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Of Sea and Land - Junior School Murals 

Of Sea and Land - Junior School Murals 

By Ciara Wilson, JK Teacher, JK Prep & JK Coordinator

In the last academic year (2018-19), the Branksome Hall Asia Facilities Space Design Strategy Committee decided that certain spaces in the school would be redesigned, and in doing so should epitomize and celebrate the school's vision and mission. 

Hence, the Junior School Murals were born. 

Mr. Mauro Brooks and Ms. Jacqueline Lian were asked to design a mural alongside Junior School students. In keeping with our vision and mission, the murals needed to; 

  • Draw on the nature of the art in South Korea (Jeju artist Wal-Jong Lee was inspirational as well as the artist Yayoi Kusama’s pattern styles). 
  • Include the 3’C’s of the mission/vision: Context, Culture, and Climate (Asia-Jeju-Unique). 
  • Evoke the 3H’s: Home (feel), Harmony (with nature), and Holistic (education). 

The goal was to create a welcoming and child-friendly ambiance within the School Junior School space. One that brought the outside world in and connected the students to the unique and wonderful environment we have here on Jeju. 

To bring the murals to life, Mr. Brooks and Ms. Lian created a CASE Extra Mural Club with Grade 3, 4, and 5 students, running from 3:15 to 4:45 pm on Tuesdays. In each class, the students choose to design and draw creatures or items from the following categories inspired by Jeju: Sky, Underwater, Sea Surface, the Beach, Mountains, or the Land. 

The students used a variety of materials, from acrylic paint to charcoal and pulled inspiration from Jeju’s rich culture, landscape, and ecology, from its rocks and corals to its Haenyeo divers and insects. 

The process then progressed to making a digital collage of all their ideas and drawings. Students digitally scanned their drawings which were then taken into Photoshop where the final scene was designed and the composition was refined.

Fortunately, all the work was completed just before the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of January 2020. It was printed onto canvas in May 2020 and now fills a beautiful space between the Lower and Upper Junior School pods. Already these wonderful works of art have turned the space into one that is thought-provoking and encourages an appreciation for our unique home here on Jeju.