SYF Art Exhibition 2023
Walking into the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Art Exhibition 2023 at the Stamford Arts Centre, I was immediately struck by the vibrancy of creative expression on display. Themed ‘Artist and Inspiration’, this year’s exhibition was a testament to how young artists draw inspiration from history, culture, and personal experiences to craft works that speak in their own unique voices.
From the moment I stepped into the space, it was clear that this wasn’t just an exhibition of student work but a celebration of how art helps children see, think, and express. It was particularly heartening to see the effort, passion, and thought behind each artwork. Thanks in no small part to the mentorship of dedicated art teachers.
Inspiration is Everywhere
Every piece reflected the influences that shaped it, whether inspired by cultural heritage, or personal stories. Some artworks told stories of communities and friendships, while others reflected on history, memory, and identity. It was a reminder that art is a way of making sense of the world, not just through representation, but through a profound personal connection.
As I took in the pieces, I kept returning to the quote I shared:
“It is important to understand that drawing is not about teaching rote skills dependent on technical rules of thumb but about instilling confidence to create a personal form of expression and communication. If children feel so inhibited that they can't actually take up a pencil and work out a series of lines as an equivalent of an idea, an observation or an emotion, then we have denied them access to their own imagination and intelligence.”
This quote resonated deeply as I stood in front of the artworks. So often, we associate drawing with skill – a set of techniques that must be mastered to produce something 'correct'. But this exhibition showed the power of drawing as thinking, as feeling, as discovery. The young artists here were not constrained by perfection or technicality; they had something to say, and they found their own way of saying it.
Keeping the Artist Alive
Edgar Degas once said, "Drawing is not what you see but what you must make others see." This exhibition was a testament to that idea, that each artwork goes beyond representation; it was a window into the artist’s thoughts, emotions, and perspectives.
As I left the exhibition, I felt hopeful. The artworks I had seen weren’t just products; they were glimpses into the minds and hearts of young creators who were learning to trust their own perspectives. And that, to me, is the true power of art. It doesn’t just teach us how to draw; it teaches us how to see what matters and share it with the world.