I think this theme is very interesting! Especially in current times, the theme may allow participants a form of escapism and encourage them to craft their own ideal world. There's definitely a lot of potential for a variety of original and interesting artworks.

Ever since I was a kid, I have had a big fascination with dinosaurs. The wide variety of dinosaurs that came in all shapes and sizes inspired me to create my own dinosaurs. And from there, I moved on to drawing other types of subject matter, of which animals brought me the most inspiration. I really enjoyed drawing animals as I felt that I could be more flexible when drawing their forms and shapes, due to their wide variety.

My favourite thing about Visual Arts is that it allows me to create whatever comes to mind. I love the freedom and ability to give life to all the ideas that come to my head. When working on an artwork, the feeling that comes from finally finishing it always brings me a lot of joy and satisfaction.

My favourite medium or tool is the pen. As something that is more permanent compared to pencil, I like how I have to think on the spot and improvise as I create the work. I also like how the pen allows you to create very clean and tidy lines, which is something that I usually strive towards in my own works.

My artmaking is often inspired by movies! Watching movies that are impactful to me inspires me to create new works, in hopes that they may impact other people too. A recent movie that has inspired me is Everything Everywhere All At Once, as it is not only incredibly creative in terms of its cinematography and story, but also has a grounded and meaningful message at its core. I also really like the multiversal theme that is explored in the movie.

In addition, younger me would draw characters from cartoons such as Pokémon or Adventure Time. And I find that that has not only inspired me to create my own original characters, but also has helped me in developing a personal art style that I enjoy.

Visual arts lessons in SOTA really expands your boundaries as an artist. Through the years, I've had the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of mediums that I would otherwise never have had the chance to, such as ceramics and sculpture. It's been a valuable experience to get out of my comfort zone and experiment with new art techniques. Moreover, I can easily reach out for help and advice from our teachers who are proficient in these mediums, which helps to ease the learning process.

Compared to the early years in SOTA Visual Arts, I feel that I'm now provided with more creative freedom when creating my artworks. It can be daunting at times, but it simultaneously helps you to learn and grow as an artist.