Creativity Imagination Passion
Celebrating the creative work of A Level and GCSE students
Kellett Senior School 2024/25
A Level Art
Anya Buffonge
Colette Lee
Tia Stearn
Suki Chan
GCSE Art
Jamie Huang
Cordelia Yamada
Ava Sonntag
Iris Chiu
Kara Li
Lucy Duncan
Giulia Bassolino
Keturah Bulloch
Monica Sung
Zoya Hawken
Sophia Cheng
Adele Le Binh
Isadora Bolchover
Cover Artwork by Suki Chan
A Level Art Anya Buffonge
Intrigued by the theme of forgetting, I explore how time conceals our memories, using abstraction to convey the distortion and fading of memory. This distortion creates a sense of vagueness and ambiguity, reflecting the elusive quality of memories. As you move through the installation, the cloud of neurons reveals fragments of images that, when pieced together, form the composition of the painting. This recreates the process of recalling a memory, translating it from a mental into a physical experience.
I was inspired by neurons and their dendritic connection, and the work of fashion designer Guo Pei, whose creations often showcase structure, symmetry, and movement. Structure and fluidity are complementary elements integrated into the works of designers such as Pei, Cardin, and Van Herpen. Drawing from their designs, I used the fabric’s fluidity and undulations juxtaposed with the wire sculptures’ rigidity to create an interesting textural contrast. These undulating pieces provide a unique, organically irregular texture achieved only through heat distortion.
I sought to examine how architecture influences our thoughts, actions, and emotions. In this artwork, I focused on sensory distortion and sensory overload created by the unremitting movement and sounds that saturate the streets of cities. My goal was to capture the essence of navigating these urban areas. I.M. Pei’s architecturally geometric designs, featuring strong diagonals, influenced my composition. My artwork portrays three scenes of Hong Kong, exploring the themes of isolation, anonymity, and sensory overload.
As the typhoon pervades the city, one would expect urban life to fall into an insipid slumber, with residents sequestering to the safety of their apartment buildings. However, the people of Hong Kong still flow through the streets as if it were just another prosaic day. If you close your eyes, you can hear the gentle rain on your face and the voices weaving through the chaos of mingling sounds that fill the humid air. Every smell is intensified; every surface left exposed is enshrouded with moisture. It seems that the streets are perpetually bustling with activity: vibrancy and energy continue to overflow as the typhoon persists.
Intertwining the mystical and the mundane, this artwork is a depiction of the transcendence of reality.
The tranquillity that settles over Hong Kong’s Tsz Shan Monastery imbues everything with a profound sense of peace. Inspired by this striking bronze door knocker that juxtaposes this atmosphere, I sought to portray its formidable nature.
The door knocker, a symbol of protection, takes on the form of a dragon-esque beast embodying the delicate balance between repelling the unwanted and welcoming the good: a guardian between the inside and exterior, leaving those who clutch its handle to contemplate the cooperation between strength and serenity, power and peace.
Symbolising hope and transformation, the candle creates a union between light and darkness. These two opposing facets are equally necessary in life, just as optimism and fear are essential for growth. As the candle burns and the wax gradually melts away, we are reminded of life’s transience, encouraging us to treasure each moment, while embracing the discomfort of the future’s uncertainty.
Colette Lee A Level Art
In Conceal / Reveal, I explore gender issues and stereotypes in modern society, addressing men’s mental health issues, gender inequality in the workplace, and the unrealistic beauty standards imposed on women. Using the metaphor of a shattered mirror to symbolise how society fractures our self-esteem, I drew inspiration from the irregular shapes of the mirror fragments, exploring both geometric and organic forms in my installation.
Due to limited land and rapid urban development in Hong Kong, buildings are frequently demolished and rebuilt to accommodate modern demands. This constant transformation has led to the loss of valuable cultural and heritage fragments within the city. In my personal investigation, I aim to illuminate these vanishing elements and emphasise the need for enhanced conservation efforts in Hong Kong.
Inspired by my love for science fiction and its recurring theme of alternative universes, I selected this concept as the centrepiece for my project Union. Using inverted colours and loose brushstrokes, I illustrate how perceptions can vary among individuals and prompt a deeper questioning of the world around us. Are we truly experiencing reality, or are we confined to our unique interpretations? Through this, I invite viewers to reflect on their perspectives and challenge them to consider the ways we can perceive our existence, much like the infinite possibilities of parallel worlds.
Tia Stearn A Level Art
For my exam piece, I focused on the strength of union. I researched this topic by looking at real life situations from news articles of where union occurred within communities to progress a difficult situation to a beautiful outcome. I represented the growth from devastation to happiness through union with natural forms, specifically orchids, which is representative of many strengthening characteristics such as love, thoughtfulness, and resilience. Exploring my personal community, I found the overwhelming union between residents in Sai Ying Pun, specifically through the medium of graffiti. The concentration of art within a typically confined Hong Kong alley is a powerful beacon of unity that is central to Sai Ying Pun.
My personal investigation is a representation of the celebrations that have been integral to my upbringing and are a part of my cultural identity. I have explored patterns and designs associated with the different cultures of my childhood. The combination of Hong Kong and Indian culture is nostalgic and important to me as an artist because the cultural norms such as rangoli and henna as well as fiery dances and fireworks opened my eyes to the celebration of art from a very young age. This exposure to joyfully rich traditions peaked my interest in fine art and to pursue my personal creativity
Natural forms were my focus throughout the Conceal/Reveal unit. My art aims to capture natural forms in the medium of textile. Through the layering of individually manipulated fabrics, I reveal sections of each layer while other sections remain concealed. I was inspired to create this piece by photographing various forms through dappled glass or rain which distorted the image behind. This inspired me to distort fabrics through processes such as stitching and heat manipulation. I hope to represent the concealment of nature through the manmade whilst also showing how nature ultimately shines through.
A Level Art
Suki Chan
Having grown up in the vibrant city of Hong Kong, I have always felt a strong connection to the local culture. However, as I matured, I realised that this love for my culture can sometimes feel like a privilege, especially when so many are struggling to survive and have lost their awareness to their surroundings. Both of my final installations invite audiences to reflect on and appreciate our environment and rich culture through my perspective.
The Concrete Road, 2024 Mixed Media, 280 X 360 CM
My response to Union is inspired by the Chinese philosophy of the five elements. It suggests that everything revolves around balancing these elements—Metal, Fire, Earth, Water, and Wood—which leads to a deeper understanding of human connections. By creating five large pieces of body jewellery and chaining them together, I illustrate how, like everything on Earth, human connections require balance and communication.
A series of 12 handmade books that connects to my childhood, each representing a period of my growth or fragments of memory, as well as different people who have entered and left my life.
GCSE Art
Jamie Huang
Through the theme of Waste, I made a heat-manipulated textile sculpture centred around consumerism and an overwhelming neglect for the environment.
Artificial is a mixed media piece. The mechanical items within a heart shows the organ that has been studied and dissected, a need to artificially better the human form, with the chain below questioning our desire to control. Where we could better ourselves artificially, we are simultaneously imprisoned by what we make for ourselves in the end.
Gathering is both a cultural history and a personal memory. The freely squeegeed background represents the vibrancy of community and is enhanced by the screen-printed Chinese floral elements. Centrally located is an oil painting of my grandfather using textural brushstrokes, familiar and historic. To the left is a white acrylic dragon created with cross-hatched pen work for a dragon that has a sculptural appearance. This work emphasises the difference between paint and pen but also that cultural significance comes from different places. Thus, I feel that through the cacophony of personal stories blended with historical documentation, people come to understand where they are from and the bigger picture in which they are.
GCSE Art
Cordelia Yamada
My Waste project explores the impact of a ‘waste of love.’ I experimented with materials such as nylon and Tyvek, as well as clay and aluminium wire to express the impacts of an unbalanced relationship where the love is ‘wasted’. I wanted to express how emotions often stay within ourselves, hence the erupted intestine and my explorations of decay and damage.
My piece is influenced by the Kowloon Walled City, which does not exist anymore after being demolished in 1994. I first became interested in the city after watching the film, ‘Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In’ a year ago and visiting an exhibit based on the film, where I found the extreme gathering of Hong Kong culture and residents packed together unique and interesting. I researched claustrophobic environments which I could use as a device to communicate the struggles of residents from the time, exploring imagery like frogspawn, octopi eggs and octupi suction cups.
GCSE Art
Ava Sonntag
As part of my study on Ancient Greece and the sirens, I looked at different objects and their symbolism in Greek mythology. During these times, the peach was a symbol of immortality and longevity and was often used in Greek and Roman art alongside other fruit. I also explored the scallop shell – a symbol for Aphrodite and Galatea, alongside cherries which represented beauty and fertility during the ancient times.
I explored a gathering of storm clouds and the threat or promise they bring. Whilst one storm cloud cannot block out a whole sky of sunlight, a gathering of clouds is enough to cause change. I wanted to use this idea as a metaphor for politics: a single person may not be able to do much alone but if they protest for climate action together, it could spark a change. However, for a single dictator: on their own they aren’t able to do much harm but when they have access to an army, they could be an unstoppable force.
Iris Chiu
This piece is devoted to the harm and suffering waste brings, hidden behind a facade of flowers and beauty; hidden harm emits from within the human body without notice as life is reduced by the harmful after effects of waste. The initial impression of the composition is a beautiful, magical garden with a heart in the middle of it, however the deeper you explore, the more you see the waste, filth and evil that mirrors the ugliness of humanity.
I approached the theme of Gathering by exploring the petals on a rose. Its transitioning from a budding rose to decaying flowers, mirrors the inevitability of human relationships to gradually wither through time. I was intrigued by the transient nature of relationships, expressing them through symbolism using oil paint.
GCSE Art
Kara Li
My work explores themes of religion, specifically the Catholic confession booth. I visited a church to photograph the confessional space, focusing on how light interacts with the sacred architecture. Using watercolour and water-soluble coloured pencils, I translated these images into mixed-media pieces. This approach allowed me to convey the emotional weight of confession. Through this project, I deepened my understanding of religious symbolism and refined my ability to blend photography with traditional media for narrative impact.
This mixed-media work combines an ocean background with sculptural elements to convey the theme of marine pollution. The textured seascape created with crumpled blue and black tissue paper, ink stains, and corrosive bleach patterns represent environmental decay. Appearing from this damaged waterscape are two fish sculptures wrapped in plastic, one of the primary human wastes. The largest fish has a distorted body, and contrastingly, smaller companions trail beside this fish. The fragile paper juxtaposed with suffocating plastic, along with the wire shown underneath conveys the disruptive nature of human pollution.
Lucy Duncan GCSE Art
This oil painting of cherries celebrates the beauty of nature. The vibrant colours and shadows highlight the elegance found in natural forms. Through this work, I aim to evoke a sense of appreciation for the simple yet profound beauty that nature offers in everyday life.
I believe gatherings are essential for preserving culture and embodying the resilience of religious communities. In my project centred around the theme of Gathering, I focus on the significance of the cyclical nature of passing down cherished traditions. Jewish gatherings foster a deep sense of community and connection, illuminating the hope inherent in the religion. Through my work, I aim to evoke warmth and reflect on the importance of resilience, emphasising how vital it is for a strong faith like Judaism. Ultimately, this project celebrates the enduring power of shared experiences and the continuity of cultural identity across generations.
GCSE Art
Giulia Bassolino
This painting aims to celebrate my culture by highlighting the iconic Faraglioni of Capri, a symbol of Naples. I focused on capturing the ocean’s vibrant blue, infusing it with the warm hues of the sunset reflected in the waves. The clouds are painted in softtened shades of blue, creating a harmonious connection between the seascape and the sky, enhancing the overall unity of the piece.
For my exam piece, I aimed to weave my cultural heritage into the theme of Gathering by depicting the Cathedral of Naples. This iconic structure symbolises how religion unites people and serves as a meaningful connection to my roots. In the background, I painted clouds in rich shades of red and orange, evoking the warmth and intensity of fire, further emphasising the idea of gathering and community.
GCSE Art
Keturah Bulloch
For the examination theme, Gathering, I explored the theme of cult gatherings. I started with Nazism and concentration camps, and chose to further explore the Ku Klux Klan. The fiery red background alludes to the KKK cross burnings. I focused on painting the eyes, using only black and white to contrast the background and to highlight their stark menace.
For the first unit, Waste, I took a very objective view of the word and focused on the harmful effect that plastic waste and pollution has on the environment. After exploring many mediums, I decided to portray the infectious nature of waste by comparing it to infections in humans. I selected Tyvek as my main medium, distorting it to give the impression of swollen or inflamed flesh, emphasising the danger plastic pollution has on the world. To further bring out the intended organic quality and texture, I also carefully fit and sewed the individual pieces of Tyvek together.
Monica Sung GCSE Art
I explored the theme of artificiality through the motif of horses, an animal dear to both me and this city. I chose this animal not only because of its personal significance to me but for its long history with both the city and domesticity. Without human intervention, the modern horse and all its variants would not have existed. This project eventually came to explore the relationship of domesticated horses with the artificial lifestyles that we have constructed for them.
The heron is a commonly seen bird in Hong Kong as well as a symbol of longevity in Chinese culture but in this case trapped in a bottle, its life wasted due to human activity and products polluting the wildlife around them.
I used the mediums of modroc, ink, paint, and textured paper. The modroc was modelled into the shape of half a heron, curled up and crushed into a silhouette of a bottle suggested with ink. The textured ground was created with tissue paper and sanded to create channels for the ink spread along creating the seeped look to indicate the pollution caused by humankind.
Zoya Hawken
Individuals often present a controlled, artificial version of themselves to the world, hiding their true feelings, reflecting a broader societal tendency to value appearances over authenticity. The multi-faceted diamond symbolises the concept of value and perfection. Diamonds with scratches or blemishes are often disregarded, seen as less valuable than flawless stones. The facets hint at the multiple personalities we display in order to mask the genuine one. My artwork aims to highlight the societal expectation to maintain composure and hide emotions like sadness or anger, which are often perceived as weaknesses.
Using the metaphor of butterflies, Gathering portrays how society excludes individuals who do not conform to its standards. The gold accented butterflies in the upper section were created using screen printing, each with the same wing pattern, which represents people who conform to social norms, visually appealing and identical, yet lacking individuality and depth. The gold references the Shakespearean quote, “We will all laugh at gilded butterflies.” While the butterflies appear beautiful and gilded, they have lost their true purpose, representing individuals who sacrifice authenticity for acceptance. The charcoal butterfly heavily contrasts from the other butterflies, symbolising those who do not fit societal expectations and are therefore alienated. The use of the charcoal medium gives it a sense of rawness and individuality, highlighting its difference from the uniform gold butterflies above. The background has chaotic brushstrokes and visible cracks, created with washes of deep blue-green. These elements reflect the flaws and unpredictability within society, suggesting that beneath the surface of conformity, there are underlying issues and instability.
Sophia Cheng GCSE Art
I created this preparatory artwork whilst exploring the theme of Artificial and chose to base this around an artificial love. This oil painting, depicting two swans facing one-another to create a discrete heart-like structure, symbolises love. However, the distance between the swans indicates the unrequited and artificial nature of this love.
For the examination theme Gathering, I combined the elements: fire, water, earth, and air to create a semantic field of life. The element of fire is highlighted through the campfire, representing the spark and energy life possesses. The element of water symbolises the fluidity and flow of life whilst the element of earth is that of stability and a sense of grounding, which is depicted through the vegetation of bushes and grass in the surroundings. The element of air is depicted through the sunset and its cloud. These elements all balance and combine to display the significance of natural elements in one’s life, in which one can’t live without the other, highlighting the cycle and balance of life.
GCSE Art
Adele Le Binh
For the project Waste, I wanted to explore the impact of material waste on an environmental scope. I wanted to emulate a traditional oil portrait but with elements of trash incorporated into the image to highlight a modern problem. This piece that addresses the issue of waste is a call to action on the very real issues within our society’s treatment of the environment.
For the theme of Gathering, I chose to illustrate an assembly of politicians. They are all depicted in various ridiculous poses and shown at leisure as a means to criticise the inefficiency and lack of problem-solving in modern bureaucracy. I chose to illustrate languour and absurdity to mimic the satirical style of political cartoons, creating a distorted and exaggerated scene. I used gouache on paper, a bleak black and white colour palette to contrast the folly of the characters with a serious colour scheme to indicate the supposed seriousness which is expected of a political assembly.
GCSE Art
Isadora Bolchover
Artificial was a project that I thoroughly enjoyed, one where I was able to explore and research concepts that I was passionate about. Surrealism was the main focus of my project - specifically the juxtaposition of two contrasting images. To become educated in Surrealism as an art movement, I researched, taking inspiration from artists such as Giorgio de Chirico. My piece consists of several grey figures, fruit, and a surrealist landscape, following perspective lines. In the piece, juxtaposition is significant in showing the stark contrast between man and nature, and the unnatural influence that humanity has over nature.
Gathering allowed me to explore many different ideas in depth. While I knew I wanted to gather a group of objects in a provoking image with ambiguity, it took trialling to decide on a path to take. The piece centres around Giorgio Morandi’s artwork Still Life (1938). I recreated the scene using household items, photographed it, and covered it with fabric. I aimed to emphasise the strangeness and juxtaposition between similarity and unfamiliarity. A famous still-life, recreated dissimilarly, partially obscured with fabric - overall creates an uncomfortable, yet identifiable image. The idea of covering or wrapping something could insinuate hiding it, or, in contrast, revealing its shape. The viewer decides its meaning.
