Mosaic of Marks, Words, Materials Exhibition
REAIE is delighted to be bringing the Exhibition-Atelier, Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material to Australia in 2025! The exhibition, developed by Reggio Children, tells the story of the research conducted in the Infant-Toddler Centres and Preschools of the municipality of Reggio Emilia Italy- on the theme of mark making and drawing.
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The exhibition is a tool for professional learning, research and communication, inviting reflection and action on the role of education and schools and supporting knowledge and understanding of the Reggio Emilia Approach® in Australian contexts.
The exhibition has been shown in Italy, USA, Mexico, Vietnam, Peru and UAE and will be travelling to Singapore and China later this year.
REAIE is bringing the exhibition to South Australia in July 2025! The exhibition will be open over the 2025 REAIE Conference period and into the month of July 2025. It will be the first time the exhibition is shown in Australia, so save the date for this significant opportunity in Adelaide!
This exhibition is supported by the State Library of South Australia, located in Adelaide and will be on display at the Library’s Institute Gallery in July 2025.
We look forward to updating you on other opportunities to encounter the exhibition in different locations in Australia during 2025.
Exhibitions as Places of Democracy: The Piazza of Exchange and Dialogue
Exhibitions like Mosaic of Marks, Words, and Material can be seen as democratic spaces, echoing the metaphor of the piazza—a central gathering place in Italian culture where people meet, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful dialogue. This vision aligns deeply with the Reggio Emilia philosophy, advocating for children’s rights to be seen, heard, and valued as citizens within their communities.
In the context of an exhibition, the piazza becomes a place of intellectual and affective exchange, where diverse voices—children, educators, families, and the broader community—come together to interpret and reflect on children’s work. Educators, children, families and the broader community come together to encounter, interpret and marvel at children’s work, contributing to the collective understanding of childhood and learning.
Championing the Rights of Children
The piazza metaphor makes visible the Reggio Emilia principle that children are active participants in society, capable of making meaningful contributions. Exhibitions bring children’s processes of thinking and creativity into public view, asserting their rights to express themselves, to be visible, and to be understood as constructors of knowledge. These spaces honour children’s expressions, theories and ideas and challenge societal perceptions, advocating for their role as contributors to the cultural and social fabric.
A Meeting Place of Perspectives
The piazza-like quality of exhibitions fosters an exchange of perspectives across generations and roles:
- Families are invited to encounter the richness of their children’s experience in new ways, sparking opportunities for dialogue about children’s learning processes.
- Educators find professional reflection and dialogue opportunities, deepening their understandings of children’s thinking.
- Communities gain insight into the value of early childhood education and the importance of empowering environments where children can thrive through the hundred languages of learning.
A Catalyst for Advocacy
By positioning children’s work in a shared, public space, exhibitions advocate for a broader cultural acknowledgment of children’s rights. They become catalysts for ongoing dialogue about the role of education, the visibility of childhood, and the responsibilities of society in nurturing and respecting the youngest citizens.
Reflective Questions for Practice
- How can exhibitions function as spaces that amplify children’s rights to participation and expression?
- What steps can we take to create more opportunities for exchange, dialogue and advocacy within our educational settings?
- In what ways can exhibitions help foster a deeper cultural understanding of children’s contributions to society?
