Congratulations to our student Yifan Lin for winning the Youth Award at the 2024 6th Shanghai International Design Festival Youth Art Design Exhibition!

Creative Inspiration and Concept

The exhibition's theme is "Breaking Boundaries." Initially, Yifan envisioned a painting of a polar bear living in a desert to challenge conventional perceptions of natural environments. However, under the guidance of Art teacher Ms Niki Yao, he decided to deepen this concept and create a work with greater depth and meaning.

The yellow stripes on the black fabric symbolize the desert's vastness and layers, while the white gauze protruding from the black represents the polar bear's longing for and return to its natural environment. The necklace decoration cleverly symbolizes icebergs, reinforcing the piece's environmental theme. Yifan hopes this work raises awareness of global warming and calls for collective environmental protection.

Challenges and Overcoming in the Creative Process

During the creative process, Yifan faced many challenges. It was his first time sewing decorations and using a sewing machine, which he acquired only after deciding to make the garment. He spent considerable time learning how to use the machine and dealt with frequent thread jams. However, he persevered, gradually mastering the sewing techniques. Remarkably, he completed the garment in just two days.

Support from School Courses and Activities

The school's art practice classes provided strong support for Yifan's creativity. Teachers present a broad theme, guiding students to brainstorm and create art based on it. 

This approach not only nurtured his creative thinking and hands-on skills but also taught him how to turn ideas into actual works. Through projects like screen printing, he explored various art forms and created diverse pieces.

Yifan's story is one of courage, innovation, and perseverance, with each step reflecting the passion and pursuit of art by students at YWIES Tongxiang. This is just the beginning, and we eagerly anticipate more students shining on future stages.