‘What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?’ (Elvis Costello)

Our Co-Researcher and Fine Art Student Samatha Chang tells us about this special project

In the Summer Term (2024), myself and a team of Fine Art students from the Art Department  had the privilege to join pupils from St John’s Primary School, Reading to engage with some artwork. This was done in collaboration with Reading University’s ArtLab, our mission was to hold a peace parade.  

We first started by meeting online with four Year 6 pupils, discussing what peace means to us. Through sharing personal stories through an open conversation, we were struck by the nuanced and contrasting ideas of what different generations hold about the word peace. As an international student moving from Hong Kong to the UK, peace was a very complicated conversation for me to have with them.  

I had to speak on the human rights issues permeating in my home city. And I was initially hesitant about how to approach the sensitive topics with the young participants. But the bright minds of the students quickly challenged my preconceptions. And through our collaborative discussions, I was able to look at the concept of peace from a fresh perspective. While the world today seems to have an uneasy relationship with the word, the young students approached it with a refreshing openness. 

As we worked side-by-side with the children on the Universities London Road campus, each of us were allocated six 10-11 year old students. Supporting them in creating their own peace-themed posters. These young artists tackled complex social issues, such as LGBTQ rights, race, and war. Topics that we had thought were uneasy and too complex to explore. But their openness and perspectives reminded us that even the smallest voices have an important place in society.

Our collaborative process encouraged the students to portray these themes as positive and uplifting sentiments. But the experience was truly a two-way street. As much as we guided and supported the children, they also brought their perspectives and ideas to the table.

The Peace Parade, truly was a cross-generational exchange. As we worked together to create posters that celebrated diversity, and inclusion. It has left a lasting impact on me as an art student and as an individual. This was my first few experiences in collaborating with younger pupils. There was a student who required additional teaching assistance, but through open conversations and engaging with him at his level. I was able to see him truly enjoy the creation and parade! A teacher later approached me to share that she had never seen the student so focused and patient. I think it was the collaborative nature of our work that had allowed him to have a voice and a peace of mind.

The workshop concluded with a small parade around the campus.

As we marched up and down the corridors, their collective voices filled the air, spreading their messages of unity, inclusion, and hope throughout the classrooms. Seeing their colourful placards and hearing their enthusiastic chants warmed my heart and reminded me of the profound impact that art and youth activism can have. Despite complex global challenges, these students demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating positive change.