Interview by Rui Pastorin
As children, parents and guardians walk up the “Staircase Gallery” of the Saint Joseph International Nursery (CISJ) in Nape, they are greeted with works inspired by six renowned artists, each interpreted and created through the eyes of young children.
Showcased in a recently inaugurated exhibition entitled “Little Artists, Big Inspirations”, the works on display, all of which were developed under the nursery’s Reggio Emilia* environment, are the result of a near two-month-long project.
During this period, students aged one to three from six different classes in the Catholic nursery learnt about artists Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), Henri Matisse (1869-1954), Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) and Yayoi Kusama and their works, exploring and then creating art inspired by an artist that a class focused on.
The project was born from a desire to honour children’s sensory nature, invite deep engagement, and encourage self-expression, according to an introduction to the project at the nursery, as well as inspiring them through the different artists’ works.
The resulting exhibits range from individually created works to larger exhibits made collectively by all classes, Head of Parenting Centre Sandra Monteiro told the Post during a tour of the exhibition and nursery last week. Among the works showcased are those inspired by the abstract colourful pieces created with Pollock’s “drip technique”, portraits inspired by Kahlo, and Kusama’s colourful dots. Aside from the use of materials like paint, recycled materials such as cardboard to colourful bottle tops were also incorporated for the works.
The six artists that inspired the works were meanwhile chosen based on two factors: those known by parents, which could lead to more discussions at home, and the children’s capabilities ,i.e., being inspired by the works of artists that incorporate more shapes for younger students, the nursery’s Director Nair Cardoso told the Post after the tour.
Cardoso highlighted that the children are in their developmental stage and through the project, they “can explore different materials” as well as learn “through their senses”. She further touched on other aspects that the project can help with, such as their fine motor skills used for writing in the future through certain movements involved, while the children are also encouraged to use communication skills and language throughout the activities involved. Memorisation is also developed by listening to teachers as they talk about the artists.
The Catholic nursery is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, an early childhood education philosophy, and Cardoso pointed out: “We believe that the children can express themselves in their own ways. Each is different. Each child is unique”.
“We believe that this [the project] is a way that the child can express themselves”, Cardoso said, adding that their philosophy encourages letting children express what they feel, which can be seen through the works.
*The Reggio Emilia approach, which originated from the Italian town of the same name, is an early childhood education philosophy that emphasises child-centred learning, where children actively participate in their own education. It values collaboration, a rich learning environment, and an emergent curriculum based on children’s interests. Teachers act as facilitators and co-learners, fostering creativity and critical thinking. – Source: Poe
Saint Joseph International Nursery Director Nair Cardoso (first from right), Head of Parenting Centre Sandra Monteiro (centre) and Vice-Director Ricardo Rodrigues pose after last week’s tour and interview at the Catholic nursery in Nape. – Photos taken last week by Rui Pastorin
