New Worlds to Imagine (upper)

Focus areas

• Geography
• Civics
• History
• Art and image

Activities

During the exhibition visit, the arts tutors will help the children find out about the work of Yukinori Yanagi (b. 1959, Fukuoka, Japan; lives and works in Momoshima, Japan). Through his art, the Japanese artist explores the idea of how travel and the crossing of borders are a constant aspect of each individual’s search for identity. Starting from artworks that depict geographical maps and national flags in entirely unexpected ways, the children will see how even the most seemingly immutable symbols of national identity can, in fact, change over time. They will observe how we are all inevitably interconnected—both with one another and with the planet we share.

In the workshop session, inspired by Yanagi’s works and a closer look at the history and design of flags, the children will be invited to imagine a new world—one that reflects their personal identities and the connections that unite them. Here they will invent stories about new territories, creating imaginary landscapes and cultures. They will also design a map with new borders, bringing to life a world rich in stories and meanings.