October - Pop Art Portraiture!

Today's lesson was yet another interesting exercise for our Bugs! We combined the techniques of portraiture drawing with elements of ‘Pop Art’. Drawing self-portraiture helps our Bugs understand the difference between ‘drawing by reference’ and ‘drawing by imagination’. Using their photos as reference, our Bugs were tasked to create their own self-drawing. The colourful POP Art element added the extra fun to the activity; giving each more space to elevate their own creativity through colours and shades.

Learning outcome: Techniques in self-portraiture, building self-confidence, exercising the elements of line, shape and value.

September - Sarawak: Culture and Art alive!

The Terabai Iban or Perisai Sarawak -  an armor shield captured our  interest. Various shields were  used for protection by the Borneo people namely Iban, Bidayuh, Dayak, Kenyah, Kelabit and Kayan warriors when Sarawak was known as the "Land of Headhunters" and piracy was rampant till the 20th Century.  

These days the Terabai shields are decorative items sought after by tourists as souvenirs and gifts, and are talking points when found in local homes. 

The Bugs were introduced to the art in decorating  the Terabai, and in their own way created what they would like to see on a shield of their own.

  

Learning Outcome: Knowing the shield Terabai, its use then and now; the characteristics of its shape, form and design; and the individual's creative  work on a Terabai.

September - Indian Art - Rangoli

Rangoli (also known as Kolam) is an art form from India. The patterns are created using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals.

In Malaysia, Rangoli usually visible in homes, hotels, shopping malls and corporate buildings during Diwali (Deepawali), Onam, Pongal and other Indian festivals.The Rangoli does not just serve as a decoration but is supposed to calm and comfort a visitor putting him at ease and happy to enter the building and is believed to bring luck the occupants.

Our Bugs were thrilled by the introduction to Rangoli, the vibrant colours and the significance and symbols in the art form.

Yet another lesson learnt on the culture and practice of our fellow Malaysians, the children excitedly experimenting the two-tone colouring technique on their Rangoli; applying splashes of attractive colours and designs on paper - a proud testament of their understanding of the lesson!

Learning Outcome: Rangoli, its design and significance; another Malaysian cultural practice; select colouring technique

September - Chinese art - Bamboo Plant

In conjunction with celebrating the Malaysia Months (August – Merdeka, September – Malaysia Day), the class continued to focus on activities in the arts and humanities by emphasizing Multi-cultural Malaysia through art.

This week, Chinese art was chosen, and our students were taught the basics of creating Bamboo Plant painting using Chinese brush and ink. The bamboo plant was explained as a plant that represented longevity, resilience, and a sought-after resource today.

Learning outcome: Learning Chinese Art, nurturing a culturally aware generation and inspires creativity characteristic of a multi-cultural Malaysia.

September - Wash your hands!

Art is about expressing a message, and a message can be expressed through art. Our Bugs were put through a questioning session on why parents and guardians insist we wash our hands so very often in a day. It was a lesson on bacteria and virus and how they made us sick. How to wash one's hands thoroughly the right way.

And to ensure the take home message to wash their hands often stayed, the children were given a fun time pasting on the choice of bacteria or virus on to cut outs of their own hands!!! Can they forget to wash their hands???

Learning outcome: Wash hands often and how to do it well, bacteria and viruses, individual expression of a message through art.

August - Jalur Gemilang - our Nation's Pride and Identity!

Knowing the history, designer, year of conception and progress of designs leading to the birth of our Jalur Gemilang brings us closer to nurturing national fervor and unity in the young.

Our bugs came away wiser with the knowledge of the representation of colours, stripes and designs of the national flag.

To set the Jalur Gemilang 'waving' and in motion, the children were taught the technique of 'raising a flying' flag aided by the technique of shading.

Learning Outcome: knowledge of the history and birth of the Jalur Gemilang and it's representations, the art of presenting the flag in motion through shading and instil a sense of unity, pride and love for our Malaysia.

August - Best Friends Forever (BFF)

Today the class was introduced to a group of "best friends" who are of multi-ethnic and multi-cultural origins living together peacefully in Malaysia.

The Bugs went about making dolls representing the 3 major races of Malaysia, each unique in their respective identities and cultural composition.

Through the exercise aimed at fostering interracial harmony, integration and unity - all vital ingredients for the success of our multiracial Malaysia, their toy making skills surfaced.

Learning outcome: awareness of our unique Malaysian multi-ethnicity, a reinforcement of unity in diversity, and skill in toy making with special attention to details.