Beyond the Canvas: A Celebration of Creativity at the Year 13 DP Visual Arts Exhibition 2025

On the evening of 26 March, the ISL community gathered in the South Building to experience a milestone event — the Diploma Visual Arts Exhibition 2025. More than just an exhibition, it was a celebration of student voice, creativity, and the transformative power of the arts. Parents, students, alumni, and friends were warmly welcomed into a space where imagination took centre stage and where, for many, memories were made that will last well beyond the evening itself.

Each spring, this annual exhibition marks the culmination of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) Visual Arts course at ISL. What unfolds is more than a showcase of talent — it is the result of two years of dedicated research, exploration, and making. The works on display speak not only to technical skill but to a depth of thinking and a commitment to inquiry that reflect the very essence of the IB.

A Day of Stories, Solidarity, and Student Voice

Throughout the exhibition, visitors encountered a rich and diverse collection of artworks ranging from immersive installations and compelling photography to bold, thought-provoking paintings. Each piece served as a window into the students’ personal stories, revealing their evolving creative thinking, technical development, and unique perspectives on the world around them.

The process begins with inquiry and continues through experimentation, critique, and refinement. Students design every element of their own exhibition — from curating their work and arranging the space, to writing about their intentions and articulating their creative journey. This empowers them to take full ownership of both their learning and their message.

One parent, who has seen ISL students grow up within the school, shared:

“Tonight I saw the work of children I have known since they were 6 or 7 years old. Some of their work brought me to tears. Schools will survive in the future not because of being average or like their competitors, but because they become famous for something — and that shows an excellence of teaching.”

Academic Outcomes and the IB Assessment Criteria

While the exhibition is deeply personal, it is also a structured academic assessment that represents 40% of the final grade in the DP Visual Arts course. Students are required to present a coherent body of work that demonstrates both technical command and conceptual sophistication.

Alongside their artwork, students submit a curatorial rationale—a written statement outlining their intentions, thematic focus, and decisions around presentation. Assessment criteria focus on the resolution of ideas, communication of meaning, cohesion and innovation, and the overall curation of the space.

Importantly, the process itself is also assessed. Students must demonstrate engagement with art-making, including risk-taking, critical reflection, and sustained inquiry. The assessment celebrates not just what is produced, but how students think, adapt, and grow through the creative process. It is an authentic demonstration of the IB’s belief that learning should be visible, dynamic, and student-led.

Personal and Academic Growth

What visitors see in the gallery is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind every artwork lies a journey marked by creative risk, resilience, and profound personal growth. Students are challenged to question their assumptions, explore unfamiliar techniques, and develop the confidence to express complex ideas.

This process builds skills that are essential for life beyond the studio: independent research, time management, critical thinking, and effective communication. Students learn to embrace ambiguity, to balance vision with flexibility, and to present their thinking with clarity and conviction.

Many visitors commented on how articulately the students spoke about their work. One attendee shared:

 “I could not bring myself to leave until 1.5 hours had passed. It speaks volumes to the quality of the work and the intelligence with which the students could articulate the cognitive process behind their work.”

A Window into the IB Learner Profile

The exhibition vividly brings to life the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. Students act as inquirers, communicators, risk-takers, and reflective thinkers. Their work reflects international-mindedness and interdisciplinary thinking, often bridging art with science, philosophy, culture, and identity.

This is where the IB’s holistic approach is fully realised. The arts are not treated as an isolated subject but as a lens through which students can explore who they are and how they relate to others — locally and globally.

An Invitation to Experience the Journey

Perhaps one of the most moving sentiments shared during the evening captured the spirit of the exhibition and of ISL itself:

 “All ISL students need to go out and cause good trouble. That is a testament to the education they have received.”

It is through moments like these that the value of an arts education truly shines. The Visual Arts Exhibition is not only about what students have created, but about who they have become. Artists. Thinkers. Problem-solvers. Global citizens.

“This is a strong exhibition, individually and collectively, that restores one’s faith in the idea that questioning doesn’t have to be shouting, and the immediacy of joy doesn’t have to be ironised or apologised for. The artists all recognise a sense of responsibility - towards family, place, political engagement - but never make the mistake of substituting dogma, or “position-taking” for integrity. There’s variety, individuality, and humanity here. We all need to know these things remain real. Go see it.”

As the lights dimmed and the final visitors lingered in quiet conversation, what remained was more than a gallery of artwork — it was a collective expression of identity, courage, and vision. The Year 13 Diploma Visual Arts Exhibition stands as a powerful reminder of what young people can achieve when they are given the tools, the space, and the trust to explore who they are. At ISL, the arts are not just a subject — they are a vital part of shaping thoughtful, compassionate, and curious learners ready to engage with the world.