Children make works of art from colourful monsters
27.08.2014
Helsinki second-graders created game buddies for the Kiasma museum monster at an art workshop designed by art education students. The creations are hung at one end of Kiasma.
Kansalaistori Square, which is located between Kiasma and the Helsinki Music Centre, is filled with colour despite the cloudy day. The art excursion of second-graders has attracted some 3 900 students together with their teachers. The game themed day includes an art workshop arranged by Kiasma and art education students, and a gaming music concert by the Helsinki City Orchestra at the Helsinki Music Centre.
However the first thing to be done is game buddies for the Kiasma monster. On different-coloured fabrics, all kinds of figures are drawn: round, triangular and rectangular in form, one-eyed, sharp-toothed and horned, people and animals.
Children have designed game buddies in advance in their own school. The drafts produced earlier act as models for crafts. A completed character is attached by straps to the class common cord, which the Kiasma personnel hang up to the north end of the museum. Together the cords form a colourful work of art, a large band of buddies.
’In the implementation I had to take into account the huge number of students in relation to the fact that everyone should be able to create something significant of their own,’ says second-year art education student Kaisa Sjövall.
This year, the art excursion was preceded by guided tours, which were organised last spring in Kiasma. One-third of the school children taking part in the art excursion trip participated in the game-play monster tours led by students.
Opportunity to become acquainted with the daily work of the museum
The art excursion has been organised in cooperation between Kiasma and Aalto ARTS since 2012, when the first excursion day was organised.
‘We have wanted to offer art education students the opportunity to share in the organisation of a mass event. As an art institution, we also want to get fresh ideas and perspectives from students in the field. Working with the students from Aalto ARTS has always been truly fruitful,’ says Kiasma Producer Maria Rantamaula.
‘The nicest part has been the guided tours held for children, participation in the activities at Kiasma and meeting people working there. Nothing has felt overwhelming, but suitably challenging,’ is how second-year art education student Annika Sohlman describes her experiences.
The art excursion of second-graders is a part of the Helsinki Festival programme, and its implementation has involved the City of Helsinki Education Department, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Helsinki Music Centre as well as the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. The work carried out in the art workshop is on display at the north end of Kiasma until 7 September.
Text and picture: Noora Happonen