What Peace Looks Like 🕊️
What does peace look like to you?
This week, we're taking inspiration from the International Day of Peace, marked around the world on 21 September. It encourages us to think about peace across the world, but peace can also be much closer to home — in our communities, our relationships and the quieter moments of everyday life.
Peace can mean different things to different people. It might be a world without war or conflict, feeling safe and accepted, people treating each other with kindness, spending time with friends, or simply finding somewhere you can sit quietly and feel calm.
Artists have explored ideas of peace in many different ways.
One of the most familiar symbols is the white dove. Artist Pablo Picasso lived through periods of enormous conflict, including the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War, and war and peace became important themes in his work.
In 1949, Picasso's realistic lithograph of a white dove was chosen for the poster of the Paris Peace Congress. He continued to return to the dove throughout his life, eventually creating very simple versions using only a few flowing lines. His doves became internationally recognised images of peace.
Other artists have looked directly at conflict and asked whether something destructive can be transformed into something positive.
Mexican artist Pedro Reyes did exactly that with Palas por Pistolas (Shovels for Guns). A total of 1,527 firearms were melted down and transformed into 1,527 shovels, which were then used for planting trees. In another project, Disarm, destroyed weapons were turned into musical instruments.
His work offers another way of thinking about peace — not simply as the absence of conflict, but as something people can create, rebuild and work toward.
But your artwork doesn't have to tackle world peace.
You might find peace beside a still lake, walking through woodland, sitting on a beach or spending time somewhere you feel safe. Perhaps peace means friendship, kindness, helping somebody, people coming together or simply having a quiet moment to yourself.
This week, explore What Peace Looks Like in whatever way feels right for you.
🎨 Symbols of peace — explore a dove, olive branch, peace sign, hearts, flowers or another symbol that represents peace to you.
🎨 Keep it simple — inspired by Picasso's doves, try creating something using only a few lines. How much can you leave out and still recognise what it is?
🎨 Transforming conflict — inspired by Pedro Reyes, imagine turning something connected with conflict, anger or sadness into something positive.
🎨 Together — explore friendship, joined hands, different people coming together, helping or supporting one another.
🎨 A peaceful world — imagine what a world where people live peacefully together might look like.
🎨 My peaceful place — capture somewhere that gives you a feeling of peace, whether it's real or imagined.
🎨 Free choice — show us what peace looks like to you, in your own way.
There is no single picture of peace. It might be a dove, a flower, a landscape, a group of people or something completely personal to you.
We can't wait to see what peace inspires you to create.
Join us online on Wednesday 23 September, 7:30–9:00 pm (UK time).
Use the link below and press All4Art
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