ARTWORK from Blackheath High School GDST student Mia Dyson’s GCSE Art exam has been selected to be displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts this summer.

From over 6,000 works submitted, two of Mia’s pieces were selected to be amongst the 329 that form the prestigious online exhibition from 10 June until 31 December 2019.

Better still, one was chosen to be exhibited in the Royal Academy itself as part of the inaugural Young Artists’ Summer Show between 13 July and 4 August 2019.

The piece on display is titled, ‘Babcia’ which is the Polish word for ‘Grandmother’. The touching design portrays how one can face an overwhelming loss of identity from being impacted with dementia in their life.

Regarding the work, Mia said: “In this piece I have tried to express how the consequences of dementia such as loss of memory, mobility and vision have affected the way my grandma has lived her life recently.”

One of the school’s Art Scholars, Mia will be continuing at Blackheath High to study A Level Textiles, making use of the school’s brand-new Art and Design studios which opened this year as part of a wider £18 million redevelopment.

Mia was not the only young creative talent at Blackheath High School to be recognised by the judges. Competing against work from students all the way up to Year 13 (or age 19), Year 8 Alice Jinks was also shortlisted. 

The first ever Young Artists’ Summer Show will be in the Clore Learning Centre at the Royal Academy with free entry.

Head of Art at Blackheath High School GDST, David Branch said: “Everyone at the school is delighted that Mia has been rewarded in this way for all her hard work and commitment throughout her GCSE Art course.

“She has produced some amazing work and the two pieces that she created for her exam were truly exceptional. Her concept was really intelligently developed and the way that she combined and explored materials showed great maturity and innovation.”

Head at Blackheath High, Mrs Carol Chandler-Thompson said: “Our recent £18 million school redevelopment brought with it fantastic new art and textiles studios.

“It’s been tremendous to see students like Mia push creative boundaries, expand their potential and pull off such extraordinary and moving work in these new surroundings.

“I can speak for everyone at Blackheath High when I say we are extremely proud of Mia’s work and we can’t wait to see it rightfully displayed alongside some of the most world’s most acclaimed art.”

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