‘Every child is an artists.The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up’, said the great Picasso. From an early age, children express their experience and emotions in various creative ways, and the world of art becomes a real adventure.

‘Plakat kao Vid Dečjeg Izraza’ project by Ljubica Tankosić proves it. The basic idea of the project, which received funds in the public call to local artists within the ‘Artists. Now!’ project, is the development of children’s art, their introduction to the poster as a type of visual communication and introduction to pre-graphic and graphic printing and printing techniques, adjusted to their age.

The workshops will be implemented in the Mlin Cultural Station from 27 July to 29 July from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

‘The aim is to encourage the development of mental, research and experimental functions in children through various graphic techniques, which children will go through, but also through play and in an interesting way. It is expected that children will adopt new knowledge and values, that they will connect with culture and cultural institutions, and that they will continue to try to develop imagination through play and art, because it is the key to all future occupations’, points out Ljubica Tankosić, the author of the project.

The workshops are intended for children of preschool and primary school age, and it is planned for children to go through several graphic techniques such as cardboard printing, monotyping, engravings, linocuts, of course depending on the age of the child. They will get acquainted with the meaning of a poster and its features, but also with the methodology of creating a graphic sheet during the first lesson. Furthermore, children will have the opportunity to work on the printing press, to create their first original prints, and to feel the joy provided by the mystery of picking up paper from the stencil during the workshop.

Ljubica Tankosić points out that children are extremely interested in all graphic techniques. According to her, the work on graphics is very dynamic because it implies working with different materials, and children can cut, tear, glue, engrave and make combinations of materials, just like serious artists.

‘They are also interested in the density of graphic colour, the possibility of mixing colours and getting new shades, as well as work on the graphic press, although the press itself is not a prerequisite to get a graphic sheet, at least as far as graphics are concerned, while working with children. The graphics are somehow always new and attractive. However, it is poorly represented in preschools and primary schools, and even poorly worked in art studios and workshops for children, which is a pity, because children use various materials and art elements to develop perception, imagination and creative thinking. It steppes away from the standard approach to solving problems; motor and graphomotor abilities are developed,’ says Ljubica and adds that such projects are extremely important because children get used to attending cultural events from an early age.

‘Children become consumers of art. I am also looking forward to the newly opened Novi Sad Children’s Cultural Centre, i.e. the Mlin Cultural Station, which has a long tradition of not only art education and exhibition activities, but also develops and nurtures a love for music, acting, film and theatre in early age. Certainly, programmes like this should be nurtured and supported, because they greatly contribute to the development of a child’s personality.’

The final result of the workshops is an exhibition that visitors will be able to see until 20 August, during the working hours of the Mlin (Radnička Street no. 20).

This ‘Plakat kao Vid Dečjeg Izraza’ project is one of 22 projects that received funding in the ‘Artists. Now!’ public call of the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation that aims to strengthen the Novi Sad cultural scene through a network of cultural stations, raising its capacities, decentralisation of culture and audience development.

Partner in the ‘Artists. Now!’ project is Mercator S.

Photo Credit: V. Veličković