Lesson video

Hello everyone! How are you today? Hope you're doing well and I'm really pleased that you're here.

My name is Ms. Afzal and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm really pleased to be here today because we're looking at a very important topic.

Our lesson is called "Art about Conflict", and I think it's something really worth exploring.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work, war and conflict in art textiles.

So if you're ready with some energy, focus and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson now.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can draw a chosen symbol of remembrance using a variety of media.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

Conflict, remembrance, and symbol.

So what do these keywords mean? Conflict is a serious disagreement or fight between people, groups, or countries.

Remembrance, the act of remembering and showing respect for people or events from the past, especially those who have died in wars.

And symbol, a picture object or sign that stands for or represents an idea, feeling, or message.

So these are our key words: conflict, remembrance, and symbol.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called "Art about Conflict", and it has two learning cycles.

First of all, discuss stories of war and conflict and then draw symbols of remembrance.

Let's begin by discussing stories of war and conflict.

Take a look at this image.

What do you think has happened in this image? Pause here and share with someone, what do you think? Thanks for sharing.

This image shows a high street heavily damaged by a World War II bombing.

During this period of conflict, many towns and cities across Europe were devastated by air raids.

Civilians lived in constant fear, often seeking shelter during bombings.

The destruction left lasting scars on communities and reshaped urban landscapes for generations.

War and conflict continue to take place all over the world.

The effect upon communities can be devastating, leading to the loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods.

Many people are forced to flee their homes becoming refugees in search of safety.

Artists have often responded to war and conflict by using their art to express pain, fear, devastation, and sometimes the hope and dignity of those impacted too.

Through painting, sculpture, photography, and other media, they capture the emotional and physical realities of war.

Some artists aim to protest against violence and injustice, while others use their work as an act of remembrance.

Art can become a powerful tool for reflection, healing, and raising awareness about the true cost of conflict.

This artwork was made in remembrance of a war and a devastation caused by it.

How do you feel when you look at it? Pause here and share with someone.

And really inviting you to go gently during this lesson and just do what feels okay for you.

Some of it might feel tender, for some people specially.

Henry Moore was commissioned by the War Artists' Advisory Committee during World War II to document the civilian experience of the war.

Some of his most well-known work show people sheltering in London underground stations during the Blitz, using pencil, wax and watercolor.

Moore's drawings focused on the vulnerability, endurance, and quiet suffering of civilians rather than scenes of combat.

These works remain powerful visual records of wartime Britain and highlight Moore's deep compassion and artistic sensitivity.

These artists have all responded to conflict in their artwork: Misan Harriman, Henry Moore, Shamsia Hassani, Paul Nash, eL Seed, and Dame Laura Knight.

Pause here and share with someone.

Do you know of any of these artists and their artwork? Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Artists rarely use their work to respond to conflict or explore its impact on people and society.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you selected false.

Now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Artists have often responded to war and conflict by using their work to express the pain, fear and devastation experienced by those affected.

The emotional and psychological impact from conflict can last for generations, affecting not just those directly involved but entire generations and societies trying to rebuild in the aftermath.

And here we can see some remembrance poppies at a war memorial.

You might have a family member who's been affected by conflict.

The experiences and perspectives of those impacted by war will differ.

Here's Izzy, "My great-grandmother lost an arm in an air raid on our town.

My granny said she wouldn't talk about it, but would hide under the table in the kitchen during a thunderstorm as they reminded her of the bombs." And here's Jacob.

"I don't know if my family was affected by World War II, but I passed a memorial to those that died from our town when I walked to school.

There are so many names!" So much loss.

And Sam, "My cousins had to leave Ukraine because of the war.

They had to pack quickly and leave their home behind, which made them really sad.

Now they live in a different country and everything feels new and strange to them." So important that we support people that have had to leave their homes and are trying to make a new life for themselves.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to look carefully at an artwork about war.

What details show how people might have felt? Choose one element, object, color, expression that stands out, sketch or describe it and explain why.

So pause here while you have a go at this task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task? You might have said something like this.

Here's Laura.

"I noticed that people are standing close together.

It makes me think they're helping each other and trying to stay safe.

The lack of color suits the topic." And here's Lucas.

"The barbed wire stands out to me.

It's a cold and unkind material to be that close to." Thanks for having a go at that and for sharing what you noticed.

And as well inviting you to notice how you're feeling, especially if this is something that has impacted you or your family and noticing that it might be feeling a little tender just now.

Take in good care.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle, draw symbols of remembrance.

What do you think this poppy is a symbol for? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you said that the poppy is a symbol of remembrance.

Symbols of remembrance are special objects, colors, or images that help us remember people who've died in wars or during times of conflict.

They remind us to honor their bravery and to think about peace.

Some symbols of remembrance might include a peace crane of Japan.

This symbol is linked to remembrance of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and represents peace and hope.

Red poppy of the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

This is a symbol of remembrance for soldiers who died in war, especially from World War I.

Forget-me-not flower in Armenia.

This symbol is used to remember the Armenian genocide and honor those who perished.

In Japan, a common symbol of remembrance, especially related to war and peace is the paper crane.

The paper crane became a symbol of peace after the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who got sick from Hiroshima bombing.

She folded 1000 paper cranes hoping to get better.

In the UK and Canada, red poppies are used as a symbol of remembrance.

After World War I, bright red poppies grew on the battlefields where many soldiers had lost their lives.

A famous poem called "In Flanders Fields" talked about these poppies growing among the graves.

In France and Belgium, a blue cornflower is used to represent hope and memory.

These flowers grew in the same fields as poppies after World War I.

Forget-me-nots are used as a symbol of remembrance in Armenia to commemorate the Armenian genocide of 1915.

The five petals of the forget-me-not used in Armenian remembrance materials represent the five continents where survivors found refuge.

The the dark center symbolizes mourning and suffering.

The black ring around it stands for the grief that surrounds the memory.

And the purple petal show unity and resilience.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which image shows the remembrance symbol for Japan? Is it A, Forget-me-not flowers; B, paper crane; or C, the poppy? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you chose bee the paper crane.

The story of Sadako Sasaki touched people around the world and made the crane a sign of hope and peace.

I was speaking to a friend just this week who also knew this story of Sadako Sasaki and himself has created thousands of paper cranes and hangs them in his home.

There is no single correct way to represent remembrance because people experience and understand loss, grief, and history in different ways.

Artists can represent their own ideas through their choice of media and subject.

Pause here and share with someone, what do you feel as you look at this artwork? Thanks for sharing.

I'm really getting the impression of some kind of weariness or heaviness as I look at this.

An artist might explore symbols of remembrance through drawing.

They could start by sketching an outline, observing the shapes that they see in their chosen symbol.

So here we can see the outline of the poppy, and then they might add color to their work in a chosen media.

And then we've got the pinks and the reds coming in there.

How are these images of remembrance different.

Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

So here, we've got this artist has copied the shapes quite precisely.

And this artist has interpreted the shapes and lines more loosely.

Pause here and share with someone which one are you more drawn towards.

Thanks for sharing.

I quite like the looser version.

You could choose media that reflects your ideas about symbols of remembrance.

Here's Aisha, "I wanted to use a strong bold red to represent the bravery of those who died." And Andy, "I wanted to use watercolor to represent how people's lives faded too early." You might choose to work without color.

Izzy, "Here I've used pencil and charcoal.

I think it makes a quieter, reflective drawing." This artist has drawn a poppy in a loose style.

What do you notice? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

They've used a mixture of different media within their artwork.

I wonder if that's what you noticed.

This artist has repeated their symbol.

How do you think this affects the artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

When responding to ideas about remembrance, artists should, and then I'd like you to finish the sentence.

Will you finish with A, all draw poppies; B, copy the work of other war artists; or C, reflect their own ideas through their choice of media and subject? Pause here while you decide how to finish the sentence.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Let's read the whole sentence.

When responding to ideas about remembrance, artists should reflect their own ideas through their choice of media and subject.

And now it's time for your next task.

Imagine a symbol of remembrance that shows how people remember and honor others affected by conflict.

Pause here while you do this.

So that's the first part of your task.

Next, select your media.

You might choose ink and water, pencil and oil pastel, watercolor, coloring pencils and permanent markers.

Pause here while you go off and select your media.

It's good to be back with you.

And now for the next part of your task, I'd like you to draw your symbol.

You might think about using: an outline to help you consider layout and scale, a single material or a mixture of different media, a repeated image of your chosen symbol.

So pause here while you have a go at this part of your task, drawing your symbol.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on? You might have used a repeated image of your chosen symbol, an outline to help you consider layout and scale, a single material or a mixture of different media.

Whatever you chose, well done for having a go at this and for creating a symbol of remembrance.

In our lesson, "Art about conflict", we've covered the following.

Artists use their work to express the fear and devastation of conflict, reflecting the experiences of those affected.

Artists can share their own ideas about remembrance through their choice of media and subject.

Across the globe, there are many different symbols of remembrance, including poppies, cornflowers, and paper cranes.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was really good to explore this important subject of art about conflict.

It's good to know that there are artists out there that are remembering people that have lost their lives and homes and livelihoods due to conflict and that are standing up and are making artwork as an act of resistance.

Thanks for joining in with this lesson.

I know it might have felt a little tender at points as this is not an easy subject, but it's important for us to look at it all the same.

Take good care of yourselves.

Remember to keep standing up for what you believe in.

And I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative!.