The Arts at Oakleigh Grammar

Ms Tracy Sarroff

Teacher of Visual Arts, Media, VCE Studio Arts

Year 9 Visual Arts Semester 2 Visual Arts students have recently completed their final artworks, concluding their hard work over the last two terms. Their photographs and paintings on canvas have been an interesting journey, that started with learning about historical and cultural contexts of memento mori. Latin for ‘remember death’. Memento mori is the medieval Christian theory and practice of reflection on mortality, especially as a means of considering the vanity of earthly life, and the transient nature of all earthly goods and pursuits. Presented in these artworks is the importance of living a good and virtuous life that savours gratitude.

Students focussed on 17th Century Dutch Vanitas still-life painting, with comparisons to a range of contemporary artists. They have been analysing connections between visual conventions, practices and viewpoints that represent mortality, morality and religious values. Symbolism and metaphor on this theme is illustrated in their own personalised way in each of their artworks, as they take inspiration from their research to produce artworks that are individual and communicate meaning.

Year 7 Media

Last week, Year 7 Media students celebrated their new display in the art gallery space. During this course students learned how points of view are portrayed in media products, with a focus on magazines. They evaluated how other makers use media conventions, technical and symbolic elements to make meaning. Students then chose their own magazine genre to create a magazine cover, and present a point of view to an audience.

Using Photoshop, students found the technical aspects of the program difficult at first, but they became competent with practise and familiarity. For many, this was their first time using the software program. Those students who inserted their own photograph to mask in the foreground or background, were successful in creating a personalised result. As you can see from the images provided here, students approached this task in a range of ways that reflect their interests, hobbies and experiences.