Muthu

NARRATIVE OF LIFE - MODULE

During this module, I explored Brazilian biodiversity, but namely the amazon, through conservation and storytelling. We planted trees to restore the rainforest, studied biodiversity up close, and even discovered a previously unknown bird species. It was incredible to see firsthand how delicate yet resilient this ecosystem is.

Beyond conservation, I dived into creative writing inspired by the rainforest and learned how indigenous communities use storytelling to pass down ecological knowledge. From reforesting to birdwatching and documenting wildlife, every experience showed me how nature itself tells a story—we just have to listen.

To capture everything I learned - both scientifically and creatively - I wrote a poem that reflects the beauty and resilience of the Amazon. It weaves together the voices of the forest, the rhythms of reforestation, and the deep connection between nature and narrative of conservation we tell.

Link to Summative

AGRITECH - MODULE

During this module, I explored how technology is shaping agriculture in Vietnam, a country where farming is at the heart of daily life. I traveled to the Mekong Delta, where I learned to farm, fish, and see firsthand how people work with the land. I also how sustainable practices aren’t just good for the environment—they can also help businesses thrive.

Beyond the science, I also looked at the social side of agriculture, comparing life in big cities to rural farming communities. Through lectures with agriculture experts and real-world experiences, I got a deeper understanding of the balance between tradition, innovation, and sustainability in the future of food.

Combining all these experiences, and the knowledge we learnt, we collectively made a podcast series on several subtopics within agriculture in Vietnam.

Driven By Design - Module

During my fashion module in Italy, we explored the relationship between the fashion and automotive industries by engaging directly with both their creative processes and cultural contexts - through visits to the Ferrari Museum in Modena, the Ferragamo Museum in Florence, fashion houses and museums in Milan, Venice, and Rome, a designer-led workshop, and even go-karting to experience performance in motion. For our final summative, I created a fashion piece inspired by the Ferrari Purosangue, an SUV that reimagines what a Ferrari can be. Like the car, my design centers on contrast - freedom vs. formality, structure vs. flow - and uses that tension to tell a visual story. The piece is divided into three sections - trousers, red shirt, and a flowing black scarf - that create a strong vertical line, mimicking the Purosangue’s aerodynamic silhouette and exaggerated height. The crisp shirt and tie reference traditional formality, while the draped scarf around the waist introduces movement and softness, evoking the car’s curves and sense of freedom. The color palette of red and black not only commands attention but also ties directly to Ferrari’s brand identity, with red symbolizing passion and power, and black grounding the look in elegance. The patterned tie, placed centrally, becomes the focal point - cutting through the outfit like an axis of intention, drawing the viewer’s eye and anchoring the tension between opposing elements. Presented with “Too Sweet” by Hozier playing in the background, the piece embodied my vision of contrast - not as conflict, but as balance - and used the body as a canvas to express redefinition, much like the Purosangue itself.

Artivismo - Oaxaca,Mexico

This term, the Artivismo module immersed us in the powerful intersection of art and activism. Artivism - using creative expression to confront injustice - became the lens through which we explored the cultural, political, and emotional landscape of Oaxaca. Through hands-on practice and reflection, we experienced the full creative cycle: inspiration, carving, feedback, revision, and the responsibility that comes with making work meant to spark change.

A major highlight of the module was working alongside the Subterráneos Collective - Benjamin Rodríguez, Damián Jiménez, and Josué Bravo - artists who emerged from the 2006 teacher protests and have since become cultural voices for their communities. They guided us patiently, helping us grow not only as printmakers but as more intentional and socially aware changemakers. Through them, we learned how art in Oaxaca doesn’t just decorate public spaces - it documents injustice, preserves memory, and empowers collective resistance.

Throughout the module, we were challenged to consider what it means to create positive change today and how our values, identities, and lived experiences shape the art we put into the world. As a diverse group of students, each of us approached our summative print from a different emotional and political place, informed by the organizations we visited and the stories we encountered across the city.

The final installation brings all our prints together - a collective wall of personal narratives, convictions, and calls for justice. We invite viewers to look closely, to see the meaning embedded in each piece, and to witness how art continues to serve as both protest and healing in Oaxaca and beyond.