Discovering Life through ArtBy Oh Moo Tan

Page One Academy,Johor Bahru, Malaysia

mootan9191@gmail.com

1.0 Background

Malaysia is a multi-cultural country, with a unique culture influenced by a British

colonial past. Race and religion are always sensitive issues. Everybody tries to

tolerate each other to avoid stirring up sensitive issues. Within this environment,

Malaysians strive to preserve their own culture, mother-tongue and privileges. In

the process of doing so, we neglect appreciation of other people’s cultures.

1.1 In response to a serious race riot known as the May 13 Incident in 1969,

The Rukunegara or "National Principles" was declared as the national

philosophy instituted by royal proclamation on Merdeka or National Day , 1970.

The incident proved at that time that Malaysian racial balance and stability was

fragile at best. Among the many ways the Malaysian government sought to

foster unity among Malaysians was to encourage unity through the Rukunegara

based on five guiding principles:

1. to achieve a greater unity of all her peoples;

2. to maintain a democratic way of life;

3. to create a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably

shared;

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4. to ensure a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions;

5. to build a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science

and technology;

and pledge:

BELIEF IN GOD

LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY

UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION

RULE OF LAW

GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY

The Rukunegara principles have been injected into the school curriculum

through activities and experiences from young. In line with the new educational

reform and policy, the number of non-government or private art educational

institutions has increased. These institutions play an important role as they

contribute to bring about changes in our education system especially in social

construction and economic development.

2.0 Case study and rationale

Set in the scenario thus outlined above, my paper attempts to record a case

study of how a private art educational institution develops and educates children

through the teaching of art based upon national social cultural concerns to

awaken children’s inner love. Known as Page One Academy, it advocates the

fundamental values of Humanism, Discipline and Cross-cultural-based

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Education in its curriculum. To fulfill its goals in art education, the curriculum is

built to equip children to prepare themselves ahead of time, to face the

challenges of the future and to fill their hearts with love!

2.1 Our concerns

We are very concerned that many of us in our society have lost the touch of

human relationships, love and kindness among ourselves partly due to

modernization.

Our society and family structures have changed as a consequence of dual-

income families and the emergent trend of women leaving home to work. These

developments have influenced the way the new generation parent, particularly

the mother, inculcates their children’s moral values.

When asked about their hobbies, strengths and dreams some of the children are

unable to answer for a variety of reasons. They had never thought about such

concerns. They don’t even seem to care about their family, siblings and

grandparents. So, how do we expect them to be creative, innovative, think

critically, and be grateful persons when they grow up? How do we achieve the

country’s mission and vision?

2.2 Our Views on National Education Plans and Art Education

To achieve a harmonious society or nation, we believe that the national

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educational plans should not only encourage the citizen to understand arts and

culture, but also to inculcate tolerance, love and gratitude. Continuous exposure

to Arts education may influence a person’s character. Therefore, arts education

is not only taught as a discipline itself but also plays a vital role in uniting the

nation and to build a harmonious society.

3.0 Why did we develop our art educational plans and how did we do it?

To achieve a harmonious society, we have to nurture people in their cultural

diversity and to stimulate their inner love from young. Children need to

understand, accept and appreciate themselves first before they in turn will be

thankful for what they have, consequently extending love to other people. We

have therefore, developed a series of programmes based on the nation’s

principles and contributing to the country’s goals.

3.1 When we envisaged that art education could be a powerful tool to nurture

children and help to build a harmonious nation, we decided to design and

implement a series of art programmes, called, “Who Am I?” for different age

groups.

3.2 Our art programmes

“Who Am I?” was broken into several age categories such as, “Searching

ourselves” for the pre-school students, “Time Machine” for primary elementary,

“Root” for the middle primary, “growing up Journey” for the higher primary, and

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“Me” for secondary school students.

Age group Title Goals Programmes

Value aspect Art aspect

Pre-school Searchin

g myself

To understand ourselves To build interest 1. Self-portrait

2. My family and I

Primary

elementary

Time

machine

1. To understand

ourselves

2. To uncover own

strengths

3. To find out own

hobbies

4. To build a dream

To enhance

creation ability

1. Making a time machine

2. Happy memories when young

3. When my daddy and mummy got

married

4. Self portrait

5. My strengths

6. My ambition

Primary

Middle

Roots To appreciate the family To enhance

creative thought

1. “Grandparents’ story” storybook

making

2. Grandparents’ portrait paper

cutting

3. Memories of grandparent and I

4. The corner that my grandparent

liked most

Primary

Higher

Growing

up

journey

To review finding

happiness in the

growing up journey

Insight own feeling

To enhance

creative thought

1. Me in three different periods

2. New year

3. My statue

Secondary Me Analysis To enhance artistic

expression

1. Hand, foot

2. Three pieces of artwork related to

the family

Programme A- Searching myself

In this category, pre-school children used different methods and media to

express themselves.

Programme B- Time machine

Recognising that 7-8 year old children are playful and curious, the “time

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machine” art program was designed to let children use recycled materials to form

an interesting 3D artwork - Time machine. They used this time machine to

explore and express a whole series of programmes. They were asked to imagine

how their parents welcomed them when they were born, the game that they liked

most when they were young, using print making to show their self-portrait, share

with their friend their strengths and even reveal their dream.

We dare the children to be brave and to imagine a dream through this program,

as well as to dream for their future and to be thankful for the wonderful

memories, in addition to cultivating their inner love and gratitude.

The ‘Time machine’ art program covers 3D craft making, printing, painting and

drawing.

Programme C- Roots

It is inconvenient for children to interview their grandparents and bring their

grandparents’ photos from home to make a grandparents’ scrap book. Since

social and family structures have been gradually changing, most families have

parents who both work. Many young families live away from grandparents and

where children are normally taken care of by child care centers or maids. As a

result it is difficult for working parents to help their children bring their

grandparents’ photos to our art centre.

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We also found that parents always fulfill the children in material needs instead of

spending more time cultivating moral values in them. The new generation also

forget to be thankful and care for their family, being too busy in their work or

business. This program gives the children an opportunity to reminisce about the

people who have contributed to the family and to be grateful to them.

In the ‘Roots’ art program series, children created a book named ‘My

grandparent’s story’ through activities such as paper cutting, 3D craft making,

imagination and ink painting.

Programme D- Growing Up Journey

Children in the 11-12 year old age group are gradually changing to teen age both

physically and mentally. ‘Growing Up Journey’ series involves making a cube

box. The children are allowed to make the cube box with any appropriate

material that they think is suitable to express their ideas. The surfaces of the

cube are to show the different themes, such as “When I was in Pre-school”,

“Childhood”, “New Year” etc.

Through their artwork, we see not merely the relationship between themselves

and their family, reflections of friendship, but also insight their thoughts. At the

same time, we also discover how they face stress, manage their money and

solve their problems - which are seldom discussed in the classroom. But through

their painting, they use space, colour, images, and art material to express

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themselves.

Programme E- Me

In this session, the program was divided into two parts. The junior category

focused feet or hands as a theme to create their artwork. The senior secondary

school students were asked to present three works that represented their family

members. The students used pencil, charcoal or water colour to create

meaningful artworks which were really impressive. From their works, we saw the

reflection towards their growth, and what they had experienced and what

inspired them.

4.0 What were the outcomes of our art programmes ?

As we have envisaged the value and interest aspects of the art education

goals are evident in the students presentations and performances.

4.1 Ong Xinzhi 12 My Self-Portrait Sculpture

“No ears?! No eyes?! No lips?! No nose?! No tongue?! Isn’t it strange?! I don’t

think so. Don’t say I am odd because I have my reason. If you ask a foreigner,

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“What is the shape of a hornbill?” Maybe they don’t know but they will think

Hornbill. Do they look like monkeys, elephants, rhinoceroses, reindeer or mice?

Try asking a blind person what a hornbill looks like. Is it an oval, triangular,

square or a rectangular shape? Ask them once again, what is an oval shape?

They might say “like an egg”. They can’t see. They just use their hands, ears and

mouths to taste, touch to know the shape or the taste of the object. I am not just

talking about a blind person. Think about other special persons in the world.

Now, tell me. Are you not fortunate?”

When Ong Xinzhi was required to create her portrait statue, she asked the

teacher whether she could make a portrait statue without features, the teacher’s

answer was yes but it had to have a meaningful purpose. In the progress of

creating, Xinzhi kept telling the teacher about her opinion of the statue. She said

that everybody has to be grateful especially for their health. Compared to

teenagers who are crazy about firm stars or fashion trends and concern

themselves to fulfill their own material possessions, she thought deeply on the

understanding of life.

4.2 Tan Yuan Yi 14 The Hand Story I Mixed Media

“This artwork represents hands put forward in cooperation. I drew two people

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climbing the mountain. One person has no energy to climb up to the top. If the

other person doesn’t stretch out his hand, they can’t accomplish this mission.

Helping is a good deed, not only for good returns, but also for happiness. I used

the colour black to represent the most sorrowful and painful time when people

need help the most.”

Tan Yuan Yi understood that power of corporation is important in the

accomplishment of mission. Team spirit and teamwork is important in the 21st

century. He understood the pain and helpless of people in need. Through this

artwork, we know that Yuan Yi, a 14 year old teenager felt care, love, tolerance,

understanding of people and society.

4.2 Annette Elaine Yong 14 Step to greater heights Mixed Media

“Growing up is part of life. We should treasure each and every step. Thunder,

lightning and strong winds may come our way, but would definitely pass. Learn

from all these setbacks, and pick ourselves up when we have fallen. It is

because of all these happenings that we are what we are now. We may be at the

bottom, but one day, we will find ourselves at the world’s tallest peak, enjoying

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the breeze. Colour pencils were used, as it is able to give the picture a light

touch, and capable of letting it stand out as well.”

Every day we read in the new papers about people killing themselves because of

failure in love, poor exam results, a quarrel in a parking lot, etc. We sometimes

do not really know what young men want. Confidence? Acknowledgement?

Acceptance? Actually children should be nurtured to be full of confidence and

love through the basics of education.

All this has been neglected when academic results become the main theme in

school. A child should learn to be self-motivated. Then only will they appreciate,

understand and tolerate people and society. Annette realized that people who

are grateful and who treasure every part of their lives will be able to overcome

and help others when they are faced with problems.

4.3 Tong Chia Sin 15 The Newspaper Game Pencil

“In Malaysia, we live in peace and harmony with all the different races, namely

the Malays, Chinese and Indians. Through this artwork, a close band of

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friendship between the races is portrayed. In this newspaper game, the

members of the group work together to ensure everyone’s feet remain on the

newspaper. They grab and hug each other with all their might to avoid being

eliminated from the game. At the same time, this game also tests our stability.

Can you stand steadily for a minimum period of two minutes? Although this

period of two minutes may seem a very short time, it is really not, when

considered in terms of endurance. ”

When the political leaders are fighting for power and for their own good, Tong

Chia Sin created “Newspaper Game” which has impressed me a lot. When most

of the teenagers are concerned with relationships between boys and girls, Chia

Sin discussed about mutuality between races, which is important especially in a

multi-ethnic country. During the process, she used her hand phone to capture

her classmates’ feet as references. The artwork shows her kind and initiative

character, also her thoughts about friendship and relationships with one another.

4.4 Ong Kar Wei 17 Alone Faithfully Mixed Media

“Always very amazed and fascinated with elderly people because of their

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exciting life experiences and life philosophies, I cherish every moment I spend

with them. The loss of my grandfather and the suffering as a result of it were the

inspiration behind my artwork. My grandfather went with the clouds before I was

born, peacefully. Without having a clear picture of him in my mind, all I could do

was to imagine a vague picture of him whenever my family talks about him.

Without my grandfather, my grandmother had to move on alone.”

4.5 Chee Ven Jiun 17 A Man in the Family Chee 1 Pencil

“This person in the artwork is my father. He always moves around in society, so

his face is always sorrowful. When I ask him why he always takes off his

spectacles, uses his right hand to rub his eyes and then coughs a few time. He

just replies me with a smile. Sometimes this makes me think that he is getting

old. He is stressed, used to this kind of life and is tired. He just hopes he can

become a useful man in the future in exchange for his efforts. The two huge and

tall files represent the stress and pressure of society. This is the scene of an

office. The bright light that never shines brightly has brought darkness to the

heart of the stressed man.”

Many teenagers are rebellious and they don’t understand their parents’ hardship.

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But Ven Jiun appreciated parents’ sacrifice and willing to share responsibilities

for his father’s burden. If teenagers understand and are grateful for what the

parents have to go through, then it will reduce lots of social problems. When this

artwork was put on display at an exhibition, we saw tears in Ven Jiun’s mother’s

eyes.

5.0 Our reflection: what have we learnt?

Art Education is not merely a subject where we learn about technique, but also

build up children’s confident in trying to express themselves.

When children start to create their artworks, they are not clear about the

concept, however, when they discuss their thought with their teacher, materials

applied, they are also encouraged to note down their thought to concrete their

self-esteem and confidence. They also need to be caring and loving. Their lives

will be made better when they are grateful and respectful persons.

Children thereby learnt to think deeply about relationships between human

beings, between humans and the environment and between humans and the

nation. This merely enhances the development of their thoughts and to think in a

wider and different perspective. They share their opinion through pictures,

words, and language in their artworks with other people in order to get the

understanding.

Art Education functions in stimulating children mentally, instill love and care for

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people and environment, think from different perspectives, be more flexible and

tolerant.

6.0 What are the stumbling blocks or challenges?

We have faced many stumbling blocks due to several factors which include

society, parents, children, teachers and the pull between enterprise and the

conviction.

6.1 Our society:

We, as a developing country have not made enough efforts to pursue or desire

the arts when compared to more advanced countries which may have a longer

history of art and civilization. The reason is that as a developing country, we

emphasise on developing our economy (the economic growth) and their priorities

are to eliminate the gap between the rich and the poor and other priorities; such

as increasing the literacy and numeracy level of their people. Generally,

developing the art education or even understand the arts are not priorities. Thus,

the demand for art education is not prevalent.

6.2 Our parents

Owing to the government national school education system having a dominant

view with some mis-interpretations on the aims of arts education, parents think

that art is only a piece of colourful drawing. As a result, parents would rather

prefer their children paint a colourful drawing than come out with a creation that

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could not help to increase the school examination marks. Parents are only

interested in the colourful pictures, not the technique, content nor the aesthetics.

These parental misconceptions always make the teachers and children

frustrated and upset, because it makes children wonder whether painting is for

their growth or for the school results.

6.3 Our children

The societal structure has seriously affected children’s daily life. Many young

families have shifted from their home town to the city to make a living. Most

parents send their child to childcare centre or leave them with a foreigner maid.

Because of this, children seldom get to experience to daily explorations.

Therefore they lack thinking, analyzing, solving and adapting abilities. As a result

of that, they take things for granted and were insensitive to filial piety and cannot

appreciate family values. The teachers have to spend more time to inculcate this

in them.

6.4 Our teachers

The government has reduced the art lesson from the 1970’s and for the last forty

years, there has been a serious shortage of art teachers. Generally, people who

are able to appreciate art have reduced in number, as well as people who can

paint or good in art. Besides those who are really keen in art, people consider art

as an entertainment only.

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People who do not understand art education, can’t understand the benefit

brought by it. Thus, it is difficult to have in a teacher who can understand art

education as well as a passion in teaching. First of all, the teacher must love

education, love children, love art, and also love life, has a strong mission

towards human beings and the environment. With these basic characteristics

only can we achieve the objective of the lesson.

6.5 The pull between enterprise and conviction

As a private art educational institution, we have to balance getting a reasonable

income with advocating our art education concept. We do not have any

sponsorship from the government or anyone else sponsor to support our

education concept. Therefore, we have to make a decision between idealistic

concept and market forces. Often, we have come to the cliff, but the strong

mission and passion we have makes us continue our commitment.

7.0 How do I reflect on this case study?

The benefit and function of Art Education should not only be a slogan of art

teachers or art educators, but it must be known by everyone in general. Art

education can enhance children’s thought, be innovative and adaptive. People

with a sense of gratitude, care and tolerance love themselves, other people,

environment and the world at large. All this leads to peace among people.

8.0 Where do we go from here?

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We are aware that there are many more stumbling blocks in front of us. We have

proven in this case study that inculcating national values in children through art

programmes has gave them more chances to insight their feeling and thought

that they had never experienced before. The result of art education will take a

long time to be appreciated. However, it would help if the teaching and the

dissemination of such art programmes can be multiplied and expanded

nationwide.

8.1 Our Way Forward

Therefore, we aim for the following:

1. To be a role model to children not only in teaching the technique of art, but

also the gratitude, care and tolerance love attitude.

2. Train good quality teacher and build up their passion and mission towards

education, art, and even life.

3. Give talks to parents, parents are our main consumers who send children to

our art school, who are the direct supporter to our financial.

4. Help the school teacher in handling art education lessons by give talks,

seminar or workshop to the school art teacher.

5. Raise awareness among the publics towards the importance of art education

by activities such as exhibitions, speeches, seminar, etc.

In this case study, we have found that children’s inner love can be awakened by

art education in the appreciation of beautiful artwork, good behavior, and

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gratitude for what they have.

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