WHAT can three colours become? For art educator Nicole Yap, the possibilities are endless when children are given the freedom to explore their imagination and express themselves through art.
This idea lies at the heart of What Can 3 Colours Become, an upcoming art exhibition organised by ArtVibe in collaboration with St Christopher’s International School, which will showcase how children can transform three primary colours, red, yellow and blue, into unique and imaginative creations.
Inspired by the works of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, the exhibition challenges young artists to explore colour, composition and artistic expression without relying on templates or copying predetermined examples.
“Some people may think, ‘It is only three colours; what can I do with them?’ But these three colours are proof that you can explore different things,” said Yap, founder of ArtVibe.
She hopes the exhibition will encourage visitors to appreciate the power of creative expression and discover how the same starting point can lead to vastly different artistic interpretations.
The exhibition will feature artworks created by students from nursery through Year 8, with teachers introducing them to Mondrian’s artistic style before allowing them to develop their own interpretations using the three colours.
Yap, who founded ArtVibe in August 2023, said her approach to art education was shaped by a desire to move away from conventional lessons that require children to follow a fixed example.
Rather than telling students what to draw, she introduces them to artists, their backgrounds and distinctive styles before encouraging them to interpret what they have learnt through their own creations.
“In my art class, it is always right; there is no wrong,” she said, emphasising the importance of giving children the confidence to experiment without fear of making mistakes.
Her approach stems partly from her own experience as a mother. Yap said she noticed her children gradually losing their enthusiasm for drawing after attending conventional art classes where they were expected to reproduce specific examples.
This prompted her to develop an art education programme that places greater emphasis on creative thinking, observation and individual expression.
Although she spent 15 years in the corporate sector, including working in marketing and advertising, Yap eventually returned to her longstanding passion for art after leaving her corporate job during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Making art with her two children at home rekindled that passion and inspired her to establish ArtVibe, initially organising creative activities for families before focusing more deeply on art education.
For Yap, art should be regarded as more than a recreational activity, particularly in an increasingly technology-driven world.
“Art is always the language of expression, especially now, in the AI generation, art has become even more important because originality, ideas and authenticity cannot simply be copied by AI,” she said.
She believes Penang has considerable potential to further strengthen art education for children, with greater emphasis needed on nurturing creativity alongside conventional academic subjects.
Ultimately, Yap hopes the exhibition will leave visitors with a renewed appreciation of their own creative abilities, regardless of age or artistic experience.
“I would love visitors to feel happy and for the artworks to make them smile. I hope the exhibition can inspire everyone to have the courage to make their mark or simply start creating,” she said.
The exhibition will be held at St Christopher’s International School hall on Oct 17 and 18, from 10am to 1pm. Admission is free.
Visitors may also register for Yap’s two-day children’s art workshops, featuring American abstract artist Alma Thomas on Oct 17 and Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami on Oct 18. Workshop registration closes on Oct 16.
Story by Kevin Vimal