Peace Education Through Children's Art: Co-Drawing Peace Exhibition Review

“Every painting is a star. When they come together, they illuminate our shared future.”

The light created by children’s drawings travels through time, revealing the most authentic expressions of life. Through this children's peace art exhibition, young artists use colors and imagination to express their understanding of peace, hope, and the future.

In the autumn of 2025, along the banks of the Suzhou River, a gentle breeze once again swept through Shanghai’s historic landscape.“Co-Drawing Peace: The Light of Life Through Children’s Eyes” opened at the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse War Memorial Museum.Co-organized by Viva la Vida (VIVA), the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse War Memorial Museum, and the Shanghai Xia Zhengnong Ethnic Culture and Education Development Foundation， the exhibition revisits memories of war through the perspective of children. Within a site marked by profound historical scars, it constructs a cross-generational dialogue about peace.

Event theme banner for the “Co-Drawing Peace” exhibition

Over the course of one month, the exhibition welcomed more than 3,000 visitors and received coverage from multiple official media and institutional platforms, including the People’s Government of Jing’an District, Shanghai, Sihang Xiaowei, Bailian Group, and the Xia Zhengnong Foundation.When children’s artworks are seen not only by families but also by the broader public and media, the idea of peace extends beyond the exhibition space—resonating deeply within society.

“Co-Drawing Peace: The Light of Life Through Children’s Eyes”

Children’s Peace Art Exhibition Opens in Jing’an, Shanghai

This reflection is not merely the conclusion of an exhibition, but a continuation of collective memory—showing how children use drawing to build a bridge of light between adults and children, between history and the future.

The Image of Peace

On September 21, 2025, the exhibition officially opened at the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse War Memorial Museum.Innocent brushstrokes and the weight of history came together in the same space, offering a powerful interpretation of the message: “Remember history and cherish peace.”

At the opening ceremony, representatives from the three organizing partners shared their shared commitment:

Lv Xiaoning, Founder of VIVA，said:“Everyone is an artist of life. We hope children’s voices and expressions are truly seen and respected，and that peace returns to everyday life—in every act of listening and every moment of being present with one another.

A representative from Shanghai Sihang Warehouse Co., Ltd. stated:“The Sihang Warehouse is not only a carrier of historical memory, but also a space for cultural dialogue. Hosting a children’s peace art exhibition here creates a meaningful bridge across time.”

A representative from the Xia Zhengnong Foundation emphasized:“Listening to children through art is an important way to fulfill our cultural mission and advance peace education.”

Here, peace is no longer merely a historical footnote or a narrative told by adults. Instead, it is gently carried by children and allowed to grow again within a space that once bore the weight of history.

Visitors at the “Co-Drawing Peace” art exhibition

A Starry River of Children’s Art:

A Vision of Peace Created Through Children’s Voices

The exhibition featured 260 artworks created by children from multiple countries and regions, presenting a diverse vision of peace through children's art.Organized into four thematic sections,it presents a diverse and vibrant vision of peace.

Exhibition displays featuring children’s artwork

Whispers of the Stars, Wishes of the Heart

Children with autism create inner worlds through their unique ways of perceiving and expressing themselves through color. Their artworks are not expressions of symptoms, but spiritual landscapes that transcend language.

Growing Toward the Sun

Children from regions affected by conflict, disasters, and poverty declare through resilient brushstrokes: “I am still here.”Their works are flames in darkness and flowers growing through cracks.These artworks show how children's art can become a symbol of resilience and hope.

Where Does the Heart Belong?

Left-behind children express their longing for family and belonging through delicate imagery—empty chairs, distant gazes, and a quiet search for home.

The World Through Children’s Eyes

Children document everyday moments with an unfiltered innocence, reminding us that childhood should be a natural gift, not a journey that requires overcoming countless hardships to survive.

Children viewing artwork at the exhibition

During the exhibition, VIVA hosted six “Life Portrait” workshops, engaging more than 90 parent-child groups from across China and co-creating nearly 70 artworks infused with personal reflection and emotional depth.Each brushstroke becomes a child’s personal and tangible response to the meaning of peace.

Workshop Moments:

Life Portraits Blooming at the Tip of the Brush

In VIVA’s “Co-Drawing Light” workshops, we were no longer teachers, but listeners and witnesses.Children’s drawing boards became clear mirrors reflecting their inner worlds.

▲ One child painted the national flag of China. when three six- or seven-year-old children who did not know each other independently drew the national flag on their papers, a simple truth emerged:“being born in a country free from war” is itself the foundation of peace.The red of the flag carries both safety and pride.

▲ A 12-year-old boy created a vast cosmic world. At its center was a glowing book, with his self-portrait embedded within its pages. He wrote beside it: “In the darkness, books are a gift from the world, allowing me to open my eyes even in moments of despair.”This reveals how knowledge can become an anchor in confusion—and a light that pierces through inner darkness.

▲ A girl who admires singer Shen Zhou drew her idol guiding her forward. Her mother quietly said:“If she likes it, I’m happy to support her choice.”In such a family, a child’s voice is taken seriously. This itself is a small but meaningful practice of peace within a parent-child relationship.

▲ A very young child created a “big house” filled with princesses, rainbows, the sun, and fish. Her mother titled the work My World.A childhood filled with love naturally becomes a world rich in imagination and wonder—and perhaps this is one of the most tender expressions of peace.

The Deeper Meaning of Peace:

From Remembrance, Hope Begins to Grow

Choosing the Sihang Warehouse as the exhibition venue was not only a spatial decision, but also a curatorial statement.When walls carrying memories of war stand alongside children’s drawings filled with innocence, peace becomes something tangible—something that can be felt and passed on across generations.

A mother who traveled from Nanning said:“I brought my child here so he would understand where today’s peace comes from.”At that moment, the weight of history and the purity of childhood met, forming a deeper understanding of peace.

Although the exhibition has ended, the reflections it sparked continue to ripple through many hearts.Nearly 70 “Life Portraits” will continue to be shared through VIVA’s public programs, becoming seeds that connect more people through empathy and imagination.

Children participating in the peace art workshop

May we always keep the gaze of a child—seeing life with clarity, sincerity, and love, and safeguarding peace with open hearts.Through children's art, we continue to explore how creativity can connect generations and inspire a more peaceful future.

Partner Organizations

Shanghai Sihang Warehouse War Memorial Museum

As a national-level memorial museum located at the original site of the “Defense of Sihang Warehouse”, the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse War Memorial Museum has been open to the public since 2015.

Since its opening, the museum has been dedicated to preserving cultural relics, conducting historical research, and providing public education. It carries forward the spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and promotes patriotic education.Its unique historical value as a living witness to history makes it an important platform connecting revolutionary memory with contemporary cultural significance.

Shanghai Xia Zhengnong Ethnic Culture and Education Development Foundation

Founded in 2008, the Shanghai Xia Zhengnong Ethnic Culture and Education Development Foundation is a public welfare foundation established through a personal donation from Xia Zhengnong, former Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee.The foundation is committed to promoting traditional Chinese culture, advancing educational development, and actively participating in cultural and social initiatives. It seeks to integrate cultural heritage with contemporary social values.

Brand Introduction

Viva la Vida (VIVA)

Viva la Vida (VIVA) is a cross-cultural arts brand operating in more than 60 countries worldwide.The organization is dedicated to recording life stories through art, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and supporting social good initiatives.

It invites people from diverse cultural backgrounds to answer the question “What is your life?” through a single painting, documenting diverse human experiences and encouraging intercultural dialogue.

Over the past seven years, VIVA has collaborated with organizations including the United Nations, Coca-Cola, and Tencent to host more than 400 events and collect over 20,000 life portraits. These individual expressions are transformed into bridges for cultural exchange and dialogue.