Project École: Utopian Playground

École des Libellules, Geneva

Sept 2017-Jun 2018

This project was conducted with a class of 7P students (aged 10 - 11) at École Libellules in Vernier and four artists: KimyiBo, Laura Braillard, Jeanne Martin-Taton, Isabella Valenzi Guillia. Through the process of creating an imaginary playground, the students worked together to investigate how the architecture of the playground influences their daily activities in the space. the artists introduced students to the works of artists and architects across the globe, and the community imagined and constructed an alternative playground; opening up a universe of possible activities to animate the space.

Using a map of the school’s playground drawn by the artists as an tool of investigation, the students observed the proground and created elements of a fictional playgroung through writings, collages, and drawings. Students and artists collectively designed posters and printed them via silkscreen at the artists’ printmaking studio, which were installed in locations throughout the playground by the students in the presence of friends and family. Through this project, students learned how to use art as a means to express their potential, as well as the principles and practice of democratic participation.