Creative workshop with Mauro Bergonzoli: 155 children turn their school into a studio

A school day full of colour, ideas and lasting impressions: 155 children from years 1 to 4 at the POLIGENIUS private primary school in Ulm painted, drew and created together with the internationally renowned artist Mauro Bergonzoli at a creative workshop by MBRC THE CHILDREN.

Live session: how lines become figures

The project day began with a live session in the sports hall. Using a projection on a large screen, Mauro Bergonzoli showed how figures emerge from first lines and how an idea turns into art step by step. Franziska Countess Fugger von Babenhausen told the children how Mauro Bergonzoli found his way to art: his talent was recognised by a primary school teacher, and in the workshop of his father, an engraver, he learned precision, a steady hand and clear lines at an early age.

Magic Bunny and Magic Eye

Two motifs are at the heart of his art: the Magic Bunny – standing for imagination, love of animals, positive energy and creative freedom – and the Magic Eye, which stands for perception and imagination. Both motifs inspired the children in their own work.

Classrooms become studios

Afterwards, the classrooms turned into studios: each year group created its own large-format canvas, and sketches on paper were made too. The children painted with acrylic markers, acrylic paints, brushes and coloured pencils provided by Müller and Faber-Castell. The painted canvases are on permanent display in the school corridor – keeping the creative day visible for the whole school community.

“With MBRC THE CHILDREN we want to encourage children to think creatively, to create freely and to believe that their ideas are valuable. Experiences like this strengthen children far beyond the day itself,” says initiator Sven Jacobi.

“A project day like this is something extraordinary in everyday school life. The children were able to express their creativity and experience art first-hand – impressions that will stay with them,” says Heike Niedhammer, head teacher of the POLIGENIUS private primary school in Ulm.

At the end, every child received a Magic Bunny plush toy as a reminder of a day full of creativity. The workshop was made possible by our main partner Müller and by Faber-Castell. Thank you!

Photos: © HankiFilm