Art teacher Angela Dionysopoulos who has over 25 years of experience in the visual and performing arts industry, describes the art program she supervises at Collingwood College.

The inner city school, Collingwood College, offers a wonderful Reggio Emilia inspired Primary Art program in a studio based environment. Students are encouraged to explore creativity in the art space.

The students have a say in their own creative process, and are proud of their achievements. Year levels 1/2 and 3 students explore the idea of communicating in a non-verbal language through the notion of abstract art. Abstract art was introduced in the art world as a language which could be learned, just like reading and writing.

I am asked by my students, “How can the language of abstract art be understood?”

We discuss how emotional feelings can be expressed through the creation of art. Some of feelings depicted in the artworks are love, sadness, anger, frustration, and sensitivity.

What’s learned through the program is that abstract art needs to be absorbed rather than looked at with a quick glance.

The mind needs to take a step back in order for feelings to emerge. Students embrace this form of abstract art in the program.  They develop ideas and make decisions, including the aesthetic direction their abstract artwork should take. Problem-solving is also a feature of the art-making process, such as observing the artwork from a distance before making the next artistic choice. For example, layering recycled paper creates a transparent effect in the artworks. It’s popular for students to use gold paint and other materials too.

Hidden moods emerge when students use their imagination to create abstract art. When children cannot express themselves verbally, there is always the language of art that can channel thoughts and feelings. I have witnessed students learn that colour and shapes are a form of communication. They’ve gained a better understanding of their feelings and how they can express themselves non-verbally.

Through the art program, I feel my students have learned that abstract art helps them to understand themelves. Once they have tapped into it that creative medium, they discover a new way of seeing the world, opening up new ways to express themselves.