WORLD BOYS & GIRLS ART EXHIBITION
A Better World,
Through Their Eyes
33 countries • 100+ young artists • One shared dream of peace
An extraordinary collection of children’s dreams, hopes and visions of peace – expressed through art. An exhibition of children’s views of friendship, peace and humanity.
Where Every Child
Painted a Better World
In 2004, Dubai became home to a remarkable celebration of children’s creativity and hope.
The World Boys and Girls Art Exhibition brought together artworks by children from around the world, creating a space where differences in culture, language and geography gave way to something universal: the desire for friendship, harmony and a peaceful future. Rooted in SGI’s commitment to peace and education, the exhibition invited children to speak in the language they knew best – imagination.
A better world begins with how we see it.
2004
Dubai
33
Countries
100+
Artworks
2,799
Visitors
650+
Students
THE HEART BEHIND THE ART
Five Ways of Seeing
a Better World
The exhibition was guided by the theme HEART – a simple framework through which children and visitors could explore the values behind the artworks.
H
Hope
E
Enjoy
A
Appreciate
R
Realize
T
Try
THE MAIN EVENT
147 Countries.
One Canvas of Humanity.
The exhibition was guided by the theme HEART – a simple framework through which children and visitors could explore the values behind the artworks.
The Undersea City
Uruguay
Boy, 13
Picnic
Iran
Girl
Dream
Maldova
Girl, 13
Sun and Whales
Tonga
Boy
Watermelon
Japan
Girl, 12
Mountain, Sun and Valley
Mexico
Girl, 14
THE EXHIBITION IN DUBAI
From Around the World to Dubai
From Paintings on Paper to a Living Experience
The exhibition transformed Dubai Shopping Centre into a meeting place for children, families, educators and the wider community.
Over ten days, visitors encountered the artworks, participated in the experience and engaged with the larger ideas of peace, friendship and coexistence. The source material describes school groups, educators, officials, families and international visitors among the audiences.
- 10 days
- 2,799 visitors
- 650+ students
VOICES FROM THE EXHIBITION
What Happened When Children Saw the World
Through Other Children's Eyes
The exhibition transformed Dubai Shopping Centre into a meeting place for children, families, educators and the wider community.
Over ten days, visitors encountered the artworks, participated in the experience and engaged with the larger ideas of peace, friendship and coexistence. The source material describes school groups, educators, officials, families and international visitors among the audiences.
The paintings encouraged me very much. Now I can’t wait to go home and start painting.
Farah, 11
These are excellent paintings by my age children. I want to learn to draw like this.
Himansh, Visitor
The Exhibition Ended.
The Idea Didn't.
The exhibition showed what can happen when children are given a space to express their hopes for the world. Its spirit continued through conversations, school initiatives and subsequent SGI Gulf programmes that explored peace, education, culture and human possibility.
Then a strong closing line:
When children imagine peace, the world should listen.