Creative Workshop for Children 'Imaginary Cities' ages 6 to 12 at the Museum of African Art

When designing buildings, architects blend art and science. As architectural ideas, sketches, and plans materialize into physical objects, they have the power to transform our environment with their permanence. The renowned Yugoslav architect Branko Žeželj was a creator of special engineering magic - by advancing the prestressed construction technique, he managed to develop high-rise technology, on which urban settlements sprouted worldwide from the 1950s onwards: in Italy, Austria, Romania, China, Egypt, Ethiopia...

The starting point for the creative workshop was found in selected photographs of cities displayed at the exhibition 'Solidarity Prefabrication: IMS-Žeželj between Yugoslavia, Cuba, and Angola'. During the workshop, children will be tasked with creating a model of their imaginary city using cardboard, small boxes, collage paper, glue, and other materials. We will seek inspiration for creative work primarily in forms, colors, and ambient elements of the urban landscapes of Angola, Cuba, and former Yugoslavia depicted, as well as in children's experiences of the immediate urban environment or travels.

What does a city created from a child's imagination look like? Is it located by the sea, in a forest, at a beach, or is it a continental metropolis of tall skyscrapers? What shapes are the buildings, and what colors are the streets? Who will live in the city, and what will it be called? These are just some of the questions that will guide us in the creative workshop.