Algebra University College is happy to participate in initiatives that encourage the creation of inclusive classrooms and pleasant atmospheres for learning and teaching. One of these is participation in the Erasmus+ project UNIQUE, which aims to encourage the acceptance of one's own individuality among pupils and students, as well as the removal of barriers that stand in the way of developing an inclusive, just and sustainable society.
To this end, we launched a student art competition called “We are all stars”. In this way, we invited students to present the concepts of acceptance, belonging, togetherness and inclusion in society with their art work - from their perspective. We are proud that we have received a large number of applications for the competition from students all over Croatia!
The received art works were evaluated by a three-member panel of expert judges: Siniša Bogdanović (Head of Design Studies at Algebra University College), Roman Turk (CEO of Division4Vision agency) and Ivan Skvrce (Head of the Painting Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb). According to the evaluation, the winner of our contest is Ivonna Grlić with her art work entitled "Issues regarding identity”.
Ivonna Grlić, "Issues regarding identity”
The author's statement about the art work: "Today's modern society often likes to be called a tolerant society, a society that strives for greater individuality and diversity of its members, especially compared to its predecessors. However, when we scratch beneath the surface of such facades, we realize that reality is different. The question is - how could an individual develop into what he or she truly is, without the fear of becoming an object of condemnation, if we live in a society that hypocritically advocates individuality, while on the other hand ridicules it. This is exactly what the work Issues regarding identity is about. It represents the individual at the moment of finding his/hers identity and discovering it. The celebratory hat is a symbol of the celebration of such an act, and the spot on the nose represents the inevitable - a condemnation which is often a consequence of such act. It also represents the loneliness and alienation that follows disappointment in such an outcome."
This is what Head of Design Studies at Algebra University College and our jury member, Siniša Bogdanović said about the student art contest: "Being a jury member at creative competitions is always a great pleasure, but also an obligation. A large number of works that we received have met the expectations by visually representing the desired message - tolerance. Each work is special in its own way of questioning diversity that has become an increasingly important topic in today's society. The creative approach, visual expression and diversity in the imagination of each work ultimately made it difficult to evaluate the art works. Sincere congratulations to all participants!"
"Promoting inclusion through visual media is certainly an important topic these days. Moreover, I face this topic almost every day in our projects aimed towards wide range of positive social changes. So, I consider this competition more than welcome and a good way to promote these social changes. This is exactly why it was a pleasure for me to participate as a member of the jury in this competition, because in addition to the professional challenge for students, it is always interesting to see how new generations perceive a tolerant society and how they try to make our society fair" - Roman Turk, CEO of Division4Vision agency.
Congratulations to the winner of the student art competition "We are all stars" and we are extremely proud and happy to reward the excellent winning work with a cash prize in the amount of HRK 2,500.00.
We would like to thank everyone who participated in our competition and thus expressed their ideas of tolerance, inclusion and positive social changes through art.