Painting exhibition by the Art school for children “Studio Obraz”; “Our world is beautiful, just look at it”

Ambassador Alexey Borodavkin,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Welcome to today‘s exhibition “Our world is beautiful, just look at it”.

I thank the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation and the Children’s artistic Studio Obraz for initiating and organizing this exhibition which shows drawings and paintings created by students of the art school in Protvino, some 100 km South of Moscow. The school, which was created some 25 years ago, teaches various techniques of artistic creativity and educates children in creative culture. Some of the students are here with us today and will also present a musical performance and we all look forward to that.

Creativity is an important skill that we need to develop and nurture. It is an important ingredient when trying to find innovative solutions for the most pressing problems of our time.

We also need to listen more closely to the youngest members of our society. Often they have a frank and honest look at the world. They may help us to see things that we, adults, have stopped seeing or have started taking for granted. With today’s exhibition they remind us of the beauty of this world. Let’s take this as an inspiration to be more conscious of our surroundings, to appreciate what we have and see the beauty in things around us. This consciousness should also motivate us to take more care in preserving the beauty of our world.

The Russian Federation looks back on centuries of artistic heritage in drawing and painting, of which we have benefited many times in our cultural programme here at the Palais des Nations. Today’s contribution enriches the long and impressive list of cultural events organized in cooperation with the Mission of the Russian Federation. I extend my sincere thanks to Ambassador Borodavkin for this.

Let us rejoice today in the works of these young artists, some of whom may be tomorrow’s great masters. Let us celebrate art in its ability to build bridges across cultures and to communicate symbolically what may be difficult to be phrased in words. Let us together appreciate the beauty of our world as seen through the eyes of the younger generation.

Thank you and enjoy the event.