An exhibition visitor looks at a work of art by Trau Quy Secondary School’s students on Hanoi’s Book Street (Photo courtesy of British Council) Hanoi (VNA) - Six works of art by students from Hanoisecondary schools are on display at the Rivers of the World exhibition on BookStreet, also known as December 19 Street.
The Rivers of the World project is an 11year-old UK initiative that has asked schools in 28 countries to spend a yearresearching and creating art about local rivers. The following year, theschools are partnered with peers in the UK to research British rivers. In 2017,69 artworks have been produced by 69 schools from Ethiopia; Zambia; Nigeria;Sierra Leone; Nepal; Vietnam and the UK.
The artwork on display was previously shownat the project’s global exhibition, which was held in London as one of themarquee events at the Thames Festival from September 1 to 30.
In Vietnam, the British Council has workedwith the Ministry of Education and Training to implement the project for twoyears, bringing local artists to encourage pupils as they learn about localrivers in the first year and their partner’s river in the second.
With instruction from artist Nguyen HoangGiang, pupils from Gia Thuy; Dong Thai; Luong The Vinh; Phuong Mai; Nguyen Duand Trau Quy created pieces reflecting current environmental concerns, whiledrawing on historical events such as The Great Stink of 1858, when the ThamesRiver was severely polluted by sewage.
At Trau Quy Secondary School, the pupilslooked at the history of Cutty Sark, one of the most iconic tea clippers in theUK’s trading history. They gathered information about the ship’s figurehead,characteristics and important people in its history. They then produced paperpuppets depicting the individuals.
"We learn a lot through researchingthe Cutty Sark, exchanging ideas with our UK partner school, giving apresentation and certainly making artwork. We are happy that we participated inthe project," said pupil Pham Ngoc Minh.
The UK’s tea culture was chosen by thepupils from Phuong Mai Secondary School to be this year’s theme, as tea isenjoyed in both Vietnamese and British cultures. The pupils looked at thehistory of tea in the UK and cultural practices around this special beverage.They also compared their findings with tea culture in Vietnam. They assembledpaper teapots and decorated them with images of London for their final artwork.
"The River of the World project gaveme an opportunity to learn about the UK’s rivers but also their tea culture. Ilearned that the way they drink tea is a bit different from ours," saidpupil Phan Minh Nghia.
Following a recommendation from theirpartner school, Gia Thuy School’s pupils researched the Great Stink of 1858 andits consequences. They watched a short documentary about how improved hygieneconditions resolved the river’s garbage problem. The pupils learned watertransfer printing and created their own representations of the polluted Thamesusing discarded plastic bottles and cups.
“This is the second year that our studentsparticipated in the project,” said teacher Nguyen Thi Hien. “Throughout theprocess, our students have learnt a great deal about team work, research andart. But most importantly, the project raised their awareness of the need toprotect our environment.”
At Luong The Vinh Secondary School, thepupils were inspired by the Thames Barrier, a structure that prevents Londonfrom experiencing annual floods. They watched documentaries and producedstencil prints showing London safe from floods due to the Thames Barrier.
The students at Dong Thai Secondary Schoolresearched the Thames salmon initiative. They learnt that the Thames washeavily polluted by industrial activities, making it impossible for many fishspecies, especially salmon, to survive. In recent years, however thanks to someinitiatives by the UK government, the water quality has improved significantlyand fish have returned to their natural habitats. Taking inspiration from this,the pupils made collages depicting an optimistic future for the health of theThames.
The exhibition will run until November 30.-VNA
The Rivers of the World project is an 11year-old UK initiative that has asked schools in 28 countries to spend a yearresearching and creating art about local rivers. The following year, theschools are partnered with peers in the UK to research British rivers. In 2017,69 artworks have been produced by 69 schools from Ethiopia; Zambia; Nigeria;Sierra Leone; Nepal; Vietnam and the UK.
The artwork on display was previously shownat the project’s global exhibition, which was held in London as one of themarquee events at the Thames Festival from September 1 to 30.
In Vietnam, the British Council has workedwith the Ministry of Education and Training to implement the project for twoyears, bringing local artists to encourage pupils as they learn about localrivers in the first year and their partner’s river in the second.
With instruction from artist Nguyen HoangGiang, pupils from Gia Thuy; Dong Thai; Luong The Vinh; Phuong Mai; Nguyen Duand Trau Quy created pieces reflecting current environmental concerns, whiledrawing on historical events such as The Great Stink of 1858, when the ThamesRiver was severely polluted by sewage.
At Trau Quy Secondary School, the pupilslooked at the history of Cutty Sark, one of the most iconic tea clippers in theUK’s trading history. They gathered information about the ship’s figurehead,characteristics and important people in its history. They then produced paperpuppets depicting the individuals.
"We learn a lot through researchingthe Cutty Sark, exchanging ideas with our UK partner school, giving apresentation and certainly making artwork. We are happy that we participated inthe project," said pupil Pham Ngoc Minh.
The UK’s tea culture was chosen by thepupils from Phuong Mai Secondary School to be this year’s theme, as tea isenjoyed in both Vietnamese and British cultures. The pupils looked at thehistory of tea in the UK and cultural practices around this special beverage.They also compared their findings with tea culture in Vietnam. They assembledpaper teapots and decorated them with images of London for their final artwork.
"The River of the World project gaveme an opportunity to learn about the UK’s rivers but also their tea culture. Ilearned that the way they drink tea is a bit different from ours," saidpupil Phan Minh Nghia.
Following a recommendation from theirpartner school, Gia Thuy School’s pupils researched the Great Stink of 1858 andits consequences. They watched a short documentary about how improved hygieneconditions resolved the river’s garbage problem. The pupils learned watertransfer printing and created their own representations of the polluted Thamesusing discarded plastic bottles and cups.
“This is the second year that our studentsparticipated in the project,” said teacher Nguyen Thi Hien. “Throughout theprocess, our students have learnt a great deal about team work, research andart. But most importantly, the project raised their awareness of the need toprotect our environment.”
At Luong The Vinh Secondary School, thepupils were inspired by the Thames Barrier, a structure that prevents Londonfrom experiencing annual floods. They watched documentaries and producedstencil prints showing London safe from floods due to the Thames Barrier.
The students at Dong Thai Secondary Schoolresearched the Thames salmon initiative. They learnt that the Thames washeavily polluted by industrial activities, making it impossible for many fishspecies, especially salmon, to survive. In recent years, however thanks to someinitiatives by the UK government, the water quality has improved significantlyand fish have returned to their natural habitats. Taking inspiration from this,the pupils made collages depicting an optimistic future for the health of theThames.
The exhibition will run until November 30.-VNA
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