New work by artist and former d’Overbroeck’s student Emmie van Biervliet

One of our past students Emmie van Biervliet is presently exhibiting some of her art work at the Sarah Wiseman Gallery in Oxford. Inspired by her travels, her partial upbringing in France and historic sites in Oxford, Emmie's exhibition runs from now until the beginning of October. For more information, please visit her website.

After studying her A levels with us, Emmie graduated in 'Applied Arts' in 2006. Her work has been inspired by her travels in South America and Cuba where she feels that life within the buildings is far more visible and ‘on display’ than in Northern Europe. Houses appear to have been constructed in a very creative way with a variety of materials and it’s this idea that Emmie wants to reflect in her work. She uses a variety of media including coffee, spices, circuit boards and gold leaf as well as paint to built up intricate layers.


Amber Light on Broad Street by Emmie van Biervliet

Recently, Emmie has been commissioned by ‘The Apprentice’ runner-up Saira Kahn, to create a piece of work for her newly adopted daughter, Amara. The work tells the story of Amara's journey from Karachi, Pakistan to her new home in the UK. The experience was filmed for a documentary, ‘Saira Kahn Adopts Abroad’ recently broadcast on BBC2.

Emmie's painting is in the style of a storyboard and uses images to tell a story, echoing the ancient medieval tradition of icon painting. Birds represent Saira’s family members and the river Indus, which dissects Pakistan, winds through the work down to the huge port city of Karachi and the sea, representing the ups and downs of life. Buildings from both London and Karachi signify the huge journey, both physical and emotional, made by Saira and Amara.

Emmie has exhibited in London, New York and Chicago. She will exhibit in Singapore later this year. Emmie was also winner of the Diana Brooks Award at the Art for Youth exhibition at the Royal College of Art in 2010.


Amara's Journey by Emmie van Biervliet

Former student Jack Williams plays a BBC session

Jack Williams (photographed above, headlining our Leavers' Ball in 2008) left d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form in 2008 and is currently studying at the prestigious Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA). He recently recorded a three-song session for BBC Radio Merseyside, in which he plays two of his own songs, as well as covering the Beatles' 'Come together'.

If you'd like to listen, you can download an mp3 of Jack Williams' session (13.4MB)

Hitchhiking to Morocco -- for charity

Two of last year's Upper Sixth – Alastair Mitchell (who's recently been offered a place at Balliol College Oxford) and William Richards (now in his first year at Keble College Oxford) – are setting off on a fundraising expedition in an effort to raise money for development in Africa.

Their journey will begin later this month and, by the end, they plan to have hitchhiked all the way to Morocco. Currently, they are seeking sponsors (if you would like to support their efforts, here's a link to Ali's online sponsorship form).

They're raising money on behalf of Link Community Development – a charity that aims to offer disadvantaged people in Africa access to education and training. The charity carries out its work directly, rather than by simply supplying funding, to ensure that donations are spent wisely and effectively.

Iran Uncarpeted

Chris Dobbing left d'Overbroeck's a year ago, and has since taken a gap year - in his words, "the warm fuzzy space between education and the real world". During a 90-day round-the-world trip, he spent ten days in Iran. The following description of his experiences is taken from the article he has written: Iran Uncarpeted.

My solitary wander through Iran's thid largest city, Isfahan, did not reveal any nuclear weapons factories or fundamentalist Muslims. On the contrary, I felt safe and welcomed. As I browsed, I was approached by a young Iranian guy, of about my age, introducing himself as Ali. 

I asked what he did for a living. He pulled a face, and declared:

'If I tell you, you'll run away.'

I cautiously promised not to. Ali looked at me and grinned: 'I'm a carpet seller.'

I burst into laughter, and so did he. He took me to his shop, gave me tea and we talked about the country. Not once did he mention buying a carpet. I got the impression that politics were very detached from the streets: the upcoming elections were of little interest to Ali or any of his family or friends - they were totally disenfranchised. 

One day, Ali explained, he would like to go to Australia and start business there, but he would never get a passport. To be granted permission to leave the country, Iranian citizens must do two years National Service, something that he refused to do. My British passport was burning a hole in my pocket at this point, and I felt guilty for my right to travel wherever the whim took me.

The trip gave me a new respect for the freedoms afforded us; an appreciation of our multi-cultural and liberal way of life; and experience of doing my own laundry. I'd recommend a gap year to anyone.