Saying their Piece

Five Harrodian Sixth Formers with a special interest in art participated in an internal competition inspired by the Articulation Prize and organised by Head of History of Art, Ms Hannah Kroes. The participating students delivered spoken presentations on a variety of fascinating artistic works and topics, ranging from history and culture to film and literature.

The Articulation Prize is a nationwide public speaking competition designed by the National Gallery to engage students aged 16-19 with art. Launched in November 2023 at Harrodian, this prestigious event provides students with a platform to explore and articulate their insights into art, architecture, and design. With over 1,000 participants across 10 regions of the UK, the competition fosters confidence, critical thinking, and an appreciation for the arts among young people. Although Harrodian did not participate nationally this year, Ms. Kroes, Head of History of Art and organiser of the event, chose to run the competition internally, recognising its significant benefits for students and building on the success from the previous year. 

  

Our participating students – three from the Lower Sixth and two from Upper Sixth – rose to the challenge, all speaking confidently and communicating their love of art. They were able to choose any work of art, architecture, or artefact to present on, and their topics were as diverse as their chosen array of media, ranging from a historical exploration of the Terracotta Warriors to contemporary film analysis and the intricate connections between paintings and poetry. They each chose a topic that resonated with their personal interests and academic studies, and their speeches showcased deep research, thoughtful analysis, and a shared passion for the arts.

  

The line-up for this year’s presentations was as follows:

1. Emily (Lower Sixth Film Studies student): An analysis of Sofia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette
2. Siri (Lower Sixth Art student): Vivienne Westwood's Cafe Society collection of fashion designs
3. George (Lower Sixth History of Art student): The history of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors
4. Vera (Upper Sixth History of Art and 3D Design student): Jeff Wall's photograph A Sudden Gust of Wind and its links to the Japanese printmaker Hokusai
5. Livia (Upper Sixth History of Art and Art student): A connection between Sargent's portrait of Gertrude Vernon, Lady Agnew of Lochnaw, and Robert Browning's poem My Last Duchess

Emily’s passion for film shone through in her analysis of Sofia Coppola’s unique visual style. When asked what she enjoyed most about the competition, Emily shares, “I have always loved Sofia Coppola’s films and have a pink archive book at home all about her. I find her a very visual film director. Her films so far haven't featured on the Film Studies syllabus, so this was a great enrichment opportunity for me.” Reflecting on the challenges, she admits, “I found it hard to know where to start. I had so much research but didn’t know what direction to go in. Ms. Kroes helped me with a strategy and told me to start with the analysis and go from there. She basically helped me structure it.”

Siri’s exploration of Vivienne Westwood’s Cafe Society collection resonated with her passion for fashion and art. “I have a real interest in fashion, and I study Art, so I loved having the chance to dig deeper and do the research into Vivienne Westwood,” Siri explains. Public speaking, however, was initially daunting for her. “I was scared about public speaking but wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone, and I am really glad I did it. The first minute or so was terrifying, but after that, I got really into my stride.”

George, meanwhile, transported the audience to ancient China with his presentation on the Terracotta Warriors. Asked about his favourite part of the experience, he says, “I really enjoyed researching the Terracotta Warriors as part of my project and learning so many weird and wonderful things which I never would have expected. The presentation gave me an excuse to immerse myself in another amazing culture.” He acknowledges that presenting was a challenge: “Standing in front of a room full of people solely focused on you can be a bit unnerving, but it was definitely made easier by the fact that I talked about something I loved!”

Second-time participant Livia drew connections between John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Lady Agnew and Robert Browning’s poem My Last Duchess. When asked how she found the process, she remarks: “The Articulation event is a great opportunity to express any interest from art to literature or from fashion to film. For me, it was a chance to share the strange interconnections my brain makes with a room of people ready to follow the journey.” Her exploration of these links demonstrated how art and literature can intertwine to reveal deeper layers of interpretation.

Vera’s presentation examined Jeff Wall’s photograph A Sudden Gust of Wind and its connections to Hokusai. Describing her chosen piece, Vera says: “At first glance, this is a photograph. However, upon understanding Wall's cinephile tendencies, fascination with cinema, and experiments with perception and documentation of reality, it becomes clear that it isn't a photograph but an extremely precisely organised collage of separately recorded elements into a photograph facade.” She also explains that while she still finds public speaking daunting – and it was her second time taking part in the competition – it is her love of the subject that helps her through the nerves: “Taking on the subject of the History of Art at A-Level has inspired me, and I now crave the chance to speak about my artistic interests. The Articulation competition allows me to express my interest in the art of my own choice, and I knew it would resonate with other like-minded individuals. My only worry at the time was how best I could convey my insights about the piece.”

Her worries were perhaps unfounded, as her presentation clearly impressed those around her and was praised for its depth and detail—a sentiment shared by fellow participants Emily and Siri. "We both really loved Vera’s presentation and thought she was a worthy winner," they said. "She dissected every corner of the painting with exceptional attention to detail, and her delivery was clear and concise."

The Head of History of Art and event judge, Ms. Kroes, agreed, ultimately naming Vera the winner of this year’s competition. "Vera's speech was inspired by her first-hand experience of seeing the photograph at an exhibition at the Tate. Her emotional connection to the image informed the structure of her speech, making it deeply personal and impactful. She analysed the details of the work with a wonderful use of art historical language and brought a poetic touch to her descriptions—such as the pages floating in the wind and the artistic influences which seemed to circulate around the world. The way she drew together the visual aspects of the work with critical understanding was beautiful and the reason she won this year."

Reflecting on what she has learnt over the course of two competitions, Vera adds: “I feel my ability to give insight on art has improved, especially in works like Jeff Wall’s, where meaning is open to interpretation. Through participating two years in a row, first in the Lower Sixth and now as an Upper Sixth former, I have developed my speech and artistic language, and I feel I have gained the ability to interest even those uninvolved in art.”

So, will the Articulation Prize continue to be a regular event in the Harrodian calendar? There is no question in Ms Kroes's mind, who is already planning it again for 2025. “The Articulation Prize offers a unique opportunity for students to share their passions through public speaking, encouraging them to do a deep dive into aspects of art or design they are intrigued by beyond the curriculum. I am always surprised and delighted by the topics they discover and amazed by the eloquence and sophistication of their analysis and presentation. It's a very courageous thing to take part in, and many of the students were nervous about participating but showed great resilience in doing so.”

Well done to all the participants for their hard work and outstanding presentations.