Agora Madrid International School, Winner of the Globeducate Arts Competition

Agora Madrid International School has once again taken part in the Globeducate Arts Competition, the international art contest that annually brings together thousands of students from the Globeducate network around the world. This competition celebrates creativity as a universal language, connecting young people through art, reflection, and personal expression.

In this edition, our students worked around the theme “A Universal Voice”, an invitation to explore ideas such as communication, empathy, intercultural connection, and global citizenship through a variety of artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting, poetry, photography, performing arts, 3D art, and sculpture.

Winners in the Drawing Category – Upper High School (15–18 years)

We are proud to announce that Tom, a student in the International Baccalaureate programme, was the winner in the Drawing category (15–18 years) with a visually and emotionally powerful piece created in charcoal pencil.

His drawing, inspired by Michelangelo’s Pietà, stands out not only for its technical quality but also for the profound message it conveys.

The Inspiration Behind the Artwork

Tom explains that his main source of inspiration was Michelangelo’s Pietà, which allowed him to explore universal emotions such as grief, pain, and compassion. In his reinterpretation, he replaces the classic scene with an image of a brother carrying his injured sibling due to war, understood not as a specific conflict, but as the concept of war itself.

Through this image, he aims to reflect human suffering and the solidarity that emerges even in the most devastating circumstances.

The Creative Challenge

One of the biggest challenges for Tom was the limitation of using colour, as charcoal does not allow him to rely on colour to express emotions. This challenge pushed him to focus on light, shadow, and detail, refining his technique to ensure that the message came across with full intensity.

An Artistic and Personal Learning Journey

During the creation process, Tom learned more about charcoal pencil techniques and gained a deeper understanding of Michelangelo’s original work. This process was not only an artistic growth experience but also a personal reflection on the role of art as a tool for expression and advocacy.

A Clear Message: Peace and Anti-War

The central message of his artwork is anti-war. Through his art, Tom wanted to give voice to those suffering the consequences of armed conflicts, defending peace as the only viable path and highlighting empathy and shared humanity.

Artistic Role Models

Michelangelo is undoubtedly one of Tom’s greatest inspirations. He admires the master’s ability to convey profound emotions and achieve artistic excellence, qualities he strives to develop in his own creative journey.