How do children see the world? How does the world see children? Growing up somewhere means developing within a particular geographical, historical and social context that profoundly shapes who people become. From early childhood through adolescence and until they reach adulthood, children undergo a wide variety of experiences that shape how they see the world and how they socialize. The very concept of childhood is constantly evolving: attitudes toward children are changing and becoming politicized, particularly through the lens of efforts to combat violence against children. Since 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CIDE) has recognized children’s specific needs and championed their best interests. Yet the effective implementation of their rights remains far from guaranteed, and defending them, in France and internationally, is a major challenge for the world of tomorrow. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey across several continents, offering a range of artistic, photographic and historical perspectives on childhood, its material world and its imagined worlds. What do objects tell us about the world in which children grow up? In his series Mes Jouets préférés, Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti presents a gallery of portraits of children posing with their most treasured possessions. Begun in 2009 and published in France by les Grandes Personnes, his work is the result of a long-term research project across several countries, bearing witness to the diversity of childhood experiences. The material world of childhood is also explored through a temporary collection assembled by associations based in Nantes that are partners of Cosmopolis. Whether connected to school, food or particular rituals, these childhood objects reveal distinctive cultural characteristics and resonate with one another. The exhibition places the challenge of implementing children’s rights in context through several perspectives: Les droits de l’enfant, un combat majeur – a project by Amnesty International, illustrated by Anna Wanda Gogusey – is aimed at younger audiences and echoes the educational approach presented by the Pôle Enjeu[x] Enfance et Jeunesse de l’Université d’Angers, Promenons-nous dans les droits : l’enfant et ses droits d’hier à aujourd’hui. Finally, visitors are invited to discover the project Déflagrations, Dessins d’enfants et violences de masse, curated by Zérane Girardeau. The children’s drawings on display, drawn in particular from archives and non-governmental organizations, are placed in context by artists and researchers. In a sensitive and powerful way, they draw attention to what children may be forced to endure when growing up amid adults’ wars. The exhibition is accompanied by a program of events offering different perspectives on childhood (talks, tours, screenings and workshops…), as well as a reading and play area open to everyone. The full program is available at cosmopolis.nantes.fr How do children see the world? How does the world see children? Growing up somewhere means developing within a particular geographical, historical and social context that profoundly shapes who people become. From early childhood through adolescence and until they reach adulthood, children undergo a wide variety of experiences that shape how they see the world and how they socialize. The very concept of childhood is constantly evolving: attitudes toward children are changing and becoming politicized, particularly through the lens of efforts to combat violence against children. Since 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CIDE) has recognized children’s specific needs and championed their best interests. Yet the effective implementation of their rights remains far from guaranteed, and defending them, in France and internationally, is a major challenge for the world of tomorrow. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey across several continents, offering a range of artistic, photographic and historical perspectives on childhood, its material world and its imagined worlds. What do objects tell us about the world in which children grow up? In his series Mes Jouets préférés , Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti presents a gallery of portraits of children posing with their most treasured possessions. Begun in 2009 and published in France by les Grandes Personnes, his work is the result of a long-term research project across several countries, bearing witness to the diversity of childhood experiences. The material world of childhood is also explored through a temporary collection assembled by associations based in Nantes that are partners of Cosmopolis. Whether connected to school, food or particular rituals, these childhood objects reveal distinctive cultural characteristics and resonate with one another. The exhibition places the challenge of implementing children’s rights in context through several perspectives: Les droits de l’enfant, un combat majeur – a project by Amnesty International, illustrated by Anna Wanda Gogusey – is aimed at younger audiences and echoes the educational approach presented by the Pôle Enjeu[x] Enfance et Jeunesse de l’Université d’Angers, Promenons-nous dans les droits : l’enfant et ses droits d’hier à aujourd’hui. Finally, visitors are invited to discover the project Déflagrations, Dessins d’enfants et violences de masse , curated by Zérane Girardeau. The children’s drawings on display, drawn in particular from archives and non-governmental organizations, are placed in context by artists and researchers. In a sensitive and powerful way, they draw attention to what children may be forced to endure when growing up amid adults’ wars. The exhibition is accompanied by a program of events offering different perspectives on childhood (talks, tours, screenings and workshops…), as well as a reading and play area open to everyone. The full program is available at cosmopolis.nantes.fr
Source: Nantes Métropole