ARTiculation
Tell us all about a work of art which means something to you...
This is the challenge accepted by pupils who take part in ARTiculation: a public speaking competition run by the National Gallery. Each year in Wilson’s, eager Year 12 pupils take on the challenge of selecting, researching and presenting on a work of visual art. Pupils receive dedicated coaching from Miss Waterhouse and Mrs Fletcher, and compete in an exciting and stimulating school heat.
This year, we had seven participants: our highest number yet! Our heats ran on Thursday lunchtime in the Board Room. Students faced the discerning panel of Mr Lissimore and Mr Coop and benefitted from a supportive audience of staff and students. In our first heat, we heard presentations from 3 students in Year 12: Houting, who spoke on “Starry Night” by Van Gogh; Pavan, who spoke on “Surprised!” by Henri Rousseau, and Arnav, who spoke on “Dark Matter” by Cornelia Parker. While Pavan was judged the winner of this heat for his sensitive and analytical presentation, this was a really difficult decision as all three speeches were fantastic.
Our second heat took place on 18 December, and we heard from 4 Year 12 students: Aryan, speaking on “The Bed” by Erica Rutherford; Ayaan, speaking on Senna’s helmet; Harshith, speaking on the game Persona 3, and Neil, speaking on the poster for the film “Mother India”. Once again the quality of the speakers was outstanding and it was very challenging for the judges to select a heat winner. Ultimately, Neil’s passionate and compelling presentation won.
Pavan was selected as our finalist for the regional heat, and, on 12 January, he travelled to the prestigious Courtauld Institute to deliver his talk to an audience of students, teachers and artists. His talk was extremely well received, drawing compliments from his peers in the break, and from the adjudicators, who awarded him the runner-up prize for his talk, which excelled in all areas.
Pavan will also deliver his talk to younger pupils in the forthcoming weeks so that students can see a fantastic role model of public speaking and scholarship. Very well done indeed to Pavan, and we are already looking forward to Articulation in 2026-7!
