Today I feel like … Mobiles Museum Dresden

Photos: Anna Aulich, Oliver Killig

How do we want to shape our future? And how can we make this world we live in a better place, from nowhere to now-here. These questions are central (not only, but especially) for children and young people. Utopias are touching on fundamental questions of human thought about the meaning and change of existence. Art, in itself, has always searched for utopias – for the design of the future, the world and inexhaustible spaces of possibility as an alternative to the present. It explores what is conceivable and imaginable beyond the horizons of a society limited by conventions.

During the Children's Biennale, local and international artists transform the Japanese Palace into a fantastic place that encourages visitors to see, hear, feel, participate and discover. Children, families and visitors are invited to immerse themselves in artistic spheres, to become creative themselves and to leave the usually rather passive and contemplative role in the museum. "PLANET UTOPIA" - a colourful revolt of the senses with participatory and immersive experiences - is, like the previous edition "Embracing Nature", dedicated to the maxim of sustainable exhibition practice.

An integral part of the exhibition preparation is the collaboration with an international Children's Advisory Board, in a sense the co-curators of the project. In an open and multi-voiced process that also opens up multi-perspective approaches to utopian thinking in relation to space, time and questions of the present, their perspectives, ideas and visions form the basis of the concept and design of the Children's Biennale. Sense-making, self-efficacy, joy, empathy, respect and energy are at the centre.

“Artist Jeppe Hein started painting blue faces in 20210. Jeppe painted his emotional state in diaries when he was feeling very depressed. Every day since then, he asks himself how he feels and paints a picture. During the corona pandemic, Jeppe painted with an audience in a museum for the first time. Many people felt very lonely and isolated. In addition, everyone was wearing masks, which made it difficult to express and recognize feelings. Jeppe believes that you should show your feelings. We thought about this.
It makes sense to show your feelings, because it’s so boring for everyone to show just blank faces. It’s good to show your feelings, because others can help you if you’re scared, for example. If you’re not feeling so well, others can comfort you, even when you’re sad. But we also think that it can sometimes be dangerous to let your feelings out without thinking, because it can hurt others.
Jeppe wants to show this and wants to let us experience how becoming aware of your feelings can help. Breathing can also help you to focus on them. So, show your feelings and try it out!”
– Children’s Advisory Board, class 4a of the 16th Elementary School in Dresden

Today I feel like … Mobiles Museum Dresden

Photos: Oliver Killig

The Mobile Museum has been on the road in Saxony since 2019 and is a converted city bus that travels to schools that are unable to come to the museum for various reasons. The huge response shows that this is urgently needed and the bus is in constant use between May and October.
The interior of the bus is always very different depending on the artistic position. The offer is always free of charge and is accompanied by two educators who then guide the kids through a workshop in the bus and in the school.
The photos were taken at a primary school in the district of North Saxony.