More Than a Likeness: The Power of Identity in Situated in Space

Never underestimate the power of art. Take in the Senior School’s latest exhibit, Situated in Space, and you’ll likely wrestle with some big questions, or at least recall how a particular place or space has helped shape who you are. 

This collection features 16 x 20″ oil paintings by Grade 11 and 12 GNS art students. Each piece is a self-portrait that places the artist within a meaningful environment. The works use gesture, posture and symbolism to explore how identity is shaped by the real and even the imagined spaces we inhabit.

Central to the assignment, students were asked to consider the IB Diploma Programme (DP) Visual Art terms of ‘Situate’ and ‘Context’, challenging them to think critically about how their surroundings shape their personal stories.

For some students, the ‘space’ in their painting is a psychological one. Bella ’26 explores this in her piece, Between Living and Remembering (pictured at the top of the article), which examines the modern urge to document our lives.

“It reflects my curiosity: ‘Are we living moments or preparing to remember them later?’ This painting does not reject documentation, but recognizes its limits, working as a quiet reminder to be present.”

In her piece Where History Still Breathes (work in progress), Wazhma ’27 explores her Afghan heritage and the resilience of a land marked by conflict.

“These Buddhist monuments, carved into the cliffs over centuries ago, were an important part of Afghan history and a symbol of cultural pride. Their destruction over 25 days was a great loss for Afghan people and for the world. Overall, this piece honours Bamyan’s history while expressing hope, remembrance and resilience.”

Other student artists positioned themselves within the natural world. In her piece Holding onto the Now, Alison ’27 situates herself “within the vastness of nature.”

“The open fields and distant trees represent the unfolding future, highlighting the tension between immense opportunity and the vast unknown. My goal is to capture multiple temporary moments within a single piece of time.”

In Hooves and Heights, Gabby ’27 uses memories of growing up in Colorado and the mountains she always associated with peace, to explore the concept of companionship. 

“I decided to situate myself and my horse in a way that makes us look small in comparison to the mountains, but to make us stand out against the landscape. I used cool tones for the environment and warm tones for myself and my horse. This symbolizes the companionship we find in each other.” 

For Art Teacher Sarah Keppler, the pieces in this exhibit demonstrate the students’ ability to reflect and think critically about the impact of how and where we spend our time. “What I see in these paintings is confidence—not just in technique, but in voice. Students are learning how to articulate who they are and where they belong, using both tradition and innovation. That’s a powerful skill, artistically and personally.”

Situated in Space invites us all to look beyond the surface. It reminds us that identity is continually shaped by the spaces we inhabit and the memories we hold onto.