On Tuesday 8 March 2022 Olivia represented The Abbey school at the ARTiculation regional final, held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. To get to this point, she had competed with over 1000 entries for the notable art history public speaking competition. 

Olivia’s presentation centres around the animated sequence, titled ‘Flâneur’ (2018) by Holly Warburton. A key influence for her during the isolating and lonely times of covid, Olivia expressed how the animation was particularly poignant at a time when she missed “mundane human interface”.  

Within the 10 minute presentation we can see the flâneur (French noun referring to a ‘stroller’ or ‘saunterer’) travelling through London at night. He walks without purpose as seen through the perspective of the artist. Olivia skillfully weaves notable reference of Charles Bauderlaire’s “The Painter of Modern Life” (1863) and ‘Modernity’, expressing the paradox of the city, citing the separation one can feel among the hustle and bustle of the many. 

We are so proud of Olivia’s depth of research, effort, passion and overall outstanding public speaking performance. Congratulations. Please feel free to view Olivia’s presentation (from a previous heat) here:- https://vimeo.com/669614081/bbc1d24dff

Mrs J Barrett & the Art Team