Dinner is served

"Art belongs in public. You have to talk about art, discuss it, relate it to your own life". With these words, art department head Dr. Barbara Mayrhofer-Diaw welcomed the numerous visitors* to the large opening of the secondary schools on March 2. "It is important to create an artistic-sensual access to the reality of life of student through art," explained Barbara Mayrhofer-Diaw. Particularly in an often technologically oriented, top-heavy world, the aim is to awaken and strengthen children's perceptive and expressive abilities.

"With mutual support, we students have been able to transform our visions into reality over the past few months. From two-dimensional to three-dimensional art, from the abstract to the realistic, from the functionless to the functional - you see everything here today!", welcomed student Karim Noah on behalf of all artists the guests of the vernissage. The exhibited student works showed the diversity in an impressive way. The spirit of research and invention was awakened and the students slipped into the role of a designer, for example, to create sneakers or new comic book heroes for the next Walt Disney film. Also with the pictorial argument with surface organization of our earth and the anatomical small sculptures of body parts an artistically exploring approach was pursued. A special highlight and title giver of the Vernissage was the table covered with food sculptures.

There were also exhibits to admire that were deliberately designed to be irritating, experimental or to raise questions, such as the video installations or the POP Art sculptures by the 10th graders. Other exhibits, on the other hand, were simply intended to be beautiful and harmonious, such as the black-and-white graphics of the 8th graders. Visitors saw an educational, cross-cultural aspect in the Chinese ink paintings, as well as in the Hurufiyya works, where modern art meets Islamic cultural heritage. The diorama boxes of the 12th grade were touching and enchanting. The kinetic ceiling installations in the secondary school foyer inspired by Calder provided another highlight. Visitors were able to view these while relaxing on beanbags to atmospheric music and blue lighting.

Principal Michael Lummel was delighted with the exhibits on display and the positive visitor response. "It is wonderful to give our talented students a platform where they can proudly exhibit their art work," said the principal. In this sense, the vernissage should become a tradition and attract numerous art enthusiasts to the DISD again next year.