Stories behind Artworks From HC’s Art Salon

An article regarding the different stories behind HC's art salon. It will include short interviews with students who will explain their idea, inspiration and what their art means to them.

In the midst of stressing over impending exams and the anxiety of current assessments, the caf hallway is filled with a different kind of chatter this week. Walking past the bustle of students heading to class, you might find yourself stopping in front of some of the artworks displayed at HC’s annual Art Salon. Have you ever wondered what thoughts, inspirations, or stories were behind each piece?

This article presents four Grade 10 students who shared the meaning behind their work.

Emma Z — Untitled

For my final project in Grade 9 art, I was asked to tackle a pressing social issue, and I chose to address beauty trends and body dysmorphia. Someone looked at my piece and said it was like "overthinking stuff" and although I didn’t think of it that way at first, I felt that the description fits.

I was inspired by microscopic cell samples, which led me to turn a person into tiny bits. We worry so much about appearing well to other people, but ultimately, we are just a bunch of cells talking to each other.

My piece uses a multicolored lens to show the ups and downs of life, where societal expectations all melt together into one mess of superficial beauty that is not natural and does not come to us naturally.

Materials used: Watercolor, oil pastel, pencil, pens

Anchee Qiang — Untitled and Untitled

I made my tree, as I have seen first hand the impact that societal norms have on people. I wanted to make my tree special, in the sense that we can celebrate each individual stance against societal norms, while keeping it anonymous so people can feel safe.

My dress, representing the weight that women carry on their shoulders, and the burden of the patriarchy is made with fabric that drapes down, intending for it to be heavy. I designed this dress, as it is a visual representation of a societal burden that is given solely to women.

Camille Ding — Blue as Can Be

I designed "Blue as Can Be" to capture both the serenity and the fragility of the ocean. The fluid silhouette represents waves and ocean currents, while the shimmering details mimic fish scales, coral textures, and light reflecting on water. The dress serves as a personal reminder for me to reduce my contribution to pollution, as it reflects the vulnerability of coral reefs and marine animals and the urgent need to protect them.

I believe fashion can be a powerful tool for environmental awareness and activism, because protecting oceans and forests is essential for the survival of wildlife and sustainable design choices can inspire meaningful change. I want viewers to first notice the movement and ocean-like shimmer, and then discover the deeper environmental message behind it.

Because climate change is happening even when it is not immediately visible in our daily lives, I was inspired by the natural beauty of oceans and forests, alongside the reality that these ecosystems are under threat. My piece blends fashion with environmental activism through colour, texture, and sustainable material choices.

Kyra Daley — Lee Know of Stray Kids

This piece means a lot to me personally. The idols in the drawing mean a lot to me - like many others, their music has helped me through some tough times, and I wanted to honour that aspect of my life. Also, both my dad and I are pretty big Stray Kids fans, and we've been to two of their concerts as of last June. We both spend time listening to their music, and I really wanted to showcase not just my love for them, but my dad's as well. I tried my hardest to make the artworks as realistic as possible, and to make sure they looked like they actually do in real life, which resulted in many, many eraser shavings.

Two things mainly inspired my artwork: my love of music, and my 9th grade art teacher. The subjects in the drawing are two members of my favourite band, Stray Kids. I've been listening to them since their debut 8 years ago, and a lot of their songs mean a lot to me. Alongside their music, the members themselves have also had a significant impact on my life. They were one of the main inspirations of this artwork, as I wanted to show my appreciation and love of them. My second inspiration was my art teacher, Ms. Mastri. I've had her as a teacher since junior kindergarten, and I've known her for a long, long time. We spent a few months last year doing realism in 9th grade art class, and she was so supportive and encouraging on my journey of learning realism. I really got into the realistic art style during the summer, and because she isn't my teacher this year, I wanted to show her how much I've improved. I'm not very good with words, so I hope she's noticed how much her teaching has taught me over the years.

The primary aspect I wanted viewers to notice was the texture of the artwork. All of my previous pieces have been created digitally and then printed, so working entirely by hand was a significant step outside my comfort zone. I spent a considerable amount of time shading by hand, and the combination of pencil texture and blending contributes to what I think is a distinctly traditional, hand-drawn quality.

My original plan definitely changed during my creative process. Realism, especially on paper, is fairly difficult for me, and I changed the angles/positions of the subjects at least 5 times. I wasn't very happy with the first few attempts, and staring at my pieces for too long definitely added to my dislike. I eventually settled on a forward-facing pose, which was a drastic change from the original side profile I had planned.

Not every piece in the Art Salon started the same way, but they all ended up with something amazing to look at. So next time you walk through the caf hallway, slow down and observe. You never know what someone was really thinking when they made it.