Innocence, Expression, and Global Unity Through Art
The Heart of Peace through the Eyes of Children
Overview
The World Boys and Girls Art Exhibition, hosted in Dubai in 2004, was a landmark cultural event that brought together over 100 artworks created by children from 33 countries. Held at Dubai Shopping Centre, this exhibition was more than a display—it was a dialogue of colors, dreams, and hope voiced through young hearts. Rooted in the SGI movement’s commitment to peace and education, this initiative served as a platform for children to speak out on universal themes of friendship, coexistence, and a hopeful future.
Date: 23rd October – 2nd November 2004
Visitors: 2,799
Participating Countries: 33
Student Participation: Over 650 students from 12 schools
Venue: Dubai Shopping Centre
HEART
Hope: Paintings that radiate dreams of a peaceful tomorrow.
Enjoy: Works that overflow with the unfiltered joy of creation.
Appreciate Appreciate: Art that celebrates everyday beauty and cultural identity.
Realize Realizations of a child's role in building peace and harmony.
Try: Artworks urging viewers to take initiative, to create and share.
This structure provided a spiritual and educational lens through which visitors could experience the diversity of expression while seeing the common humanity of all children.
The Artworks –
Global Expressions of Youth
- Art Showcase: Each painting reflected the distinct worldview of its creator, whether a child from conflictaffected regions like Iraq or peaceful landscapes of Japan. The artworks encompassed a range of themes— from environmental preservation to dreams of harmony among nations.
- Highlight Pieces: “Our Home” (Palestine): A heartfelt depiction of love and resilience. – “Hippo” (USA): A gentle giant portrayed in vivid hues. – “Smiling World” (Japan): Radiant smiles across continents. – “The Dancing Flowers” (India): Symbolizing joy and spiritual blossoming.
- Gallery Features: Zoom-in panels for each artwork with age, country, title, and artist’s note. – Sortable by country, age group, and theme.
- Artwork Statistics: Total pieces displayed: 112 – Art formats: Paint, crayon, watercolors, ink – Average artist age: 9.5 years
Dubai Exhibition Highlights
- Event Overview: The exhibition ran for 10 days and was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by educational and civic leaders. The venue, Dubai Shopping Centre, became a hub of learning and interaction for the city’s families, students, and tourists.
- Visitor Profile: 30% school groups – 40% public walk-ins – 20% educators & officials – 10% tourists and international guests
- Participating Schools: Dubai Modern High School – Gulf Indian High School – The Millennium School – DPS (Boys & Girls) – Regent School – Ambassador Kindergarten
- Special Guests: Mr. Saeed Bin Suloom (CEO, Dubai Humanitarian City) – Mr. Ahmed Bin Al Sheikh (Managing Partner, Dubai Shopping Centre) – Delegations from SGI India, Qatar, and Kuwait
Reflections & Testimonials
"What moved me most was seeing how a poem can change a room. The energy was electric."
Youth Participant
The Poetic Heart
"The Seeds of Change gave us a new lens to understand sustainability - one rooted in compassion."
Emirates International School
Teacher
"When Betty Williams spoke to our students, they saw what peace looks like in action."
Event Coordinator
Knowledge Village
Organizing the Magic
- The Process: – Planning Meetings: 9 official meetings held between July – October 2004 – Teams Formed: Artwork Selection, Media/Publicity, Logistics, Hospitality, Visitor Management – Support Received From: SGI members, educators, mall staff, media volunteers
- Key Milestones: – Proposal approval: July 15 – Venue partnership confirmation: Aug 10 – Artwork shipment received: Sept 25 – Final layout setup: Oct 22
- Behind-the-Scenes Insights:
“We created something far bigger than we imagined. It was youth, peace, art—alive!” – Exhibition Volunteer
Legacy & Continuing Impact
- Long-Term Outcomes: Sparked formation of school art clubs and eco-awareness projects – Inspired SGI Gulf’s future exhibitions like “Seeds of Change” – Recognized by regional educational forums as a model art initiative
- What’s Next? While this was a one-time global art celebration, its spirit lives on in every child who picked up a brush afterward, and every teacher who now sees art as peace-building.