27/03/2024
Passion as hot as the sun! CIITeen projects featured in the exciting Sibol-Alab exhibit.
Written by: Dakila Maristela
With the third quarter approaching its conclusion, CIITeens prepare to enter the final chapter of this school year, after eight exhausting, but exhilarating months of creating and accomplishing different ingenious projects, which showcase the impressive technical and creative skill CIITeens hold as brilliant artists, programmers, and innovators. Such projects take great effort to produce, considering these projects would have to be presented in a manner which fits the standards of the school’s insightful teachers. The empowering but critical feedback, as well as the grade given by teachers does not give enough recognition for these projects! At some point, the labor, care, and skill produced by CIITeens have to be exhibited to all lovers of arts and technology, for it to truly be admired. So to celebrate the blazing feats of authenticity and novelty, by the class of 2024, CIIT held SIBOL-ALAB, an arts and tech week celebration!
The exciting event started strong, with much of the students coming in bright and early, with some even bringing visitors along. At the beginning of the first day, the gallery was first opened to visitors for them to get a taste of what the exhibit had to offer. Upon entering this gallery visitors were greeted with high quality and well-detailed artwork, as well as multiple intricately crafted assemblage, created by this year’s grade 11 Media and Visual Arts and Animation batch. Being able to observe the artwork of the new batch certainly filled those who have an eye or passion for art, with inspiration and interest. Each section in this gallery showcased different traditional art media, and followed unique themes which certainly helped with making each artwork memorable. Among the charcoal and colored pencil focused drawings, the assemblage featured in the gallery were by far the most appealing and intriguing art to be featured. For this assemblage, old material such as screws, gears, wires, and what have you were used to depict scenes that can only be described as “absurd technology”. Imagine science fiction but with a little dose of horror or dark fantasy.
Of course, the artistic minds of CIIT aren’t the only focus in this gallery! The programmers too have a section to call their own, which featured the action-packed survival shooter video game, Risk of Fail. A game developed by the BYTES Club, it centers around a desperate student’s fight against anthropomorphized school work and assignments, in a school overrun by these monsters. Its gameplay puts great emphasis in maintaining the main character’s (best known as “MC-Kun”) supplies and health, as well as finding key objects to progress through the levels. The gameplay is akin to that of the Resident Evil series, albeit a lot more fast paced with less focus on scares—a thrilling experience for the light hearted! Visitors looking for a fun experience, played and stuck to the video game’s demo, understandably so. With the game’s balanced AI, engaging gameplay, and appealing art direction, it’s no wonder that a lot of people got hooked playing Risk of Fail. If this game is to be published on a major platform such as Steam or Epic Games, it would definitely get the support of all CIITeens!
As if artwork which awestruck’s its viewers and video games which greatly stimulate the mind of its players weren’t enough, the exhibit also showcased films from both the Media and Visual Arts students of grade 11 and 12. The student made films were all unique in the way each presented its story, through well-written dialogue, skillful cinematography, and overall resourceful production. Despite the drawbacks students would typically challenge with in shooting a film, most, if not all the films were surprisingly impressive in the way they were produced. The creative and technical prowess of the Media and Visual Arts students were highlighted clearly in each film. Viewers are constantly shown the resourcefulness and creativity, CIITeens display in the manner scenes are shot and acted; these impressive feats could only be described as “passion”.
Sibol-Alab was a great event to hold after the 3rd quarter, during a period where a lot of students are deserving of beloved recognition for the projects which they have worked for tirelessly, rigorously, and most importantly, passionately. The art exhibit does not downplay the potential each artist, programmer, and innovator has. It aims to garner respect and love for the creations of CIITeens, so that they may continue to be empowered to pursue being professionals of their skill. This type of recognition is one which will resonate for years to come, not just for this year’s batch alone, but for future batches to come. Sibol-Alab is a great reminder of just how important it is, not just for individuals who are greatly interested in the creative, but for all creators to surround themselves with the art and inventions which define passion. It’s not enough that creators are recognized through the judgement and criticism of professionals, since such commentary could lead to a burnout of their passion. Granted this allows creators to improve, from time to time the eyes of an interested and curious observer is also needed to progress. Exhibits and galleries, frankly, any event that showcases one’s greatest work is a terrific opportunity for creators to gain that sweet sense of accomplishment and the burning desire to continue to love their ability. Without a doubt, passion is best recognized by those who observe and simply admire!
