Seven Harrodians with a special interest in art participated in the National Gallery's Articulation Prize by giving spoken presentations on pieces of work by artists ranging from Claude Monet and Gustav Klimt to Yinka Shonibare and Francis Bacon
Harrodian is thrilled to have participated in the National Gallery's prestigious Articulation Prize 2024 for the first time in its history. A preliminary school heat was held at the end of November last year, organised and hosted by Head of History of Art Ms Hannah Kroes. Seven Lower Sixth Art, History of Art and Media Studies students, above, took part and delivered compelling presentations on works of art of their choice to an audience consisting of an adjudicator, pupils, parents and staff.
It was fun to focus in such depth on particular works of art. I really enjoyed the research process and the freedom this competition gave me to follow my own path and come to my own conclusions
Kitty, Lower Sixth Art student and winner of Harrodian's Articulation Prize
With over 1000 young people taking part across 10 regions of the UK, the aim of this nationwide competition (which you can read more about HERE) is to engage post-GCSE students aged between 16-19 in full-time education with art, regardless of background or experience, and develop their confidence and ability to express their opinions, thoughts and ideas, all the while promoting the appreciation and discussion of art.
Our participating students rose to the challenge, all speaking confidently and communicating their love of art. They were able to choose any work of art, architecture or an artefact to present on, and their topics were as diverse as their chosen array of media, ranging from slime moulds and horror films to 3D installations and wall murals. The high calibre of presentations demonstrated the depth of their understanding and research.
The presentation line-up followed this order:
1. Kitty - "How Yinka Shonibare's installation 'The Swing' Responds to Fragonard's Rococo Painting"
2. Anya - "An Analysis of Monet's Nympheas (Waterlilies)"
3. Talha - "The Influence of Francis Bacon on the Film 'The Silence of the Lambs'"**
4. Livia - "The Identity of Adele Bloch-Bauer in Klimt's Woman in Gold"
5. Emmanouela - "The Legacy of the Venus de Milo and Beauty Standards"
6. Vera - "The Soviet Ideals Expressed in Vera Mukhina's Worker and Kolkhoz Woman"
7. Ella - "The Slime Mould Physarum Polycephalum in the Work of Sarah Roberts"
Kitty, above, was the first to speak and set the bar very high with her fantastic and thought provoking presentation that compared Shonibare's installation with Fragonard's 'The Swing' and asked challenging questions about cultural identity. As an Art A Level student, Kitty has a real passion for art and so her enthusiasm for taking part in the Articulation prize was unsurprising. "It was fun to focus in such depth on particular works of art. I really enjoyed the research process and the freedom this competition gave me to follow my own path and come to my own conclusions," she enthuses.
I also enjoyed seeing all the different threads of history, culture, religion, art, music, and film come together in many of the presentations and sharing our thoughts and ideas in a room with a bunch of people who love art was so invigorating
Livia, Lower Sixth History of Art and Art student
Fellow Sixth Former, Livia, who delivered a presentation about the history of Klimt's 'Woman in Gold' describes herself as a nervous public speaker but is quick to point out the value of having taken part in the Articulation process. "It gave me the tools and confidence to stand up and share my love of art with others," she says."I also enjoyed seeing all the different threads of history, culture, religion, art, music, and film come together in many of the presentations and sharing our thoughts and ideas in a room with a bunch of people who love art was so invigorating."
After great deliberation, third prize was awarded to Vera, second prize to Emmanouela and first prize to Kitty, who will now represent Harrodian at the London Regional Heat at Dartmouth House (home to the English Speaking Union) in London's Mayfair on Monday 15th January.
Head judge, Mrs Catherine Morgan (Harrodian Teacher and History of Art student/aficionado), praised Kitty for her confident and strong delivery, noting how impressed she was by Kitty's comparison between 2D and 3D artworks and by her nuanced understanding of artistic mediums. She also complimented Kitty on her use of language and for such a well-constructed presentation.
Well done to all those who took part and best of luck to Kitty in the next round of the competition.