“Art is an Universal Language”, PEETO Students Say

On 26th July, teacher Linda Doyle from Christchurch’s Multicultural Education Centre, PEETO took 17 international students to Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery South Island to visit the Embroidery Exhibition of Yao Hong Ying. PEETO’s student body consists of people from various backgrounds, including refugees or immigrant students from Afghanistan, China, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Bhutan and India.

The people of Afghanistan are quite immersed in the Oriental culture, and are experienced embroiderers. Even though there was an apparent language barrier between the students and the English-speaking tour guide, Yao Hong Ying’s artworks have conveyed her feelings and inspirations through needle and thread.

The students expressed their admiration for Yao Hong Ying’s genius works, and suggested that the universal language of art sees no barriers, and spans across all the different nations and cultures of the world. For this particular reason, the students believe that art is a tool which elevates people above the cultural divide.