Drawing with One Line

A contest that aims to connect Singapore kids with the world’s biggest expo

Issue: May 10

Students can look forward to a visit to the Shanghai World Expo 2010 if they win the contest

The one-line drawing workshop received overwhelming response as Peter Draw introduced students to the art of drawing with one continuous line

Imagine drawing an entire picture with only one continuous line! Well, that was what more than 90 students, teachers, parents and members of the public came to learn last month at a workshop organised by CapitaLand Hope Foundation. Conducted by World Guiness Record holder for drawing the world’s largest caricature, Peter Zhuo, or Peter Draw as he’s affectionately called, drummed up much interest for the One-line Drawing Contest which was held between April 17 and May 7, 2010.

Draw amazed enthusiastic children by demonstrating his drawing skills without lifting his marker off the paper.

“A Swiss artist once said that a line drawing is like taking a dot for a walk. I really like that idea because to me, the dot is a child. The line is the journey and adventure a child takes in his life. I believe every life is beautiful in its own way”, enthuses Draw.

Draw creating a work of art without lifting the pen off the paper

Drawing without lifting the pen is a technique that takes on a significant meaning for CapitaLand as well. “One unbroken line symbolises linkages and that was the inspiration behind yi bi hua as it reflects CapitaLand’s unwavering support and efforts in engaging local communities,” says Tan Bee Leng, General Manager, CapitaLand Hope Foundation.

Hand in Hand 20.10

One line drawing of Hand-in-Hand logo

As part of CapitaLand’s participation in the Singapore Pavilion in the Shanghai World Expo, it launched the “Hand in Hand 20.10” campaign. CapitaLand will be bringing 2010 children from the CapitaLand Hope Schools in China as well as underprivileged children from Shanghai to visit the Expo.

CapitaLand has chosen to host 2010 children as the year 2010 marks 20 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China, and the year that CapitaLand celebrates its 10th anniversary.

As an extension of their engagement, CapitaLand has organised a one-line drawing contest to involve the children of Singapore.

“This took on a larger scale as it evolved to engage children in Singapore through the One-line Drawing Contest. The idea is to “connect” them with the students in China Hope Schools as well as open their eyes through an international event. Just as we want to inspire the kids in China towards a better future, we also want to challenge the kids here to think bigger and to think about their responsibilities towards those who are less privileged through their drawings,” says Ms Tan.

The Contest

A primary school student being mentored by Draw in her first attempt at one-line drawing

The contest is a way to connect Singaporeans to the World Expo through the medium of art. Participants are to draw their pictures using elements of the World Expo 2010, Singapore, China or CapitaLand, using only one line.

Winners of the vairous categories will not only get an all-expense paid trip as a volunteer to the World Expo 2010 in August, top drawings will also be displayed in the Singapore Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 and featured on the CapitaLand 10th anniversary website.

Judge’s words of encouragement

Judges, like Draw, believe that this will be a rather new experience for the contestants.

“Children will have to think about the possible ways to achieve the thought process of everything they know and new knowledge gained from research into creating and capturing an idea by expressing it permanently onto paper. Coupled with the sensation of experiencing something new with one-line drawing, I believe this will significantly connect them to the World Expo 2010,” says Draw.

A well-known motivator and philanthropist, Draw recently completed a 24-hour drawing marathon in which he completed 952 sketches, going without food, and raised $8,500 to build schools for the children in Batam.

A secondary school student trying his hand at one-line drawing and resisting the temptation to lift his pen off the paper

Some of the participants at the workshop have eagerly expressed interest in the contest. “Although it was tougher than we thought, we’re hoping to influence and cultivate a positive mindset in our pupils with the one-line drawing technique by taking part in the contest”, says a teacher from the art department of Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School.

It sure looks like some will be drawing their way to the world’s biggest expo come August.