In an era where digital headlines often flicker and fade, Aathika Khan, a standout graduate of Holy Rosary’s Class of 2025, has used her final matric art portfolio to freeze time, forcing the viewer to look – truly loo – at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Achieving a staggering 91% for Visual Arts – the highest in the grade – and earning a place in the school’s Top 20 students, Aathika’s work transcends the classroom.
Her achievement comes as part of a historic year for Holy Rosary School, which is celebrating its 85th Jubilee. The Class of 2025 has emerged as the strongest-performing matric cohort in the school’s history, achieving a 100% Matric pass rate and a 100% Bachelor’s Degree pass rate.
A jubilee of excellence
The school’s overall academic scorecard for 2025 set a new benchmark for the institution:
- Collective strength: 100% of the cohort achieved an overall average above 60%.
- Distinctions: The class earned a total of 181 distinctions, averaging 3.21 per pupil.
- Subject mastery: The school exceeded IEB National Averages in nearly every subject, with significant leads in Information Technology (15% above), Mathematics (14% above), and Physical Sciences (14% above).
Aathika herself contributed significantly to these results, earning an overall average of 81% and four distinctions in Visual Arts, History, Life Orientation, and Afrikaans.
Ghayb: A study of faith and resilience
Aathika’s primary piece, titled ‘Ghayb: Stillness in a Burning City’, is a masterful exploration of the ‘unseen’. As a Muslim herself, this topic is deeply personal, driving her to give a voice to the suffering she witnessed from afar.
The composition is anchored by a brightly coloured mosque — a symbol of beauty, faith, and resilience – which emerges defiantly from the ruins. Aathika uses heavy textures and the visual representation of discarded items to mirror how human lives in conflict zones are often treated as disposable.
“My intention was to show the contrast between destruction and resilience,” Aathika explains. “The textures express memory and absence. While the mosque symbolises the endurance of faith, hidden truths of oppression and survival lie beneath the layers of destruction.”
The eyes as a mirror to the world
Aathika’s portfolio extends into a hauntingly technical series of charcoal drawings focusing on the eyes of various witnesses. By using herself and her family members as models, she grounds a global tragedy in a personal, intimate reality. Each pupil reflects microscopic details that tell a story:
- The Mosque Dome: Representing the intersection of faith and despair.
- Missiles: Capturing the loss of innocence and the horror of war.
- The Palestinian Flag: A symbol of identity and resistance.
- Arabic Script: The word “Ghayb” serves as a reminder of the hidden suffering.
The intuition of a new generation
Colleen von Aulock, Head of Visual Arts at Holy Rosary, expresses immense pride in Aathika’s achievement: “Aathika is an exceptionally talented young artist. To see someone so young engage with such complex humanitarian themes with this level of technical skill and emotional depth is truly remarkable”.
High School Principal Belinda Damhuis noted that these historic results serve as a fitting tribute to the school’s 85th Jubilee, with every student embodying the 2025 theme of “Thrive”. As Aathika and her peers move into their post-school careers, they carry with them the “Holy Rosary Spirit”- a blend of academic rigor and compassionate sisterhood.
