Exhibition offers nostalgic trip to childhood

Promising to take viewers on a nostalgic trip to their childhood days, an ongoing exhibition has on display life-size sculptures of children engrossed in acts typical of this opening phase of any person's life.
Titled "Potraits of Childhood," the exhibition by Delhi- based French contemporary artist Christine Margotin showcases nine life-size sculptures of children, while exploring the concept of childhood and examining what characterises this stage of life.
"This exhibition is an invitation for people to reconnect with the child in them. I have seen people coming to my exhibition and leaving with a large smile- probably because it brings back nice memories from their childhood," Margotin says.

The works on view at the India International Centre's Annual festival, "The IIC Experience - A Festival of the Arts," here at the cultural institution itself, articulates a journey from "difficult to ideal childhood."
Among the nine sculptures on display, eight are made in bronze with a colour patina, showing examples of an ideal childhood, and the one in fibre glass, titled "Little Street Acrobat" presents an example of a tough childhood.
Some depict children in different moods and at play- while some are shown playing with a balloon, skipping rope, hopscotch, splashing in a puddle of water and blowing bubbles; others showcase typical experiences of childhood such as savouring an ice cream, throwing a tantrum and feeling dazed after waking up from a nap.

"Through these artworks I wanted the viewers to recollect that childhood is this wonderful period when one learns and grows through play, when one lives for the moment," Margotin says.

Another issue that the sculptor wishes to address through this body of her work is increasing child abuse across the globe.
"Children all across the world are abused by others. In Africa they are sent to war, in many other places they are made to work as labour when they should be studying or playing and of course there is sexual abuse. It is a reminder that we have to let them grow and blossom," she says.

Both the exhibition and the festival which began here on October 30, are set to continue till November 4.