Visual Arts

Visual Arts are taught to every student at the Western International School of Shanghai at various stages of their education at the school. Visual Arts at WISS transcends artistic skills and teaches students life skills that can be applied in real-world situations, such as creative expression, critical thinking, and reflection.

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Here in the WISS community, students produce art shows and contribute to WISS events such as performances. WISS is also proud to host numerous visiting artists from around the world. The possibilities are endless with state-of-the-art Visual Arts facilities.

Visual Arts
In Early Years

Students in Early Years Art explore several art materials and processes in inquiry-based, open-ended, and instructed activities. Students practice their fine motor skills through the use and handling of pencils, scissors, paint brushes, chalk, and markers, as well as a number of non-traditional art materials like rice and raw fruits and vegetables in a number of drawing, painting, and collage activities.
Creative problem-solving skills are developed through three-dimensional work, including hand-building techniques using clay, papier-mâché mask making, and collaborative building projects. Art History and the work of famous artists are introduced through the use of the children’s cartoon series Art with Mati and Dada, whilst art vocabulary is learned and practiced through the classroom Art Word Wall. Most units are integrated with the classroom lessons, including the unit How We Express Ourselves and Sharing the Planet, allowing for connections to be made across the school.

Visual Arts
In the Primary School

Visual Art Program for WISS Primary students is a well-rounded program where skills, techniques, and concepts are focal points. In Primary, art is used to express and communicate ideas and feelings and promote critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and social interactions. Throughout the Primary School Art Program students explore different artistic concepts in a variety of ways. Students inquire into the life and works of artists from all over the world. They explore folk arts from different cultures to appreciate and understand the role of art in society.
They work independently as well as collaboratively with others to create and learn about a variety of art forms and experiment with different materials. Some of the forms of art explored through the Primary School Art Program at WISS are clay modeling, digital art, printmaking, sculpture making, traditional painting, drawing, and sketching. Art at WISS is in an integral part of learning and is interwoven into the curriculum across the school.

Visual Arts
In the Secondary School

Visual Arts courses are offered to students in Secondary School to educate students to think creatively. The art skills taught to Secondary students include 2D, 3D, painting, drawing, printing, clay work, sculpture, textiles, and metalwork.

Aligned with the IB curriculum, there is a focus on a more profound connection, teaching students to critique and reflect on their own work and that of others and develop analytical and problem-solving skills. In Grades 11 and 12, WISS IB students may choose to continue to study the Visual Arts through both IBDP and IBCP.

Through the IBCP Art and Design pathway, WISS has a strong partnership with SCAD which allows students to continue with further study and scholarship opportunities. The IBDP Visual Arts course focuses on three components: art-making practice, theoretical practice, and curatorial practice. This academically intensive course is designed for students who are passionate about the arts and want to go on to study Visual Arts in higher education and as well as those who are seeking enrichment.

ART SHOWS AT WISS

IBDP Art Exhibition 2019
[This is Erlebnisse]

WISSwide and IBDP Art Exhibition 2020
[I <3 Art]

Visual Arts

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