Empowering Students Through Art: The Shiv Nadar School Approach
Art is often seen as an escape from the mundanity of life, but what if it leads to self-discovery and empowerment?
In the Shiv Nadar School Podcast episode 2, Arya Mohapatra, a Grade 12 student from the Noida campus, engaged in an engaging conversation with Ms Manjima Chatterjee, Vice Principal of the Noida campus and Head of Art Curriculum across all campuses, about the transformative power of Art education. The discussion explored its profound impact on personal growth, academic achievement, and overall individual development.
A Journey Rooted in the Art
Ms Chatterjee's journey in Art began in a Bengali household in Calcutta, where she was immersed in music, visual art, and dance from a young age. At four, she was enrolled in visual art classes, followed by dance at six and music at seven. Although she had performed in plays since the age of eight, it wasn’t until Grades 9 and 10 that she was formally introduced to theatre. This early exposure shaped her understanding and appreciation of various art forms.
The artistic experiences instilled in her a sense of discipline, coordination, and a connection with her surroundings. In conversation with Arya, she emphasised how Art education transcends the classroom, fostering a multilingual and culturally rich perspective.
The Impact of Art on Personal Growth
Art education fosters a rigorous and disciplined approach to learning. It helps individuals become more coordinated, enhances their relationship with their bodies, and instils respect for the environment. For example, Bharatnatyam was instrumental for Manjima in developing physical coordination and fostering a comfortable relationship with her body. Art can also teach multilingualism, broadening linguistic capabilities and deepening her cultural appreciation.
Art as a Medium for Authentic Expression and Human Connection
Art exists at the intersection of social, economic, and psychological forces, functioning as both an internal and external medium. While our thoughts are often shaped by external influences, such as societal expectations and conditioning, art allows us to express our innermost feelings authentically. It offers a space to be our truest selves.
Through a pedagogy that embraces this artistic freedom, we can create an environment where individuals explore their identities, express themselves freely, and critically engage with the world around them. Art education thus becomes a powerful tool for personal growth.
Artistic expression doesn’t conform to standardised outcomes; it is deeply individual and meaningful to the creator. It transcends rational understanding, whether through the raw, clinical lines of Picasso’s Guernica, which evoke deep distress, or a dance performance that moves one to tears without explanation. It connects individuals on an emotional level, fostering a sense of shared humanity. The challenge is to translate this profound emotional exchange into the classroom, creating a space where trust and genuine human connection can flourish through art.
Emancipatory Pedagogy: The Power of Art in Education
Art has a unique ability to disrupt the structured, time-bound nature of classrooms, which are often constrained by syllabi and rigid frameworks. Introducing art into these spaces can challenge these limitations, making learning playful and flexible—something that can be taken apart and reassembled in new forms. This approach embodies emancipatory pedagogy, where art serves as a liberating force, free from the constraints of predefined roles or outcomes. Initiatives like Project Zero’s Making Thinking Visible protocols demonstrate how we can retain art’s disruptive power while integrating it with structures that help us make sense of the world. The balance lies in leveraging art’s capacity to evoke deep, unexplainable emotions and its ability to dissolve stress, as seen in experiences like using dance to enhance academic performance. Through this, art education becomes a transformative force, enabling students to connect with themselves and the world in ways that no other activity can.
Rethinking the Traditional Education System through the Art
The traditional education system was designed to build individuals who could follow rules and processes, much like workers in factories or offices. While this approach made sense in a world with known rules, it is inadequate in today’s constantly shifting landscape. Art education offers a solution by fostering creativity and innovation, enabling students to navigate an unpredictable world. This shift is about creating spaces that encourage free thinking and problem-solving. For instance, at Shiv Nadar School, students studying the architecture of Delhi during the Sultanate period engaged in a STEAM project where they explored the subject through Art. They asked questions, created models, and learned through hands-on experiences, making the knowledge more tangible and memorable.
The Role of Art in Learning and Building Confidence
Art plays a crucial role in helping students absorb and retain academic information. Unlike rote learning, where students might struggle to recall information during exams, art-based projects allow students to experience and internalise concepts. This approach makes it easier for them to logically apply their knowledge when faced with exam questions. Beyond academics, art also builds self-confidence. For instance, a student who might feel nervous speaking on stage might find comfort and confidence in performing through dance. This confidence, cultivated through art, often translates into other areas of life, enabling students to express themselves more freely and confidently in various settings.
Art as a Foundation for Growth
Art is not just an academic subject but a cornerstone of a person's development. Pablo Picasso once said, "Every child is an artist when they're born. The challenge is to remain an artist as you grow older." Art encourages them to discover and express what they already know, challenging them to think creatively and independently. This sense of self-assurance is vital, especially as students grow older and face more complex challenges in life.
The Future of Art in a Digital Age
The conversation around AI and its potential to take over creative jobs is a topic of much debate. While AI can replicate and even enhance certain tasks, the essence of creativity remains a distinctly human trait. Drawing on Isaac Asimov’s futuristic visions, it’s clear that while robots and AI can perform many functions, there is a fundamental difference between mere thought and true art. Art, by its nature, is deeply rooted in emotions and experiences, making it something that cannot be easily replicated, even by another human, let alone a machine. AI may excel in tasks like replicating designs or solving technical problems, but it lacks the capacity for the unpredictable sparks of inspiration and the serendipitous mistakes that often lead to groundbreaking inventions. The human mind, with its ability to think beyond straight lines and predefined pathways, drives true creativity. While AI can support and build upon what is already known, it is unlikely to replace the unique creative process that defines human expression.
Art Curriculum at Shiv Nadar School
The Art curriculum at Shiv Nadar School is a unique and comprehensive programme meticulously developed by a team of Art practitioners from across the school’s campuses. Drawing inspiration from global best practices, the curriculum reflects standards from diverse regions such as Scotland, Japan, Korea, the United States, and several European and African countries. It also incorporates elements from renowned educational frameworks like the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge (CIE), which offers the IGCSE curriculum and follows India’s National Curriculum Framework (NCF). This rigorous approach ensures that students at Shiv Nadar School receive an Art education that is integral to their academic learning and on par with the highest global standards. What sets this curriculum apart is its deep integration of the Art into the core educational experience, a commitment that is relatively rare in Indian schools.
The Transformative Power of Art in Education
It is evident that art has a transformative impact on students’ lives. One student’s journey from Bollywood dance classes to Bharatnatyam and eventually to choosing Kathak as part of the school’s AHA! Programme illustrates how art opens up opportunities and builds confidence. Through these experiences, students learn that academics are not the only measure of success. Art gives them the confidence to excel in other areas of life, including academics. It becomes the foundation upon which they build their future, shaping who they are and who they will become.
As Shiv Nadar School continues to champion Art education, it paves the way for a future where students are not only academically proficient but also artistically enriched and fulfilled.
Watch Podcast Episode 2: Shaping the Future of Education through Art
Sep 6, 2024 by Shiv Nadar School