Under One Banner
Christopher, Joshua & Joseff
All age 13

Our design is of a few of the main religious figures of the world, standing under one banner, looking up, and searching for God, or in the case of the Buddha, Enlightenment. The figures from left to right are Guru Nanak (Sikhism), Jesus (Christianity), Moses (Judaism), The Buddha (Buddhism).

We understood that the art in heaven competition was designed to unite all of the religions and the thought of all of the religions, united in searching for God, which was the inspiration for our model, Under One Banner. We chose this title as we designed a symbol made up of each of the respective religion's symbols combined, which we then put on a banner, which would unite the religious figures under it to find God together.

We believe our model shows the tree as "The Tree of Life" and the figures gathering around it to form one reality where we can all search for God or Enlightenment together. If we want to truly understand and abide with God, we must first combine together to search for Him.

The flags, which the figures hold, are of the religions that they founded or were especially affiliated with. The tree has multiple meanings. It symbolizes the tree the Buddha was under when he reached Enlightenment, as well as the tree that Adam and Eve were tempted to take the apple from. It also symbolizes the growth, life and light we get from God. The flags show that we celebrate when we search for God, and it gives people great happiness.

They are all sat in the natural environment of the forest, one of God's greatest wonders. The tree is made from real pine wood sourced locally and was hand lathed and sanded in our own workshop at home. The religious figures are all hand crafted out of clay and have been dressed in clothes we created out of material for them.