Art can be a powerful means to express truths and it enables us to have experiences we can have from no other sources, and through such experience to discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling. The next Art88/One World celebration awaits! 

On April 20th, UWC Changshu China dedicated a whole day to the 'Art 88/One World Festival of the Arts,' where the community participated in workshops, performances, and art exhibitions. With 'Celebration of Difference' as its theme, Art 88/One World seeks to provide a platform to gather as a community to celebrate the richness of our school's diversity and talents through art. 

To start off the day, there were morning meditation and yoga session, where the purpose is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body, and a live student jazz band at breakfast. There were multiple workshops offered in the morning by student leaders: a dance workshop, tie dying, Russian poetry and performance, Emoji in Art History, Rangoli sand art, Theatre of the Oppressed Workshop,Improve Theatre, Carnival Clothing making, NaMe, Object Connectivity, Lion dance, Experimental Film and Friendship Bracelet making.

Each workshop had its own way of expressing and sharing ideas. For example, the aim of the Theatre of the Oppressed workshop, held by Malva from Argentina, was to reveal essential truths, opinions, and observations about society, culture, self, etc. Another workshop held by Lara from Germany and Boby from Taiwan, was a biography aiming to create awareness on the individuality of a young scholar, NaMe, trying to get out from the social boxes and reject biases. Students really enjoyed the workshops.  A lot of them loved the dance workshop, the tie dye workshop and the Carnival Clothing workshop, while most staff and faculty members enjoyed the Theatre of the Oppressed workshop and the Emoji in Art History workshop. 

The afternoon program commenced with a traditional carnival parade. Saffie, a student from Sierra Leone, loved the carnival, especially seeing a great amount of the community celebrating the Caribbean culture and having a fun time dancing. After the parade, the Multicultural dance Zhi Xing hosted a dance competition in which dance troupes competed with original choreography. The audience's favorite turned out to be the dance by teachers Jonathan and Nataly and the guest performance by their toddler daughter. 

Following the dance competition, DP1 students hosted a gallery reception for the central art exhibition showcasing DP1 Visual Arts students' course work. Each of the art pieces was unique in its own way, which is what makes the overall exhibition incredible. They told different stories. Some students portrayed their experiences, as one of the students Lisa Besiner illustrated her journey from her home town to China by cutting her plane tickets bit by bit and presented it in the form of a traditional stone bridge popular in the city of Changshu and named her artwork "Phoenix". The day closed with an Open Mic. It was a day to learn, see, and experience different forms and expressions of art.

Kate, Head of the Arts and director of Art 88/One World, expressed that it is important to dedicate a full day of art in school because, as a newly established multi-cultural community, our duty is to introduce and bring up different ways of thinking and communicating, and that days like this are a good way to find and shape our own traditions and rituals. 

Art can be a powerful means to express truths and it enables us to have experiences we can have from no other sources, and through such experience to discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling. The next Art88/One World celebration awaits!