At the Korea Culture Centre Nigeria (KCCN), forty students from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) engaged in innovative artistic experiences centered around ‘play,’ including activities like drawing and movement exploration.
Guided by Korean artists Jung-won Ye, a visual artist, and Jin-ju Kang, a dancer, and supported by KCCN alongside the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service, the workshop titled ‘Encountering Art: Ways of Seeing’ invited children aged 6 to 14 from LEA Primary School, Suka, AMAC, and Greater Seed Richmaris Academy to participate in a four-hour creative journey. This immersive session aimed to deepen their perceptual skills and creative processes through playful art exercises.
During the initial two hours with Ye, the children engaged in traditional Korean games such as the superhero game, where participants express their unique abilities, and ‘Don-gas,’ a variation of hopscotch that challenges players to block opponents’ movements while avoiding contact. The session culminated with an eraser-skipping game, where teams flicked erasers across blank sheets of paper, then traced lines from the starting point to where the eraser landed. The children then identified and colored new shapes or objects emerging from the collective patterns.
Kang’s segment opened with a brief contemporary dance performance, offering the children insight into her artistic expression. She then deconstructed her creative approach using the Korean Hangeul alphabet, encouraging the children to form letters with their bodies before transcribing them onto paper. These words were translated into English, rewritten in elegant calligraphy, and arranged into visually appealing collages affixed to paper. Additionally, the children analyzed images of people to interpret emotions and sketched the movements of plants, fostering observational skills.
What significance do these activities hold, and how did they influence the young participants?
The foundation lies in the concept of ‘play.’ Play transcends mere activity; it is an enjoyable experience. While adults often engage in play by choice, children in group settings like this workshop experience guided play, which operates within defined boundaries and emphasizes the process over the final result. Play stimulates imagination, engagement, and a focused yet relaxed mindset.
Why is play essential across all ages?
“Everyone engages in play,” Ye explained. “Whether it’s washing dishes, dancing, or casually doodling, play is universal. In Korea, we say, ‘If you play well, you live well.’ Integrating art and enjoyment enriches life for everyone.”
Beyond creating joyful memories, these activities unlock fresh perspectives in the children’s minds.
“Today, the children flicked erasers in a way that might seem ordinary, but it planted a seed in their minds. Later, they might recall, ‘I loved flicking erasers with the teacher.’ Typically, erasers are for correction, but here, they became tools for play and creation, which is a novel experience for them,” Ye noted.
Kang views dance and movement as universally relatable forms of play that transcend language barriers and foster connection.
As a professional dancer, Kang shared that she once lost the initial joy dance brought her while pursuing technical mastery. Reflecting on this, she realized that the original pleasure was what sustained her passion. She now strives to reintroduce that sense of delight into her teaching, encouraging others to experience dance as playful expression.
“Today, I see dance everywhere-in the way people walk, how plants sway. Expanding this perspective helps everyone relate to movement. Dance becomes a language that connects us, whether with children, elders, or across cultural divides, as we did despite language differences,” Kang said.
“I believe everything is interconnected-thoughts, movements, imagination. It begins with envisioning, then recording on paper, and finally expressing through the body.”
“Even though perceptions vary and I may be seen as an outsider, we found common ground and communicated. The key is to embrace new experiences, seek connection, and build from there,” she added.
Once connections form, the boundaries of play can dissolve, leading to unexpected and delightful moments, as Ye observed.
For example, one group of children chose to flick their erasers simultaneously rather than taking turns, defying the game’s rules. Ye welcomed this deviation, recognizing it as a form of artistic expression and enjoyment.
Similarly, another group engaged in an impromptu game of capturing ‘fine dust’ particles visible in beams of light, turning a simple observation into creative play.
“I set guidelines, but they broke them-and I appreciated that. It inspires me to incorporate such spontaneity into my work back home. These moments reveal new possibilities for artistic innovation, much like the collaborative workshops with children in Korea that blend diverse ideas,” Ye reflected.
For both Ye and Kang, collaborating with Nigerian children was a fulfilling aspiration they hope to revisit.
“Through art, we’ve opened doors for each other, even in a brief time. I hope the children leave with a lasting love for the arts and that today’s experience supports their future growth,” Kang expressed.
Though their artistic paths differ, the Korea Culture Centre facilitated their meeting in 2024, sparking a partnership that has since extended to projects in Mexico, Argentina, Abu Dhabi, and now Nigeria.
“Our collaboration is unique and more meaningful than solo projects I’ve done with organizations like KOICA. I hope the Nigerian government partners with the Korea Culture Centre to extend our visits-perhaps for a month. We are eager to return,” Ye affirmed.
