An Educator’s Call for Artworks by Children From Around the World Reveals What Kids Are Really Thinking About Under Lockdown

What’s life in lockdown like for children? A new virtual show of
artworks by kids from around the world is offering a glimpse.

The exhibition, titled “Born Artists,” is organized by Qinghua
Chen, a graduate student in early childhood education at the
University of Buffalo who first became interested in children’s art
when she saw how much her five-year-old daughter loved drawing.

With children around the world at home, Chen reached out to
families asking them to send drawings their kids made in response
to the present moment.

“Children are born artists. They have striking inspirations,”
Chen told the University of
Buffalo.

She received 100 artworks by 60 children in seven countries, all
living in China or of Chinese descent. The artists range from
preschoolers to middle schoolers. Each work is on view on the
website for the International Cross-Cultural and Communication
Center for Children.

These budding artists have explored a wide range of media, from
crayons and papier-mâché, to performance art and collage. Many
works reflect their personal experiences being stuck at home,
separated from friends and attending school online in the age of
self isolation. Some images are made as thank-yours to doctors and
healthcare workers, or to express how much the artists miss going
to school.

Others are more imaginative, or focus on nature. For her part,
Chen’s daughter contributed a cheerful message celebrating the
start of spring, formed from dandelion and buttercup stems and
blossoms.

“I hope people can be inspired by these little artists and be
cheered up by their great art pieces,” Chen said.

The online art show follows in-person exhibitions of children’s
art that Chen previously staged at local libraries, including one
most recently in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

See more works from the show and a video about the exhibition
below.

The post An Educator’s Call for Artworks by Children From
Around the World Reveals What Kids Are Really Thinking About Under
Lockdown appeared first on artnet News.