Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you doing today? I hope you're well.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I will be your art teacher for today.

I'm feeling pleased about that because we're getting into something pretty interesting today.

We're going to be looking at self-expression in art.

Our lesson is called "Identity, art and self-expression," and it comes from the unit of work Personal identity.

So if you're ready to get into exploring self-expression, personal identity, and art, let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is: I can engage in thinking, making, and discussion about art as self-expression.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

Self-expression and intention.

Self-expression is when an artist expresses personal perspectives, emotions, identity, or experiences in their work, rather than striving for objective representation.

And intention is the artist's purpose or motivation behind creating a piece of work.

So these are our keywords, self-expression and intention.

Our lesson is called "Identity, art and self-expression." It has three learning cycles: art as pure self-expression, self-expression as art, and self-expression as life.

Let's get into it, art as pure self-expression.

Have you ever made something just for yourself? What did it help you express or understand about yourself and your identity? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Sofia and Andeep.

"I like to doodle while I listen to podcasts.

I also like to sketch my thoughts about each day in my diary.

No one sees it." It's just for you.

I love that, Sofia.

And Andeep.

"I use my art as a way to express and release what I'm feeling.

I don't usually intend to show anyone else that art." There's that word intend, intention, motivation behind creating artwork.

And here in the image we can see an artist playing with charcoal.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? All artists make art with the intention of sharing with an audience.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And can you say a little more about your answer? Pause the video while you do this.

Some art is made as an act of pure self-expression.

When you make something with the intention of it being just for you, without thinking about how others will judge or view it, you are often being more honest.

That's pure self-expression.

When art is made for pure self-expression, it often reveals parts of our personal identity that we may not want to, be ready to, or be able to share.

And that's okay.

Some artists only make art as pure self-expression.

There's no intention to share with an audience.

Art as pure self-expression might be about processing thoughts or emotions, exploring ideas that are private or complex, connecting with yourself on a deeper level, the sensation of using materials.

Project Art Works is a UK-based organisation that supports neurodivergent artists to create art for personal expression, not public display.

At its heart, the organisation champions art as a deeply personal form of expression.

Many of the artists use art to process emotions, explore private thoughts, or simply enjoy the sensation of materials.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following is art as pure self-expression? A, Jacob makes sketches of his family in a private diary.

B, Laura makes public art about her personal experiences being a teenage girl.

C, Andeep takes a selfie and weeks later shares it on social media.

Pause the video and decide which of these is a form of pure self-expression.

Well done if you selected A.

Indeed, Jacob making sketches of his family in a private diary is art as pure self-expression.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to discuss or list some of the ways you use and/or would like to use art for pure self-expression.

Remember that art can be a way to release or express feelings.

It's made just for you.

It can be made without planning.

Not showing anything recognisable.

Using shapes, colours, or marks.

It can be messy, imperfect, or unfinished.

And it can be in many forms, such as dance, music-making, craft, or 3D.

So pause the video here and discuss or list some of the ways you use or would like to use art for pure self-expression.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on? And there are many possible outcomes, but you might have thought or discussed something like this.

Here's Sofia.

"When I play the drums or make beats on my tablet, I can really let out what I'm feeling.

If I'm frustrated or excited, the rhythm helps me express it without needing words, and I'm playing just for me." Love that for you, Sofia.

And here's Andeep.

"I would like to make art when I'm feeling overwhelmed with tasks.

It would be great to do something with no pressure on the outcome." Yeah, that really makes sense, Andeep.

So much of what we do is outcome-focused and we're striving and we are doing, and actually it's great to be able to let go of that and just have no pressure, pure self-expression.

I hope you enjoyed sharing your ideas around how you use or would like to use art for pure self-expression.

And now we're on to our next learning cycle, self-expression as art.

Some artists intend to make art as pure self-expression, but eventually do share their artwork with an audience.

This might happen due to a range of reasons, such as, they want to connect with others.

An opportunity arises or they are discovered.

The work starts as pure self-expression but develops into something else.

Some artists start by creating art as self-expression and with the intention of sharing with others.

These artists express aspects of their own identity, experience, or emotions in a way which others might connect with or learn from.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is art intended for an audience? Izzy makes something at home and shows no one.

Aisha starts a drawing as a journal entry, but then shares it with a friend as a gift.

Izzy, Jun, and Lucas make art about their group identity as students for an exhibition.

So pause the video while you decide which of the following is art intended for an audience.

Well done if you selected the third option.

Indeed, Izzy, Jun, and Lucas are making their artwork with the intention of sharing it with an audience at the exhibition.

Andeep and Sofia are discussing art that includes self-expression.

Here's Andeep.

"I wonder how it feels to have lots of people look at work that is about your personal identity or story.

Even if the work is abstract, it might still feel strange to share something personal with others." Yeah, I hear you, Andeep.

And Sofia.

"Even if an artist creates something personal, as soon as someone else sees it, it takes on a new meaning.

Art is a form of communication, and the audience will bring their own perspectives to it too." Really good point, Sofia.

What do you think? Pause the video.

What are your thoughts on art as self-expression? Pause the video and share.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

For me, I love art as self-expression, and I take so much from artists that share their stories, perspectives, identities through their artwork.

And here we can see a collage exploring personal identity.

Take a good look at this collage and share with someone nearby anything you can gather about this artist's identity or the identities of members of their family.

Thanks for sharing.

Jaixia Blue is a London, UK-based multidisciplinary artist who shares personal stories in multiple ways, including textiles, poetry, and song.

She says, "I think the most important thing for anyone is to feel seen and heard, and I want to empower myself and others to see themselves through the stories I express through my art." Jaixia Blue made work inspired by her grandmother who travelled to the UK as part of the Windrush generation.

It's an expression of Jaixia's personal identity, and it is relatable to so many others who connect to the Windrush story and also migration in general.

And here we can see her Windrush installation.

The artist Tracey Emin started with self-expression in her early works, including the use of drawings, letters, fabric pieces that were intensely autobiographical.

She used art as a way to process things that she found challenging in life.

Here's a pencil drawing about feelings by an artist.

Pause the video and share with someone, how do you think the subject of this drawing is feeling? What is the artist trying to convey? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Emin gained popularity through being a key part of the Young British Artists, YBAs, movement.

Her work remained as self-expression but also became performative.

Her personal expression became an act of activism, openness, and emotional truth with audiences.

Some connected to her work, while some people criticised it for having too much personal detail in it.

Frank Bowling is a painter.

Bowling's large-scale abstract paintings are rooted in personal expression.

Bowling's paintings don't always set out to communicate a specific message.

Instead, they immerse the viewer in colour, movement, and texture.

There are often actual items and photographs from the artist's life layered onto the surface of the canvas.

He challenges the expectation that black artists will always create expressive work about being a black artist.

His work often explores abstraction as a personal, emotional act.

Denzil Forrester's vibrant paintings of London's Caribbean communities draw on personal experience rather than external messaging.

His work captures the energy of reggae sound systems and social spaces, often created in an intuitive, raw style.

His paintings might be relatable to others to identify as being part of that scene, and also to anyone who feels a connection, perhaps to the theme of music, the vibrant colours, or the characters in the work.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to select an aspect of your own everyday life that you think someone or a group of people might relate to and connect with.

This could be something like your language, heritage or traditions.

A community you're part of.

For example, your family, school, neighbourhood, faith group, fandom.

A value or experience you care about.

For example, feeling different, being proud of something, loving nature or music.

Oh my goodness, this is going to be a really interesting activity, I think.

So pause here while you select an aspect of your own everyday life that you might think someone or a group of people might relate to or connect with.

Okay, great to be back with you.

I wonder what you selected.

Here's Sofia.

"I've selected the aspect of my identity in life that is linked to growing up in a city.

The vibrant mix of cultures, languages, and people in my friendship group is wonderful, and I learn so much from everyone." Oh, and I love that too, Sofia, having friends from many different cultures and with different languages and crucially foods that I get to try from all around the world.

And Andeep says, "I would like to select the aspect of my identity linked to mealtimes.

I share different types of food with family and friends." So wonderful.

I hope you enjoyed selecting the aspect of your everyday life that you think someone or a group of people might relate to and connect with.

Next, I would like you to create a quick abstract artwork using layers of colour, texture, and marks to represent your identity and that aspect of everyday life.

So pause while you do this quite quick task.

All right, how did you get on with creating your quick abstract artwork to represent your identity? There are many possible outcomes, but you might have created a layered abstract painting with symbols, colours, and patterns to represent an aspect or aspects of your identity and everyday life, just as we can see on the screen.

And now we are on to our final learning cycle, self-expression as life.

Oh, love that.

In many Western cultures, art is often seen as something separate to normal life and displayed in galleries.

It is created by individuals and defined by skill or beauty.

However, not all global communities have or had a word for art in the way we understand it.

In many cultures, creative self-expression is woven into daily life, ceremony, storytelling and spirituality.

The boundaries between personal experience and public expression are blurred, with creativity and making tied closely to community, identity, and place.

Check for understanding.

True or false? All cultures and languages have a word for art.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false, and can you say a little more about your answer? Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you did something like this.

Not all global communities have or had a word for art in the way we understand it.

For many First Nations Australian communities, the concept of art is inseparable from storytelling, land, and ancestry.

What we might call a painting is often part of a Dreamtime story, a way to pass down knowledge, law, and connection to country.

These works aren't created to be displayed as art, but to hold and share deep cultural meaning.

Can see an image of the Australian landscape there.

So striking.

In Maori culture, Aotearoa, New Zealand, creative practises like carving, whakairo, weaving, raranga, and tattooing, ta moko, are not just decorative; they're expressions of identity, genealogy and spirituality.

There isn't a word for art because these forms are part of life, ceremony, and community life.

You can see a beautiful woven basket.

In many traditions, objects such as masks or textiles are created for specific events, rituals, dances, or festivals, not to be appreciated in isolation in a museum or gallery.

A mask, for example, might become fully meaningful when worn, danced, and seen in motion, surrounded by community participation.

And here's an illustration of a West African mask.

In Japan, the concept of shokunin captures the deep connection between making, purpose, and artistry.

Whether it's pottery, paper-making, or cooking, the process is seen not as art or craft, but as a lifelong pursuit of excellence and contribution to society.

I love that.

And here's an origami crane.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following is an example of how the concept of art might appear in other cultures and places that is different from art in most Western cultures? A, storytelling, land, and ancestry; B, galleries and museums; C, rituals, dances, or festivals.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected A, storytelling, land, and ancestry, and C, rituals, dances, or festivals.

Art can appear in many ways in different cultures and places.

Totem poles are deeply significant ceremonial objects for many indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast, for example, Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and others.

They're not simply decorative sculptures or storytelling devices.

They carry sacred, ancestral, and legal meanings, and their design, creation, and display are traditionally governed by community protocols and responsibilities.

And we can see an illustrative interpretation of a totem pole.

Totem poles are tall, carved wooden structures.

They're carved with a stacked arrangement of figures placed one above the other in a vertical sequence.

Each figure or animal carved into the pole represents part of a story, a family crest, or an ancestral being, often linked to real historical events or oral traditions.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a totem pole? A, a decorative sculpture for galleries; B, a religious object used in temples; or C, a symbolic structure that tells stories, represents identity, and honours ancestors.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, it's a symbolic structure that tells stories, represents identity and honours ancestors.

And now it's time for your final task.

I would like you to build one part of a stackable sculpture that represents an aspect of ordinary life.

You might focus on food, sound, a place, routine.

You could utilise your abstract work as collage material for embellishments.

You could use stackable cubes or panels of the same size, such as shoe boxes, foam board squares, recycled packaging.

And some possible useful material for sculpting could be cardboard boxes or tubes.

Recyclable, easy to cut and paint.

Modroc, which wraps over forms to create built surfaces.

Papier-mache, great for building lightweight forms. Air-dry clay can be shaped into symbols or figures and stacked.

Foam blocks or polystyrene, easy to carve or cut into layers, lightweight for tall structures.

And some possible useful material for sculpting.

You could use acrylic paint or poster paint; paint brushes and palettes; markers and paint pens; collage materials, magazines, newspapers, fabric scraps; found objects, buttons, bottle caps, string, et cetera; photocopied photographs, personal or symbolic; natural materials, leaves, twigs, sand, stones; yarn, string, and ribbon; wire, aluminium foil, or mesh; beads, sequins, or embellishment.

Oh my goodness.

The possibilities are endless.

So pause here while you build one part of a stackable sculpture which represents an aspect of your life, ordinary, everyday life.

Pause the video while you do this.

Great to be back with you.

So how did you get on with building this one part of a stackable sculpture that represents an aspect of ordinary life? There are many possible outcomes, but you might have used your everyday routine and journey to school as inspiration.

Next, I would like you to stack and build collaborative vertical sculptures where each person contributes their representation of one aspect of ordinary life.

Pause here while you co-create this collaborative vertical sculpture.

Good to see you again.

So there again are many possible outcomes, but you might have each made a part of a stackable sculpture that represent different aspects of everyday life.

Hope you enjoyed this task.

In our lesson, "Identity, art, and self-expression," we've covered the following.

Some artists only make art as pure self-expression.

There is no intention to share it with an audience.

Some artists intend to make art as pure self-expression, but eventually do share their work with an audience.

Some artists start by creating art as self-expression and with the intention of sharing with others.

In many cultures, creative self-expression is woven into daily life.

Thanks, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

I love this exploration of self-expression.

It's so important that we have ways in which we can express ourselves, and art gives us wonderful means to do that.

I hope you enjoyed contributing to the vertical sculpture about an aspect of your identity or daily life, and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.