Meet the kids of 2018
The 16th of November was the opening night for the art exhibition ‘i am…’ at the Gallery of Children’s art in Brisbane. This exhibition runs until the 15th of December and I would urge you to go see it if you live in the area. My daughter was lucky enough to participate along with another 12 school children aged between 8 and 12, and a couple of kindergarten groups with children aged between 3 and 5.
We desperately need more outlets like this, platforms where our children’s thoughts and voices can be heard. Our children are so aware and what they have to say in nothing short of remarkable.
Their work is uncensored and their words an unprompted, unrehearsed, unfiltered and unedited expression of their thoughts. Let their artwork remind us of what truly matters.
“i am… reveals the world as a child sees it. Through the marks they make, children tell us who they are. ‘i am’… is an opportunity to publicly present their work and illuminate the life of a child in 2018”
Gallery of Children’s Art
Photo: Keeping only the favourites.
When we view the artworks and read the words of our children, it is evident that our society has lost touch with what is important. Kids just want to be kids, but in 2018 a large chunk of their awareness is focused on how they can create a better world. My daughter talks about our zero waste journey as a family and how we must look after our environment better. She mentions how she went on a school strike for the climate because a Swedish girl called Greta Thunberg inspired her to do so. Besides the environment, many of the kids are concerned about the way we treat refugees in this country. They believe there is enough room for everyone and that we need to try a little harder to look after the people who have been forcibly displaced by war.
I wish for these pictures and words to give you a sense of hope for the future.
“There is a girl in Sweden and she lives in Stockholm. Every Friday she sits outside the parliament with a sign that says school strike for the climate. She inspired me to do it too.”
- Thea, 8 years old
“I like scary stuff because all I have ever seen is scary stuff in Nauru that I can never forget.”
- Mina, 11 years old
“I wish we could let more refugees come to Australia because where they are living there might be problems like war and we we have room here.”
- Abi, 10 years old
“If I was prime minister I would let refugees come into the country and give them a house and some money.”
- Parker, 9 years old
“One side of my face is me and the other side is future technology because when I am older I think I will do something that changes the future”
- Maggie, 9 years old
“I am inspired by the things around me, like the earths beautiful features”
- Sappho, 9 years old
“I love art because it really allows me to express my creativity and I truly treasure it”
- Faiha, 11 years old
“I like expressing opinions and making an effort to create change, like with environmental issues and the acceptance of refugees. We need to accept refugees with open sympathy, because life shouldn’t be predetermined by where you are born. If the world is truly to become peaceful and fair we need to start with reform.”
- Flynn, 12 years old
“I would like sharks to live so they can balance the eco system.”
- Felix, 8 years old
“I would improve the world by stopping the aweful wars and increase the popularity of endangered species.”
- Jarvis, 10 years old
“I am a nice person. My favourite thing about my is my heart because it has all the people that I love in it. When I grow up I want to be a vet or a cowgirl.
- Annabelle, kindergarden
“I would get all the baddies with my powers and make them good.”
- Jax, Kindergarden
