BROWNS English Language School‘s Gold Coast IELTS Exam Preparation students recently embarked on an enriching visit to the Home of the Arts (HOTA), a vibrant cultural hub that offered them a unique opportunity to engage with contemporary art. During this outing, students not only experienced a wide array of artworks but also took the time to reflect on these experiences through their writing. We are excited to share five of these personal reflections, showcasing how art can inspire thought, emotion, and discussion.
1. A World Reimagined: Jason Phu’s “Everyone is Dead, Except for Me, Again”
One of our students was profoundly impacted by Jason Phu’s exhibition, “Everyone is Dead, Except for Me, Again” located on the third floor of HOTA. The student shared:
“The IELTS class visit to Home of the Arts (HOTA) blew my mind. I was able to see Gallery 2 and 3. On the third floor, I found Jason Phu’s presentation, named ‘Everyone is Dead’. The artist re-created an apocalyptic environment with paintings, toys, fake weapons, and a tiny house. From my point of view, I believe that the artist is hiding a deep message that touched my soul. The story starts with some little creatures carrying weapons and playing the soldier role, watching and monitoring the property. A few steps away, there were two ‘flying horses’ with some animals on them carrying guns. Based on my understanding, the artist presented those flying animals as an army patrol. In the backyard, there was a tiny house with a lot of canned food, a bed, tons of different books, a lot of pills, and a lot of rubbish. In conclusion, I think the artist was able to create a new world using his imagination and feelings. The whole presentation has a lot of details that help to send a clear message about society, violence, and loneliness. The most stunning aspect of this piece of art is that each person can re-create their own point of view with different agreements. In other words, the setup is a reflection of society with violence, loneliness, and madness.”
2. Isolation and Creativity: Understanding Jason Phu’s Vision
Another student found the visit to HOTA to be a highlight of their time on the Gold Coast. The installation by Jason Phu stood out as a poignant representation of isolation in a post-apocalyptic scenario. They wrote:
“The HOTA experience, during our IELTS course, was one of the most memorable days during my time on the Gold Coast. It was my first time there, and it was amazing. We could appreciate different pieces of art. Moreover, it helped me understand and recognise the different ways these artists represent their work. One of my favourites was the installation of Jason Phu. He recreated a vision of someone alone after an apocalyptic scenario. The display shows how someone might face this situation, for example: the creation of human figures with different materials you could find. The feeling of isolation could affect mental stability, and in his imagination, he is fighting against his thoughts, and he expresses that by using violence, images of security cameras, and guns. For some people, it might be difficult to understand and recognise his vision and creativity. But, in general, if you take a few minutes to recognise the different elements he included, everyone can appreciate his work. I really recommend it.”
3. Reflective Moments: Finding Peace and Meaning in Art
For another student, the HOTA trip was a peaceful and thought-provoking experience. They reflected:
“Our IELTS class trip to HOTA Art Gallery was a peaceful experience. The paintings made us think a lot in a meaningful way, and it calmed our minds how artists used the real world as a stimulus for their paintings and how they express their feelings. From my point of view, the best part was when we shared our thoughts and feelings after each of the exhibits. Apart from the artist and their epic artworks, how every one of us felt and thought about the artwork revealed a lot about how we think and our personality.”
4. From Laughter to Reflection: A Journey Through Emotions
The experience at HOTA evoked a range of emotions for another student, particularly during their encounter with Jason Phu’s “Everyone is Dead” They shared:
“Yesterday, I visited HOTA Gallery, and it was my first time in that place. I had a good time with my IELTS classmates. My favourite piece of art was the artwork of Jason Phu called ‘Everyone is Dead, except for me, again’. At the beginning, it was funny because I saw a man playing with animals, using the same red clothes; but then my feelings changed; in the middle of the room, there is a small house with an old man in his bed, he is alone and sick, the room is untidy and there are a lot of things around him, such as food, medicine, books, etc. In that moment, I felt isolated and sadness. The artist’s vision has an impact on me because I really love spending time with my family and friends. For this reason, in the ‘Kingdom of Kindness’, when I was decorating a piece of paper with a huge rock in the middle, I drew more rocks around the big one, so that the big one is not alone. The artwork was meant to ‘create a home’ for the rock, so I gave him some friends!”
5. An Unexpected Shift: Discovering New Perspectives on Art
Finally, one student shared how their visit to HOTA, although initially approached with low expectations, ultimately led to a shift in perspective:
“Yesterday, I went to HOTA (Home of the Arts) with the IELTS class. I didn’t have many emotions or strong feelings because I knew that the art which is in there is not my style. However, I ended up with unexpected feelings. Here you can find different types of techniques and both big and small artworks on the walls. I personally don’t enjoy this art, but when you try to analyse and think about emotions that the artists could want to express, you might feel different and feel empathetic with the artist. The second exhibition, which was my favourite, was ‘Everyone is Dead’ by Jason Phu. He shows a representation of the future and actual society when loneliness and depression consume you until you become someone excluded from society. For some people, who may be attracted to classical art, it might be considered grotesque because of the resources and materials that he used, but if you think deeply about it, you will find that everything in his art has a purpose. After that, we went to the ‘Kingdom of Kindness’, a place made for children but that could also be used as relaxing therapy for stressed adults who want to expand their minds. For me, this experience taught me and made me realise that in life not everything is learning from a book because sometimes vivid experiences have a deeper impact on people.”
Conclusion
The visit to HOTA (Home of the Arts) was not just an educational excursion for our IELTS students; it was an opportunity to explore creativity, challenge perceptions, and engage in meaningful self-reflection. Through these experiences, our students have gained a deeper appreciation for the power of art to communicate complex ideas and emotions. We hope these reflections inspire you to explore the world of contemporary art and discover your own interpretations.
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