In a delightful fusion of creativity and culture to spark young imaginations, nurture young artistic talents and deepen their knowledge, the Sharjah Book Authority hosted a series of children’s workshops at the Thessaloniki International Book Fair as part of the emirate’s Guest of Honour programme.

The first hands-on workshop, ‘The World as We See It,’ was held at the Kids Corner at Sharjah’s pavilion. Led by Nasser Nasrallah, the children created a series of innovative paintings using various elements. They combined them to depict the world as each of them saw it.

Nasrallah taught children techniques for using colours and depicting shapes to express their perceptions and dreams. He shared aspects of his artistic experience, which relies on simplicity, stimulates imagination, and transforms colours into a meaningful language that carries ideas and references from Emirati culture.

Rashid Al Mulla led the second workshop, ‘Reflections,’ where he taught children how to draw their favourite elements and objects, repeating these drawings in reverse as if they appeared in a mirror. The workshop encouraged participants to view things from a different perspective.

Al Mulla took the children into a world of symmetry, teaching participants how to draw shapes and letting them imagine how the world looks through this new angle.

The Kids Corner hosted the ‘We Are Together’ workshop led by Alia Al Hammadi. Children learned how to express the concept of peaceful coexistence among various people and living creatures to build a harmonious world where everyone lives in peace and harmony.

Al Hammadi highlighted that art is a language universally understood, emphasising that despite the diversity of languages, identities, features, and nations, humans share an appreciation for the values of beauty, love, and peace.