James, Year 12 took part in the ARTiculation competition last week after being winning our internal competition. Keep reading to find out more about his experience.

ARTiculation is a public speaking competition in which applicants should provide a 10-minute talk on a chosen piece of art to analyse and reflect on, providing relevant historical info about the artist and the circumstances surrounding the creation of a piece that might enhance it's meaning. The competition begins with an internal heat, where the first drafts of a speech are performed to a set of judges who then choose who moves on to the regional heat as a representative of their school. I was incredibly lucky to have that honour and attended the regional in the Courtland Institute for art, where I would compete against 9 other representatives from schools in and around London.

Thanks to the help of my mentor and teacher, Miss Wales, family members, and supporters who attended the event, my experience was incredibly positive, enhancing both my public speaking and research skills whilst opening up a plethora of opportunities for my future. The artist I chose to speak about was Frank Auerbach, an artist who has particularly inspired me recently through his unique process in which he portrays his loyalty and admiration for his sitters by spending an extended amount of time with them, documenting different aspects of their character in this period. I am equally deeply moved by Auerbach's past, transforming his anguish from growing up as a Jewish person in Nazi Germany into his accomplishment in the success of his pieces, often commended for successfully being able to capture the pure yet flawed nature of humanity in his portraits. This event was incredibly fulfilling for me, having the privilege to meet so many young inspired artists my age while being given the chance for my voice and opinions to be heard by my incredibly supportive audience and staff, I can only recommend this as a greatly fruitful pathway for young Art/Drama/English students to follow in the coming years!

- James, Year 12

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