YWIES Tongxiang is committed to providing comprehensive education that goes beyond traditional classroom learning. In addition to imparting subject knowledge and skills, we also focus on cultivating students' overall qualities and abilities. Field trips are an important part of our curriculum, where students can learn and grow through firsthand experiences, making them more competitive in their future careers and lives.

Recently, the school organized a field trip for secondary students majoring in art to visit the Matisse Exhibition at UCCA-Edge in Shanghai.

This exhibition is the largest solo exhibition of Henri Matisse (1869-1954) in China to date. The exhibition features over 200 pieces of artwork from museum collections, covering Matisse's entire career, including oil paintings, sculptures, ink paintings, prints, paper cutouts, illustrations, sketches, and textiles, among others.

During the exhibition, the students had the opportunity to appreciate many of Matisse's representative works. Through the introduction by the guide, they gained a deep understanding of Matisse's diverse artistic style and creative ideas, as well as his unique use of color, shape, and composition. In addition, the students also visited other exhibitions at the contemporary art center and discussed with their accompanying teachers the development trends and future directions of contemporary art.

Let's listen to some representative students' feedback on this field trip.

Kim, a Grade 8 student, said that this field trip has made her love art even more. She felt the artist made use of different color combinations and techniques to express his emotions and thoughts at the art exhibition. Through observing these works, she gained a deeper understanding of Matisse and the Fauvism movement's artistic style and historical background.

"This art trip was truly meaningful! We visited many art exhibitions, and Henri Matisse's works left a deep impression on me. His artistic style is very abstract and modern, and he uses a wide variety of materials. By observing his works, I learned how to appreciate and identify different elements and techniques in art. This field trip has made me more focused on my artistic interests and future career plans. I will work harder to study and explore the field of art." Said Luciana, a Grade 6 student.

Wallace, a Grade 12 student, said: "I have benefited a lot from this field trip. The works of these artists provided me with great materials and inspiration for my future studies and research. I also believe that I will make greater progress in this area."

One of the art teachers who led the art field trip, Ms El-Marie Ludick, commented that this valuable and fulfilling art field trip provided students with a unique opportunity to interact with art, and gain a deeper understanding of this outstanding figure in the art world and the revolutionary impact of his works on modern art. Such an experiential learning experience also helps to stimulate students' artistic inspiration, encourages them to explore their own creative styles, and inspires them on their future artistic paths.

Ms El-Marie also mentioned that the school will provide various opportunities for field trips in the future, such as museums, art galleries, music halls, theaters, etc., allowing students to participate in artistic activities and understand different forms and expressions of art. This will enhance their understanding of diverse cultures, explore their creativity, and develop their own artistic styles.

In addition to art, our field trips also cover other subject areas such as history, science, geography, and sociology. These field trips help students apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to real-life situations and gain a deeper understanding of issues and challenges in different cultural and social contexts. These experiential learning opportunities are beneficial for the overall development of students, cultivating their creativity, critical thinking, and cultural appreciation skills, which are crucial for their future academic and career pursuits.