Art for Healing
Art has an amazing power to heal. We may not be the celebrity artists and writers but we can still write, draw and create to express our inner self and share positivity with others.
"Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
O why lament its fall?"
An extract by Charlotte Brontë's poem, Life (1816-1855)
In Response to Ms Wong's Zentangle
2024-25 1st Term Sep 2024
There may be no better way to communicate what we do than through images. Last year, Ms Wong Lai Man introduced the idea of Zentangle in the journal. Students also had different opportunities to have contact with this form of art and expressed their feelings. This August, I had some time to listen to the Hong Kong Bible Conference. In a sermon by Rev. Chan on the book of Job, he mentioned that we are like the pieces of stained glass windows. All the broken pieces with strengths and weaknesses but together, we form a beautiful picture. The lines and patterns look meaningless in zentangle and yet, there is a meaningful message awaiting discovery.
Students' artworks in a life camp organized by Religious Education Committee (REC). They drew in groups with each of them being in charge of a pattern.
l experienced the zentangle art in a meeting of art club. Every club member did one individual zentangle in the activity. Personlly l think zentangle is effortless for a junior of art. As drawing zentangle patterns merely needs black and white colour. You don't need to consider the balance of colour in the art work. Besides, zentangle art is based on multiple patterns.You can have diverse choices of it. In the end, you can possess a more creative work than the traditional painting. I love the idea that even though you are no expert in art, you can also have a great experience in the whole process only with the heart of trying. I guess life is like this. We may not be good at everything but at least we never stop trying.
5D Purple Lee
Personally, I believe that creating a remarkable picture requires a draft. One day, the teacher led us to draw zentangle. A special requirement was given to us: we had to sketch without practice, without preparation, and just simply drew what we thought at that moment. Undoubtedly, some of our classmates were talented in brainstorming and creating virtual art. However, I was not one of them. I felt lost. I had no idea about the final product. It was only black and white, a strong contrast. I started from the first black box, then filled up the paper. Finally, I finished the work. Looking at it, I saw nothing special. During the activity, I felt relaxed, but the design lacked meaning. The teacher said, "Wow! Lovely cat!" "What? A cat?" I was a bit shocked. I couldn't see the image.
"Why don't you turn the picture to another side? It was true. I couldn't expect that just following the patterns can create a cat in the background. "There are many possibilities to reach your destination," said the teacher. Pondering over what the teacher said for some time, I keep reminding myself that solutions are way more than problems.
5D Mandy Leung
2024-25 1st Term Sep 2024
ART WORKSHOP
During the post-exam period in July, VA teachers invited a professional artist to teach students sketching skills. Some students showcased their artistic talents in the workshop and most of them had great fun and some relaxing time.
Reflections
Can you sketch your friend's face?
Do you want to have your own portrait?
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The art workshop was initially a mystery. "VA workshop" is all it said on the post-examination activities notice. However I am stunned by what I did today, thinking that it would be another classic VA lesson. As a person who has no interest in visual arts, I truly enjoyed the workshop from top to bottom, with the top being a quick draw of classmates' faces. Although we were taught different facial expressions and advanced skills, we ended up doodling comedic "masterpieces'' using our "masterful" skills which gave us all a deafening laugh. On the other hand, the bottom, or drawing our own prospects, in which we were asked to draw what we hoped ourselves to be doing after 6 months. Even though the main goal of this activity was to let us try drawing our own faces, we had the brightest idea - draw our favourite characters in lieu of ourselves! We were also told to colour our art, but the character I drew was completely white! Due to the fact that we were not scolded for "not sticking to the theme" but we could have our own freedom to apply the skills we were taught, we left the hall with a laugh, the skills to draw a decently great-looking face, and our work! I would say it was an emotion release workshop which allowed us to do something relaxing after exams. I felt refreshed after all.
4B Aleph Chung (2023-24)
During the art workshop, the speaker of the workshop shared lots of her working experience of sketching ,for example, how to analyze the facial features of people, the skill of sketching out an accurate face proportion and how to observe and sketch out the emotion of the people. I did learn something new and have some basic understanding of sketching though I do not study art. The speaker also encouraged us to draw out the plan and target of the near future in the last section of the workshop. She helped us to reflect on our life and plan for the future. It was inspiring to find out how art could be linked to what we often say as practical and realistic. The workshop was very relaxing and delightful. It helped me to create an unforgettable memory of drawing my friends’ faces (of course, we were trained to be more observant on details) and having fun together. It was definitely a good social activity as well.
4B Tommy Chan (2023-24)
During the activity, we drew faces on each of our group mates, and we learned about how to draw human faces and different drawing skills. It was a lot of fun, and we all improved our drawing abilities. We experimented with different techniques, like shading and proportions, and we had a great time exploring our creativity. By the end of the activity, we had all drawn some great faces, and we felt proud of our work. It was a great experience, and I look forward to our next drawing session! It helped to relieve stress by doing something different and fun.
4D Cynthia Cheung (2023-24)
Collage Art: War and Peace
2023-24 2nd Term Feb 2024
2B Lee Hiu Ying (2023-24)
My work is about a war taking place in a place where the girl lives, losing her family. She hopes that the war can be stopped and her wish is eventually granted. I like my work because the soldiers can represent the violence in a war and the fire is the symbol of destruction in the place.
The recent wars in the world provoke thoughts on peace and human relationships. F.2 students read the book Nathaniel and the Scrolls of Tears, mentally travelling back to the time of the WWII and some past conflicts in the history. Guided by the VA teacher, Ms. Anita Choi, they used images from old magazines and newspapers to create a new piece of art with their design and own drawings. Through the work, they express their thoughts on war and peace. Three best works have been selected by Ms Choi.
2C Katie Or (2023-24)
The theme of my artwork is peace without wars. I put angels in the work as they are the prevailing figures of love and peace. There are also white doves everywhere to highlight the ideas of peace, friendship, unity and holiness. I pasted different flags there as I truly hope that all places can stay in peace, holding hands to create a utopia.
2C Ho Yau Sum (2023-24)
The theme is peace. Through the images, I would like to show how wars can influence people. See it, feel it and think about it.
“When I look at your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are humans that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?”
(Psalm 8:3-4, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
As a choir enthusiast, I am often touched when singing these verses as a chorister in my church choir. Such beautiful, while also meaningful, verse tell the good story of creation, how God is the creator of all things, of every star we see in the sky, every planet, every galaxy. Yet, as He creates the massive structures in the vast universe, He is also mindful of humans, who as little as they are, should have no place in the universe, but this does not stop His care and love for them, for He created everything in the world and loves everything, big or small, wholeheartedly that He created.
As a Religious Studies major, I was most fortunate to be enrolled to the course “Philosophy of Religion,” where I learned any and everything between philosophy and Christianity. Most fascinating of all was when we touched on the relationship between science and Christianity, I learned how much conditions must be “just right” for the universe and life to exist. An example is that if gravity had been stronger or weaker by 1/1040, life sustaining stars such as our Sun would never have existed, making the existence of carbon-based life such as human beings to be impossible. As such, ours and the universe’s existence are certainly a miracle, suggesting God the creator is at work. And as we look at the great creations in our world, from the birds that visit us every day to the vast tropical rain forests to the oceans, and to the ever-expanding space, we will see God’s presence in us.
Mr. Amos Yip
English Teaching Assistant
Zentangle: Entangle, Untangle
While I was drawing, my teacher told me it was not as difficult as what I might think. "Just follow. It will be done." Yes, when I finished, I held it up and I was fascinated by the pattern. My eyes were then moistened.
An epiphany. I was in a difficult situation, feeling every day ahead foggy and unstable. Perhaps It was like the drawing process. I drew a line, shaded the shape, having no clues what was in front. Perhaps life is like drawing. At the end, when we look back, we are all artists, creating a masterpiece. "Just follow. It will be done."
Believe in God. Just follow. It will be done.
Miss Wong Lai Man Brenda
History Teacher
Lei Yue Mun Hong Kong
Photo and Words by Ms Sofie Chan
Former English Teacher at STMC
Faith
Faith is iridescent.
Calm, pleasant and reliable.
It gives a shade of shimmers on your days.
Nothing opaque, but it reveals.
On good days its vibrancy can be seen,
like water under shine.
At bad times it dims,
yet it can be the very least vision through rough days.
Hold your breath... still it's glowing.
Be more and more patient,
you'll find the good vibes.
What is faith to you? How does nature associate with it?
Ms Sofie Chan is a very experienced and professional English teacher. It is my pleasure to have the chance to work with her for a year. She is also a devoted Christian.
I like Ms Chan's free verse, Faith. Nature is created by God, the greatest creator and it can reveal all the precious traits and beliefs we should behold in our life. It's true during good days, we can easily feel faith while on bad days, we tend to lose it but it doesn't mean He is not here next to you. "Still it's glowing"--no matter what circumstances you are in now, look at the sky, feel the light and breathe in. May He be with you always.
Ms. Flo Au
Art in Life
1st Term 2023-24 Aug 2023
What can you see?
What can you hear?
What can you feel?
Drawings on the nature by Ms Yu
Students and I were really glad to see Ms Yu at the graduation dinner. She asked me for my well-being and shared with me about her retirement life. I am truly inspired and touched by her passion in life and surroundings. She is now into hobbies like hiking, photo-taking and drawing. She reads the Bible in different versions, meditates on His words and continues to apply them in her life. Million thanks for her lovely drawings for the journal and bless her all the good wishes! Isn't life blissful when you can meet people full of care, love and passion?
Art Through Traveling
Many F.6 students finished their DSE and went on a graduation trip to relax themselves. Let's read what they say about their post-DSE days.
Photos taken by Karin Leung
那是一潮溺進雲煙的殘陽，潑過點僅餘的筆墨，染上所謂「美國小鎮」的東京，圈了霞光。朝遠方眺望，嫳屑佇立他國風中，不知怎的，總有種難以描繪的感慨與茫然。
自日本旅歸，夾在DSE與放榜的交界，彷如落日，茫茫浮盪在晝夜之間，不上不下，或許這就是別人說的忙忘茫。
但眼見排得滿滿當當的行程表空出大半，偶爾虛度一日，總是忍不住想抄些筆記，忙點什麽。靜謐的房間內，我總能聽見隔壁傳來排球陣陣的碰撞，又抑或是師弟妹放學經過的笑語盈盈，彼時火焰木恰好盛開。
然後想着想着，便能抬頭看見白天降下，前方的路一片模糊——像那未知的未來。
編排好的日子已經過去了，而我意識到自己失去了目標。
工作，那就工作吧。
打卡，改文，迎面人潮洶湧……再重拾剛即鬆手的DSE。上司的一字一句篆刻筆記，被初出茅廬的頑石奉為圭臬，我開始磕磕巴巴地講解起十二篇範文。職場的言行舉止中，透露的提醒訓勉，亦如同腳下高跟鞋的蹣跚，磨去菱角良多，讓我學曉跌跌撞撞地爬行。
至於大學面試，穿戴整齊，一踏入，未曾設想要在沒有準備的情況與四方八面的對手唇槍舌劍。教授語畢，時間倒數，我一愣，面對着「香港獨特文化」六字無從入手，不禁懊惱連連，後悔過於輕敵，只能在過後倚窗空守。
我突然想起那時望着窗外的晚霞，沒有什麼特別的，操場飄來燒烤的炭香，山上的枝鳥依舊吵個不停，而我發呆聽歌翻着書，恍惚覺得六年青春，短得只有一瞬間。
在黃昏沉醉的瞬間，
燈光從東京迪士尼的中心升起。
Karin Leung Ka Yuet 6C 2022-23
Travel, Preach and Feel
These days, Rev. Lo travels around and preaches. He is not young in age but always stays young for God and his life.
天朗氣清，又是美好的一天！萬里無雲，小白鷺自由自在地飛翔在水面上！ 這是天父世界，我靈必得自由！
Rev. Lo Lung Kwong
The nature is what we have from God. When we look up, the sky is high above and then you take a deep breath of air. You feel you are so small. The sun is always there though it may hide its face behind clouds sometimes. There is the ultimate power behind.