of digital transactions. The art style inspired in this work is structuralism which helps to capture and uncover the structures that underlie the things that humans do, perceive and feel.

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Isabella Rosalind
Class 20/13

Paint on paper & Digital

Just like a kaleidoscope, our emotions - especially in times of the COVID-19 pandemic - have been rather turbulent, and are constantly changing. All it takes is one small chain of unfortunate events to set off a bad day, and vice versa. As humans living in an ever changing world, we experience many different thoughts and emotions throughout just one day, let alone our whole lives. With that in mind, I created these colourful, vibrant, visually-popping flowers surrounded by monochrome, rather dull patterns, which bring attention to the riot of colours in the middle. Combined with the surrealistic, multicoloured “real life” environment in the “photo”, an overwhelming effect is created. This effect questions what sets apart the reality from imagination, and also the role which your emotions play in trying to tell those two apart.

The decision to mix two contrasting mediums; one physical and one digital, was driven by the change which the pandemic has brought to my life. Being physically unable to reach my artwork in real life, I thought: Why not bring it to another realm? Despite being an amateur in digital art, I wanted to learn a novel way of expressing myself through art. Coupled with my desire to complete this pop art, the dual-medium artwork was hence born. Furthermore, the usage of the two different mediums further highlights the constant need to adapt in life, placing emphasis on how to deal with change - when life changes, you change with it.

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Ethel Tseng Xin-Le
Class 20/16
Sashiko sewing

The inspiration for this art piece is from the symmetrical shapes found in a kaleidoscope. Looking into a kaleidoscope is therapeutic and relaxing, similar to the process of creating an artwork. Thus, I translated the calming notion of viewing kaleidoscopic patterns into an art piece through sewing, as it is commonly known as a therapeutic activity.

The technique used here is a traditional Japanese sewing method called “Sashiko”, which literally means “little stabs”. It was originally used to reinforce clothing that suffered from wear and tear, hence the use of repeated geometrical shapes. The process is also relatively simple; first the vertical lines are stitched, then the horizontal lines, followed by diagonal lines which were weaved in. This structured, systematic approach to creating this artwork makes sewing a therapeutic art form. The muted colours used here also illustrates the calming effect of sewing. Together, these emphasise the healing nature of art.

This method was also used to make clothing warmer and stronger, as people had to work outdoors in the cold weather. This also creates a sense of utility, which is juxtaposed to the common conception of art; as only for aesthetic purposes. Yet, this art piece can also be used as a coaster, which brings forth the usefulness and importance of art in our daily lives.

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Alisa Ng Jie Yi
Class 21/28

Acrylic and pen inking

Life is like an ever-changing kaleidoscope. Just like a kaleidoscope, once we made a decision, we are unable to turn back the clock to make changes. The monochromatic tree stands out in this artwork, representing a part of the past. The blue azure sky and vast green field from beyond is the present and the future that is lying before us. Just like our predecessors, we will have to learn to adapt according to the unpredictable twists and turns in life and choose to adopt a more optimistic outlook of what’s ahead.

However, this does not mean that we must forget and ignore  the past. We should still acknowledge how the past has shaped us to become who we are today. More importantly, we must look ahead to see what is in store for us and embrace the new changes waiting for us over the horizon.

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Sulogna Biswas
Class 20/19
Markers and coloured pencils on paper

There is a saying - change is the only constant in life. We experience many ups and downs in life but it is important to embrace these changes positively because these changes can possibly teach us many valuable lessons and make life much more vibrant & interesting.

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Victoria Wong Shay Chi
Class 20/24
Colour pencil on paper

My artwork depicts a person surrounded by moving water, almost being entirely engulfed by it, which symbolises the feeling of being overwhelmed. The changing lines of the waves symbolise change and the halo of light above the person as he heads onward with the waves signify the hope to continue moving forward. All these symbolisms tie in with having a dream of escaping in time of difficulty when one experiences change.

My work depicts what most students are experiencing now, where change seems to have become our new constant, which can be very overwhelming. However, we should continue to have hope and try to keep our heads afloat and adapt, and to go with the flow.

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Nurasyiqin Bte Iskandar Abdullah Yeoh
Class 20/30

Digital

This artwork attempts to incorporate elements of space into what appears to be a bedroom, fixed with a window that overlooks the cityscape. By doing so, this art piece endeavours to emulate the experience of looking into a kaleidoscope, transporting us into an entirely different universe of revolving patterns.

It seeks to subvert the traditional human instinct to alleviate our stress or despair through losing ourselves in the scenery outside our windows whenever we encounter obstacles. It encourages us to reflect inwards, exploring and embracing the uncomfortable change within ourselves instead of finding solace in the organised structure our society has grown so accustomed to. This is represented by the juxtaposition between the flexible, organic cosmos inside the bedroom and the stiff, geometrical buildings outside. The plant growing inside the suspended astronaut helmet remains in its soil, despite its unusual birthplace (the astronaut helmet), coupled with the fact that it is floating around through this arbitrary route that may threaten to uproot it.

Regardless of our turbulent circumstances, it is our reaction to these changes that determine who we are. Even in the face of dark moments, we should remain grounded and never lose our lust for life and everything it promises; every experience, good or bad, is a teaching moment and we only grow from them. Through this, I had personally hope to highlight the strength of the human spirit, and how we have the admirable quality of prevailing even when surviving seems tough.

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Tseng Xin Yi

Class 20/24

Watercolor on Paper

This art piece represents the structure of a snowflake, albeit a much more colourful & vibrant version. The reason I chose watercolour as the medium is because once you have the watercolour on the paper, you can't really remove or erase it anymore. This is similar to the times where we have made decisions in life. We can only sense the “general flow”, but we can't predict what the actual outcome is going to be like. Just like a kaleidoscope, life is filled with changes, and we need to learn to accept it and deal with it to the best of our abilities.

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Sharlene Toh Jing Kue

Class 20/04

Colour pencil on Paper

The colours of the butterfly represent the changes we constantly experience in life. During this COVID pandemic, although it may be tough, but with a new perspective on how we look at things, things could be more optimistic and vibrant. Moreover, just like a kaleidoscope, I drew the butterfly as if it is flying to show that things might not be what we perceive it to be. Through this artwork, I also hope to convey the message that there is still hope and joy in our lives despite these trying times.

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Tan Xin Yi

Class 20/23

Watercolour & Digital

A kaleidoscope is subjected to different interpretations due to the ever-changing patterns it creates. The changes portrayed can be perceived differently, from one person to the other.

As series of protests were held across the globe due to the issue of discrimination against black people, many mindsets and attitudes of the people were influenced and challenged. For those who viewed the protests as a learning experience are now more educated about their privileges and are using their voices to educate others. Whereas, for those who do not welcome change and remain ignorant to the situation, they might possibly struggle and eventually feel helpless in a world filled with waves of changes.

For this art piece, I have chosen the Hacktivist organisation, “Anonymous”, as an icon. Their actions have shown their support for the “Black Lives Matter” movement and that they are against racial discrimination.

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Ummuz Zsakiyyah Bte Arifin
Class 20/35

Shadow Art

Daisies tend to be associated with innocence, simplicity and playfulness. These qualities are the very essence of youthfulness, where it is a time of play and fun. By choosing the daisy flower, I hope that I am able to remind the viewers to seize our youth as it is a time that we cannot turn back to.

In line with the “kaleidoscope” theme, I chose each petal to be of a different colour (as lined by the translucent coloured paper). It represents how different we are as individuals, whether it is in our background or our interests. However, we realise at the end of the day that we are all aligned by a common goal in chasing our desired dreams, as seen in a complete picture of the daisy when the shadow is reflected on the sheet. With this design being showcased, it serves to remind us that there is no point comparing ourselves with others because we are all made different and we all have our part to play and contribute for the greater good.

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Ng Pei Chai, Kayleigh

Class 21/29

Colour pencil & Paint

A kaleidoscope allows us to view patterns by making use of mirrors. I was inspired by the idea that we are able to change patterns in a kaleidoscope by rotating it. My artwork is about how we perceive things, and that by choosing different perspectives, we can discover something new. In the middle of the artwork, the girl gazes into the gloomy night sky. However, when you rotate the artwork clockwise, you will discover a balcony with a view of the sunrise. This represents how one should always try to change your perceptions and perspectives, to see things from a more optimistic point of view.

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Loh Pui Gee

Class 20/31

Acrylic Paint & Marker

This artwork is inspired by Andy Warhol's painting "Shot Marilyns" and I tried to imitate the style of the artwork with images of a dog. The vibrant and bright pop art colours in the artwork represent the constantly changing colours in the kaleidoscope. The varying colours are symbolic of the overwhelming transformations and changes in our lives. On the other hand, the motif of the dog gives a fixed pattern, suggesting that change is the only constant in our lives. This will hopefully urge viewers to perceive change positively and embrace it willingly. Moreover, dogs are associated with companionship and loyalty, thus, in this artwork, it can act as a reminder to be appreciative of the relationship built with family and friends despite the overwhelming change we experience daily.

While it was easy to draw the outline, I faced the challenge of time constraint and had a hard time trying to blend the colours nicely. In the end, I settled for similar colours for every 2 dogs and kept the colours of the last two dogs simpler compared to the others.

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Hing Ci En, Isabella

Class 20/31

Acrylic Paint

Inspired by the flower design on the cover of the book of my favourite drama, Eternal Love of Dreams, I decided to use the flower design to form up a pattern to replicate the repeating patterns we see inside a kaleidoscope.

The flowers are painted in two different shades of blue and repeated in a wave-like pattern because life is just like a wave, that we just need to ride through it. There is no need to be too caught up with the unhappiness and negative emotions in life. Time will pass and things will get better. Just like the flower, we are constantly “blooming”, whether in the hard times or great times, as illustrated through two shades of the flower. In hard times, we “bloom” because we defeat all the odds and make it through the tough times. In great times, we “bloom” because we succeed and shine. In both cases, we “bloom” because we are happy that we achieved something. Therefore, in life, we must and will constantly “bloom” because every little thing we do and experience, we achieve something, and that achievement brings about happiness.

While it was easy to draw the outline of the painting — by simply tracing, shading then tracing out the outline of the flower once more unto the canvas — it was not easy to fill up the canvas with the pattern I had in mind. After completing the first two waves on the painting, I was stuck. I did not know what to add to the empty space in between the two waves (although deep inside I wanted to keep that space empty so that the painting would not look messy). Eventually, I consulted my instructor, who advised me to leave the empty space blank as I already made the painting carry some Chinese painting elements with those empty spaces.

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Tan Khai Yan

Class 20/21

Digital

Inspired by the “kaleidoscope” theme, this artwork aims to represent the constantly changing world that currently we live in. As seen in the artwork, many disastrous events are happening to our society - forest fires, melting ice caps and, even the most contemporary thing happening now, the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of time, such events come and go, yet bound by the nature of earth, our core has never changed. This art work thus seeks to encourage people to not merely focus on the negative things that are happening globally, but to also look deeper into themselves and the world. I hope that by viewing this work, they can seek greater insight and understanding of the world they live in and ultimately, perhaps, seek solace in the constant, amidst the change.

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Chew Shi Ting

Class 21/05

Digital

When I was researching the theme of Art Fest, I was inspired by the colourful and intricate designs. I also found the idea of a “kaleidoscope” to be meaningful, as I could relate the word to constant changes around us, just like how time never stays still.

Thus, I thought of a clock. Since, one action can be seen differently from different perspectives, I drew several minute hands to depict that.

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Ong Fang Lin
Class 21/27

Metal wire and resin

The pyramid, which is triangular in shape, represents the kaleidoscope as most kaleidoscopic designs are made of tiny triangular objects. The resin in the middle is made to resemble a red galaxy, which represents the ever-changing scenery in a kaleidoscope when you tilt it.

Together, it hopes to help the viewer consider the fact that there are various ways of viewing things and issues, and how things can be changed when you adopt a different perspective. In addition, the resin is red in colour as it signifies courage and strength, which are needed for change.

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Loo Li Ting

Class 21/27

Digital

A kaleidoscope is ever changing and unlimited in the beauty it could present, thanks to the mirrors within it. The mirrors can turn a single pattern into multiple distinctive ones and each of them are unique and beautiful.

The kaleidoscope is filled with a myriad range of colours which inspired me to include multiple colours in my design. The kaleidoscope also has many intricate patterns which I tried to reflect, through the spirograph. The spirograph looked just like a flower, hence I added in the stem and leaf. I have also complemented it with a butterfly at the side. To include the various colours, I have decided to make the butterfly rainbow coloured, with the rainbow from all sides concluding at the centre. To make the background less ordinary, I have also added in a rainbow background, which reinforces my goal of including various colours.

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Ng Jia Ying, Felice

Class 21/18

Fineliner and Coloured paper

The kaleidoscope is symbolic of change due to the various reflections and images formed in the kaleidoscope under different light conditions. These light conditions are likened to our ever-changing environment that affects our emotions and experiences represented by the different colours in the kaleidoscope design.

I chose to draw a horse as it represents how fast paced life is and how we’re constantly trying and needing to adapt to different phases of our lives. The colours of the kaleidoscope design comprises those of the rainbow, starting from vibrant colours and extending outwards to become duller. The black parts on the outermost layer represents how one might feel at the thought of change especially when one has no control over it - possibly pessimistic and fearful. However, as one learns to adapt to a new social setting or a new procedure that has to be adopted, one starts to feel more comfortable and begin to open one’s eyes to the positive things that are happening, represented by the gradual vibrancy of the colours towards the centre of the kaleidoscope.

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"Snowflake falling into the Pacific Ocean"

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"Snowflake falling into the Pacific Ocean"

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Ng Chee Quan

Class 21/03

Pencil, Pen, Oil Pastels & Permanent marker on Paper

I am inspired by how nature transforms itself, from flowers blooming to snowflakes falling. The snowflake falling gently into the ocean is actually a “sulflower”(organic compound that looks like a snowflake), with a sky that is changing colour from orange to yellow, signalling the arrival of dawn. There is also a blend of colours for the ocean-with the algae turquoise-green to the clear sky-blue water, meaning that life under the ocean is constantly changing.

Furthermore, the mountain has olive green and brown from the top to the middle as it signals the withering of the greenery up on the mountain. Moving downwards, the colour slowly changes to light green as it represents new life growing at the bottom of the mountain and subsequently filling upwards the mountain with the lively green vegetation.

Lastly, the snowflake in the artwork is different from its usual with colours of white and watery blue on the inside, and bright red and purple on the outside. This illustrates the unknown yet great energy within a snowflake. Its “sulflower” shape, being an organic compound, signifies how a reaction might occur when it hits the ocean, and the possibility of the sea erupting into a storm of colours with this unique snowflake.

All the transformations mentioned above reflect the true meaning of “kaleidoscope”, in which change is the only constant in our lives, and it is up to us to interpret it.

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Low Shi-Ya Amelia

Class 21/30

Digital

Kaleidoscope doesn’t simply refer to the magical images we see with a looking glass. It also refers to a myriad and diversity of colour we tend to overlook and the fresh new perspective it may provide. Thus, for my art piece, I put together a series of patterns in neon outlines to create a new angle to how we may view ordinary patterns.

On a deeper level, I intended to capture diversity by raising the idea that everyone is unique. As the saying goes, “Every cloud has a silver lining”. Therefore, I used hexagons consisting of different motifs, to represent distinct identities of every person. Bright outlines were highlighted to draw attention to the lines that define them.

Furthermore, I chose the hexagonal shape, as it is a symmetrical shape that can be tessellated. This brings forth the idea that despite our differences, society still remains in perfect harmony with each other, sometimes forming complementary relationships that serve to further establish who we are.

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Lee Wen Jin

Class 21/20

Digital

I wanted to personify the design of a kaleidoscope I have in my mind, which is one of vibrant orange and red colours, together with other contrasting ones. I have always relied a lot on lineart and saw my artwork as a compilation of lines instead of shapes, so this time I wanted to try using digital colours to paint instead, to create a more cohesive art piece.

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Jaime Liew

Class 21/20

Acrylic paint

When I think of the word “kaleidoscope”, beautiful, swirling beams of light come to my mind. Every turn of the kaleidoscope changes the way the beams of light move, creating many different patterns. These patterns inspire me to view life from different angles. This thought also reminded me of graceful  butterflies. Butterflies start off as small and defenseless caterpillars, but as they grow, they blossom into beautiful creatures of light. I hope that this artwork will inspire and remind viewers that every difficulty we face will shape us and allow us to learn and grow and eventually help us bloom into our best self. The swirls of colour pay tribute to the kaleidoscope’s design and hopefully bring smiles to everyone.

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Emelyn Teow Ze Qing

Class 21/29

Digital

The artwork I created is inspired by the nature of gambling because life is always a gamble and full of risks, and the choices that one has to make will inevitably shape one’s life in one way or another. This pertains to the theme of kaleidoscope considering it generally symbolises anything that can change constantly.

Our life constantly changes as we make choices as seen from the three different cards meant to symbolise 3 different choices; with kaleidoscopic patterns to further emphasise on it. The background is made up of gambling chips to further highlight the atmosphere.

Originally it was supposed to be titled “kaleidoscopic gamble” but I decided to go with “kaleidoscope; kakegurui “ because of alliteration purposes.

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Cui Yangyang

Class 21/29

Digital

There is a famous Japanese artist named 山見 浩司 who won Brewster Conventions (a global competition for Kaleidoscope Art) for 15 times. I admire his artworks as he has many Japanese elements incorporated in his works. The view of the kaleidoscope is transitory and every movement will change the pattern. Patterns that were once created will be gone forever. This expresses the culture of 物の哀れ (mono no aware).

A kaleidoscope is just like fireworks in this manner. “Hanabi” is fireworks in the Japanese language. People use fireworks to celebrate festivals and it suits our context of Art Fest.

A number of symmetry patterns are used to represent elements of a kaleidoscope. The colours chosen are of high saturation, which in contrast to the black background, creates an impression of long silence after the blooming of beautiful fireworks in the night sky.

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Au Wan Ching

Class 21/05

Glue, paint & plastic

When I thought about the “kaleidoscope” theme, I drew a connection to the saturated, colourful stained glass windows that reflected and distorted light just as a kaleidoscope does, albeit less chaotically.

In my version of a faux stained glass window, I used plastic, glue and paint to replicate the actual window. I chose to make an eye motif to be the centrepiece, as a reminder to see things through the eye of a kaleidoscope, to look at things using different perspectives. Furthermore, as a window, it’s sole purpose is to provide an opening to the world outside, putting further emphasis on the reminder to look at things in the eyes of another and be more open minded.

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Atiqah Binti Mohammad Taher Uddin Bokhtier
Class 21/15