I went into the project with TUA at the DSFI conference thinking I was there to document children making art. I left feeling like they had taught me things about making art, about seeing, and even about myself.
For 2 days, we created a space for children with Down’s syndrome to make art with no instructions on what they should or shouldn’t do. There was no expectation that they should create something “beautiful”, but the result was indeed, so very beautiful.
We gave them a few crayons and paper… and then we watched.
There were colours, lines, scribbles and patterns that came together in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Some kids filled page after page with art, and some put in all their thoughts onto a single shape. Each child had their own way of expressing.
One moment stayed with me.
A child asked me for an eraser and my first instinct was to reach out for one. And then I realised that we didn’t have any. That was intentional. Shweta, who had very thoughtfully designed the space, told the child that there was no need for an eraser because there are no mistakes in art.
It was such a simple statement, but it made me pause and think.
As an artist, I realised how much of my own relationship with art has been shaped by the instinct to fix and make my art look as perfect as possible. We are conditioned to make art look “perfect”, to fix the so-called mistakes.
Somewhere along the way, we apply the same thinking to ourselves. We become uncomfortable with imperfections, the very thing that makes us who we are.
Watching the children create made me realise that I need to unlearn some of this conditioning too.
Art doesn’t need to be fixed; it needs to be seen.
Over the two days, I also had the opportunity to interact with some of the parents. There were moments when parents would look at their child’s artwork and compare it with another child’s. I found myself telling them that your child’s art doesn’t need to look a certain way for it to be special.
One of my favourite things to witness was a child drawing with both hands. I remember being so fascinated. And there were so any moments like this — small, seemingly ordinary moments that made me stop and look a little longer, feeling so impressed.
The children weren’t trying to make art that was impressive. They were simply making art. And that’s what made it so inspiring.
At the end of the 2 days, we created an installation where the families were invited to come and see what their children had created. The room was filled with their work.
I watched the pride on their faces. There was something deeply moving about seeing parents approach their children’s work not through comparison, not as something to be judged, but simply as something to celebrate.
The children had been given the freedom to make art, and their families were given the opportunity to see the art for what it was – honest, unique, and beautiful.
This project reminded me that art doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful, and neither do we.
- Riyana Rasheed
Riyana Rasheed, is our valuable team member, in this blog she recounts her experience documenting the two art sessions, and exhibition, that we organised during the 10th India International Down Syndrome Conference by DSFI!