The moving part of art lies not only in the exquisite composition and stunning color expression, but also in the social observation, self-reflection and rich artistic imagination and creativity expressed by the creator. AP Art & Design, as one of the core subjects of AP courses, has always been highly sought after by students.
Among the many AP subjects, the AP Art exam has a low full score rate. In 2022, the full score for AP Drawing is 14.7%, and the full score rate for AP 2D Design is only 10.9%. Su Qihui, Jiang Mingye, and Li Kexin, three students from the International Department, demonstrated their strong comprehensive strength in the process of conceptualizing, using materials, and writing AP artworks. In the just-concluded 2022 AP Art Global Exam, they won the honor of full marks again with their unique observation perspective and bold artistic expression!
Su Qihui’s work
My entire AP 2D Design work revolves around the mental illness bipolar disorder. I interviewed and learned about the psyche of the patient from my friend who, like Van Gogh, suffered from the disease.
I use the Internet to research data and symptoms of bipolar disorder, including the causes of this mental illness, its current state, and trends in its development. Combining these, in the creative process I do concept collage, graphic illustration, textile design, screen printing, handmade book, digital illustration, etc. Through these different attempts, I learned about the visual experience presented by different flat visual expressions.
I tried to express a state of chaotic accumulation of organs from a first point of view, and applied fabric transformation to simulate my understanding of organic shapes. I use a dilated book to document and present my incomprehensible and unrecognized self. I then explored screen printing to create a rough textured, black and white illustration from 2D to 3D visual format expressing the state of bipolar disorder. In the end, I learned Roberlan Borges Paresqui’s approach to color and detail using Procreate, and using brushes like noise to shape the glass texture.
With the experience of doing Ap Drawing in the last year, I am relatively more confident when I complete AP 2D Design. Due to the different requirements of the exam, 2D gave me more creative space and freedom than just drawing on paper with a pen. Therefore, the workload is also a lot more than last year’s exam. I use a variety of formats and materials to present my subject, such as electronic painting, making picture books, spray painting, screen printing, etc. It is also a challenge for me. To be able to get a full score of 5 again is inseparable from the help of my teachers and parents!
Li Kexin’s work
The ocean accounts for 70.8% of the earth’s total area, and marine life is rich and colorful. With the advancement of human science and technology, both the utilization of marine resources and the development of human industry have had a great impact on the ocean. The impact of microplastics on the ocean is gradually expanding, and my works revolve around the damage of plastic pollution to the marine environment and organisms.
I collected junk materials of different textures for painting. Combined with the copying of the works of Todd Ford and Kate Brinkworth, using different painting materials such as colored pencils, markers, watercolors, etc., to explore the transparent and translucent texture of plastic waste.
I combine garbage and marine life, try painting on toner paper of different colors, and study the relationship between light and shadow with complementary colors. I researched the properties of various watercolor paints to blend with the plastic itself. Enhance the visual sense that the marine environment is degraded.
This time, I was overjoyed to hear this news that I got 5 for the AP drawing, and I am very happy that my hard work has finally paid off! Many thanks to the art teacher, everyone in the International Department and my parents for their support and help!
Jiang Mingye’s work
I use this virtual world I created, Berkpancy, to identify these issues. Berkpuncy is the only utopian region on a utopian planet. This area is controlled and monopolized by a large corporation. Benefiting from highly developed technology, potential ones become immortal. However, demands for artificial machines from the lower classes facilitated the prevalence of reactionary gang contenders.
I use Procreate and Photoshop for illustration. I researched cyberpunk movies and TV series to understand and summarize similarities in their world contexts. Based on this, I develop my worldview in the form of a collage.
I’m working on a cyberpunk-inspired color style and metallic texture with color matching gradients and various noise brushes. I experimented with metal organs, body parts, and designed fonts with a cyberpunk style. The heavy and twisted feel speaks volumes about this heavy metal-inspired binary world.
The study of AP Art enriched my high school career as I continued to observe, think and create. I learn to express myself and connect with the world through different forms of artistic creation. The high scores I got in last year’s AP Drawing and this year’s AP 2D Design are the best affirmation of my hard work! Art is the direction I have chosen to strive for all my life. I will continue to maintain my original aspiration and create better works.
Art surpasses other disciplines in that “art is the evidence that human beings have existed”. Regardless of the carrier, it depicts the spiritual world of human beings from beginning to end.
As an important part of whole-person education, we continue to promote art education. Through AP art learning, students are encouraged to give full play to their own advantages, continuously stimulate artistic imagination and creativity, and deepen their thinking about themselves and the world.