Medical students display their creative talents at the National Museum in Cardiff

The C21 Student Artwork Competition is an annual opportunity for medical students to embrace their artistic talents and creativity.

For the 2018/19 competition, the School of Medicine had the privilege to collaborate with the National Museum Cardiff as part of the events and activities surrounding the ‘Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing Exhibition’.

To mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death, the National Museum is displaying twelve of his greatest drawings as part of #Leonardo500 - a national celebration with twelve simultaneous exhibitions being held across the UK between 01/02/19 - 06/05/19. Da Vinci was both an artist and a scientist and was particularly fascinated by human anatomy, as such, it was a perfect partnership to combine the C21 Competition with this exclusive opportunity.

Students were tasked with demonstrating a connection to Leonardo da Vinci alongside visually depicting elements of the C21 course and their experiences in medicine. Seventeen fantastic submissions were received, with students displaying a range of talents and each a unique reflection on the brief.

The judges, who had the difficult duty of determining which entries would receive the coveted 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, were the National Museum Cardiff; Senior Curator of Historic Art, Anne Pritchard and Senior Learning, Participation and Interpretation Officer, Ciara Hand.

Taking into account students’ interpretations of the brief alongside outstanding demonstrations of skill and talent, the winners were decided.

The winners

First prize: 'Hands of Awe' - Firdusi Khan, Year 2

Second prize: ‘21st Century Anatomy’ - Katy Plant, Year 4

Third prize: ‘Love Brings Life’ - Claire-Marie Hughes, Year 5

The C21 artwork will be on display at the National Museum Cardiff between 12:00-16:00 on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 of April.

This free event, ‘Leonardo, Bodies & Bones’, will give visitors the opportunity to learn how their experience of medicine and interest in human anatomy inspired the creations of these students, much as it did for Leonardo.

Take advantage of visiting this exceptional exhibition and come along to the National Museum Cardiff on this weekend to also see the students and their creations. Children, or adults, will have the opportunity to draw their own skeletons with the student-artists on hand to advise and help.

Find out more about this event.

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