ATLANTIS

A combination of myths, contemporary art and spoken word opens up new perspectives in the thinking and doing of children aged 8-12 years. They work together on an art-installation that can be shared with others as a film.

Myths, sagas, fairy tales, science fiction are often about something that people fear, worry about. This kind of rethinking opens doors to awareness and ideas, imagination opens up unexpected possibilities.

Use contemporary art as a visual source of inspiration to stimulate freedom of thought and action. Artists’ materials, techniques and processes are also ways of working that children can use.

In addition to visual art, spoken word is a way to express yourself in words in a free way.

There are all kinds of stories about an underwater city, Atlantis. Suppose it exists somewhere. What is the importance of living in this city if there is room for everyone?

For example: Children are activated by YMP’s spoken word poem Atlantis. Various works of art stimulate the imagination of the children, open questions opens imagination.

With the artworks of Ester Dijkstra you can wonder which figures can live well under water and why. What would the characters be good at? Other figures can also be made from jutted material and old photos.

Which creatures of Jeroen Kuster can be dangerous or maybe a pet?

What can the different types of seaweed in Maidie van de Bos’s work be used for? Whose did the seaweed in Atlantis belong to?

What can you discover in the abstract painting by Edwin Jans?

Steps that helps to create an installation:

1. Experimenting with material
2. Build (in groups) parts of the city of Atlantis
3. Placing works together in a basic installation (eg by artist Katrijn Verstegen).
4. Discuss and conclude together: What is there to see? What stands out? Children tell what they have made.
5. Write spoken word