In prehistoric times, signs and images painted on the walls of caves were one of the first attempts made by man to communicate. Likewise, a child uses lines and forms to transcribe his impression of the world around him. The exhibition of children’s art works, which concluded on Tuesday at the Gallery Artists’ Guild, was one such attempt to help capture the child’s world of imagination.

The exhibition showcased the innovative works of 46 students of the Guild’s art class. Devoid of experimentation in medium, texture or form, as is common in any art exhibition, this show delves into the purest and most natural form of art originating in a child’s mind. As expected in any children’s exhibition, the walls are replete with landscapes, which present a very interesting insight into child psychology.

The paintings were drawn from the subjective world of their existence. Mountains, thatched houses, trees, birds and human figures encompass their compositions. The flights of fantasy that originate from listening to fairy tales help them personify the elements of nature, like for instance the sun has been depicted as a human with eyes and nose.

The lines or forms may look like an amateur’s work, but closer observation presents them as confident and bold.

The children seem to have a meaningful interpretation of what they paint. Children vent their emotions in these paintings without any restraint or inhibition.

But landscapes were not the only subjects of their paintings. There were a few collages that proved the creativity of these young minds in assembling bits of paper into meaningful forms. At times, it appeared in the form of a human face or as flower vases or a beautiful bunch of flowers in bloom. The uniform arrangement of bits of paper portray some of the first signs of some growing sensibility.

The exhibition was reminiscent of my own childhood, the footloose and fancy-free days when Nature had been my best friend and art my favourite medium of expression.