What is a Peacepainting Exhibition?

A Peacepainting Exhibition consist of paintings made by children in a context of equality between people and nations. When children are taken seriously, they will naturally express their wisdom and authentic messages that are very good reminders for adults. In our workshops, we address this side in children and let them express it via painting. The results can be a very beneficial and a deeply transformative experience for adults.

With each painting, the children create a title and text that are exhibited with the painting.

TRANSFORM YOUR ENVIRONMENT WITH A UNIQUE EXHIBITION

Once you experience a Peacepainting exhibition, you will notice that every painting has a certain depth. They are very stimulating in part because they are raw, authentic and easily relatable to individuals and society. They often pin-point good or bad things in a direct and easily-understood way, yet also in a symbolic way.

One does not need to have any understanding of art in order to benefit from the exhibitions. The paintings are made by children who naturally create authentic, relatable and sometimes even very funny messages that are worth listening to. Not only is it very positive for individuals that their messages are valued, it can also be transformative for the person who receives the message.

“Art can have powerful transformative and restorative effects within a society”

Barbara Caldwell, Iowa State Univeristy

Over the years we have had exhibitions in a number of airports, ministries, prime minister’s office (Norway), schools, banks, museums and embassies all over the world. Sometimes our exhibitions consist of a single painting, sometimes they are a collection of paintings from participants all over the world. They have also been used as gifts, e.g. when Aung San Suu Kyi came to Norway to give her Nobel Peace Prize speech in 2012.

Many paintings are also in the homes of the participants. Only the paintings that the participants choose to donate to our organisation are used in exhibitions.

“Art enriches, informs and questions our world”

Dennis Dake, Iowa State Univeristy

These things become particularly powerful when the paintings come from conflicted areas and we know the background of the participants, (e.g. our workshops in North Korea and on the refugee camp for Syrian refugees in Lebanon).

All paintings have the same size and a simple, nordic frame design that can be universally fit to a great variety of paintings and surroundings. The paintings are also accompanied by a title and sometimes a text made by the participant, as well as the participant’s name and country.

Are you interested in having an exhibition? Contact us here.