The month of February every year at Jacobs University is what is known as “ArtOn! season” – a time of the year when most people here put aside everything they have to do in order to participate in this campus-wide competition of artistic expression. After non-stop rehearsals and diligent planning, when ArtOn! weekend comes around, college spirit is abundant and so is passion and creativity. Everyone on campus is almost entirely immersed in preparing and performing; in this beautiful chaos. Quintessential Jacobs.
This year, the theme for ArtOn was “Duality”, a theme that was decided on while playing around the idea of the leap year. The aim was to let students express a side of themselves that is not always on display. In the words of one of the main organisers, Katia Gregorek, “You don’t have to be a fashion designer to be able to share your ideas for the fashion show!”
Like always, the events ranged from a musical warfare between college bands to a display of cinematographic talent and understanding. The results were tough to arrive it at; at the end of the day, everyone puts in immeasurable amounts of work to get where they want to. However, ArtOn! 2020 was dominated by the chants of the Mercats celebrating their victories. With a 1st position in Battle of The Bands, Dance Battle, Movie and LipSync – the 4 major events – Mercator college took the ArtOn! banner home. Krupp college was a close runner-up, with consistent results in all the events; they took away the 1st prize for As The Story Goes, an impromptu team story-writing event. C3 was crowned winner of the Fashion show and Canvas Race.
But ArtOn! doesn’t divide or discriminate. If anything, it only aims to bring the community closer together by prompting them to strive towards the same goal. The Harry Potter-esque competition pushes everyone to step up and take charge; participate in things they never thought they would.
ArtOn! gives the university a new look – one created by talent, love and ideas. However, as much as it brings out the best artist in all of us, it also drowns us in exhaustion. The preparation piles on top of university and academic work, not to forget that there is, more often than not, a conflict of interest in every event. But who are we as a community if we cannot look past these conflicts and work together to create something that is worth remembering? The gorgeous banner wraps within it understanding, cooperation and trust – and bestows itself on the college that deserves it.
As a 3rd year student who has been heavily involved in ArtOn! with two colleges, I can only say it is nothing short of an experience for the books. It may be the most difficult to explain to people who’ve not been a part of the Jacobs Experience been but in my heart and with other Jacobians, I know what ArtOn! is like and why it’s an essential aspect of life here. I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I’ve had the chance to work with the most incredible group of people and that I’ve learnt loads not only about them, but also myself.
ArtOn! is a madness no one here would exchange for and I strongly believe that everything that ArtOn! stands will continue to grace this community for years to come.
BY USHASHI BASU (INDIA) | CLASS OF 2020
