Elaine Zou

  

Volume 10 | Issue I | March 2026

The Harker School ’27

California, United States

  

As a visual artist and French student fascinated by ethnic intersectionality, taking art history in my sophomore year exposed me to a new lens for investigating history. Going into the class unsure of what to expect, I emerged with not only a new set of skills and perspectives but also a more lucid understanding of the potency of artwork in shaping thought and invoking change. Upon coming across an article describing the new exhibition After the End at the Centre Pompidou, I dove straight into a rabbit hole of postcolonial installation artwork. Eager to apply my art historical skills while using my knowledge of French to explore colonial repercussions, what began as a personal research endeavor evolved into a months-long project, culminating in my submission to The Schola. Through my research process, what amazed me most was the complexity and diversity, as well as the interconnection, of human thought and development over time. In spite of cultural barriers, art has retained history just as much as it has progressed and evolved into new movements and styles. Writing my paper for The Schola taught me the importance of approaching historical analysis and my own art creation through a multicultural lens. Outside of writing and drawing, I enjoy visiting museums, playing tennis, climate advocacy, gardening, and learning new languages.