Finding Beauty in the Unexpected

Ms Nazurah Rahmat (BA (Ed), Class of 2020) is on a career path where art and education have come together in perfect harmony. A graduate of the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Department, she now channels her passion as an art teacher at Punggol Green Primary School.

When the NIE invited Nazurah to reimagine the Papilionanda NIE SG Orchid for the Institute’s 75th-anniversary commemorative items, it was both a recognition of her artistic talent as well as an opportunity for introspection. Her rendition of the NIE Orchid will adorn various keepsakes such as tote bags, gift envelopes and zipper pouches, bringing her artistic vision to a broader audience.

For Nazurah, being selected for this project was a deeply meaningful, full-circle moment. “I was incredibly honoured and humbled,” she says. “The NIE Orchid is such a powerful symbol of resilience and growth, and being entrusted with this opportunity allowed me to reflect on my own journey as a teacher and an artist.”

Nazurah credits her time at the NIE with shaping her approach to both teaching and art. “My experiences as a student teacher taught me the value of resilience, adaptability and continuous learning — qualities I wanted to capture in my artwork,” she explains. Naturally, the NIE Orchid’s delicate yet vibrant bloom became a fitting metaphor, symbolising Singapore teachers who adapt quickly to their changing environments and flourish.

With spontaneity at the heart of her creative process, Nazurah embraces the freedom of alcohol inks, a fluid and unpredictable medium that mirrors the spirit of nature. “I begin by letting the inks flow freely across the paper, allowing their unpredictable movement to set the tone. From there, I refine and guide the inks toward specific details, finding balance between chaos and order,” she said.

This approach aligns closely with Nazurah’s teaching philosophy, which encourages spontaneity through techniques like wet-on-wet painting — where outcomes are uncertain yet full of possibilities. “I tell my students that there are no ‘wrong’ outcomes in art. I teach them to experiment with the unexpected and to discover its beauty. Art is about process, not perfection,” she says. For Nazurah, teaching is more than giving instruction; it is about creating a space for students to explore, take risks and discover their voices.

By working with alcohol inks on the NIE Orchid, Nazurah hopes to evoke a sense of wonder, resilience and inspiration in those who see it. “I want my audience to feel uplifted, and to see the orchid as a symbol of perseverance and growth, much like how we might view our own journey as educators.”

While there’s no right or wrong in spontaneity, there were challenges in using alcohol inks to depict the NIE Orchid. For example, Nazurah had to balance the medium’s unpredictability with the precise details of the orchid’s delicate structure. She overcame this by experimenting and applying layering techniques, allowing the inks to flow naturally while refining the image to capture the orchid’s elegance. The result is a stunning representation of the NIE Orchid, in all its beauty and resilience.

Nazurah’s experience as an educator continues to shape her creative work. “Teaching keeps me connected to my creative process. I learn from my students just as much as they learn from me,” she reflects.

To current NIE students aspiring to teach art, Nazurah advises, “Embrace your individuality as both an artist and a teacher. Let your passion for creativity guide your work, and encourage your students to explore and experiment with their ideas.” She also emphasises the importance of continuous learning in both art and education: “Never stop learning and creating. As teachers, we are role models for lifelong learning, and it’s essential to nurture our own creativity so we can inspire our students to do the same.”