Searching For The Child In Us
Published 8 Nov 2016 by Karel Tan
For a long time, we have been constantly searching for remnants that reminds us of what it feels like to be a child again. Most of us crave that sense of innocence, simplicity and remembrance of hard lessons learnt, which has since been eroded away by the challenging and stressful reality of adulthood. Thankfully, our search has been gratified by artists, with their unique ability to capture and immortalise the nuances of life when we are limited and exhausted. Some of them have managed to venture into the deep and resurface with the best of their childhood for us to enjoy and love, and to guide us in our search for our own.
One such artist is David Bromley, an Australian based self-taught painter who emerged in the 1980s. His popular series of paintings, The Boys Own, reflects the wondrous and happier times of childhood by adopting an art style inspired by 1950s storybook covers and the Boys Own Paper, a magazine that was in publication in Britain until 1967. The paintings of The Boys Own series depicts the purity and innocence of a young boy surrounded by his toys, pets and imaginary friends, and suggesting that childhood is a dreamy and happy time in our lives.
David Bromley – Best Friends (from The Boys Own series)
A series of artworks that has a similar theme to The Boys Own is Chen Wen Ling’s Red Boys series, which features sculptures of naked young boys with cheeky expressions on their faces. The nakedness of the boys suggest liberation, a sense of freedom that accompanies most children. The boys’ lively expressions, cheeky poses and the use of red, symbolic of Chen Wen Ling’s Chinese culture, also display the simplicity, innocence and carefreeness of childhood.
Chen Wen Ling – Stop Staring At Me (from the Red Boys series)
Other artists show the importance of remembering the parts of our childhood that mould us into the people we are today. Wu Liang Yan’s sculptures, featuring young children with plump cheeks and tilted heads, are mostly characterised by red ties on their necks, a standard in Chinese school uniforms, and which highlights the youth of the children. The children’s display of pride for the nation reminds audiences of the burdens of societal pressures on our childhoods, and also of our desire to achieve what we want for ourselves no matter our circumstances.
Wu Liang Yan - Flower of the Nation no. 1
Christian Pendelio’s artworks take on a more subtle display of childhood. In his paintings, he adopts a theme of fantasy and whimsicality, illustrating fantastical scenes that reminds us of childhood stories penned by Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl. His paintings carry a more sombre tone, with a mix of colours depicting the joy and sorrow of each scene. However, the characters in his paintings show us that, despite the joys and sorrows of life, they persevere in their search for hope and happiness.
Christian Pendelio – On a World-Flower
Perhaps that is the underlying reason why we, artists and audiences alike, continue to search for the child in us. Adulthood presents us with many stressful and complex challenges, and can quickly paint our lives bleak and grey. But remembering the child inside us will teach us to hope and rejoice, and allow us to paint light in our lives again. If we persevere in our search and never give up, we will one day succeed, just like these artists have, and find our own Eden.
One such artist is David Bromley, an Australian based self-taught painter who emerged in the 1980s. His popular series of paintings, The Boys Own, reflects the wondrous and happier times of childhood by adopting an art style inspired by 1950s storybook covers and the Boys Own Paper, a magazine that was in publication in Britain until 1967. The paintings of The Boys Own series depicts the purity and innocence of a young boy surrounded by his toys, pets and imaginary friends, and suggesting that childhood is a dreamy and happy time in our lives.
David Bromley – Best Friends (from The Boys Own series)
A series of artworks that has a similar theme to The Boys Own is Chen Wen Ling’s Red Boys series, which features sculptures of naked young boys with cheeky expressions on their faces. The nakedness of the boys suggest liberation, a sense of freedom that accompanies most children. The boys’ lively expressions, cheeky poses and the use of red, symbolic of Chen Wen Ling’s Chinese culture, also display the simplicity, innocence and carefreeness of childhood.
Chen Wen Ling – Stop Staring At Me (from the Red Boys series)
Other artists show the importance of remembering the parts of our childhood that mould us into the people we are today. Wu Liang Yan’s sculptures, featuring young children with plump cheeks and tilted heads, are mostly characterised by red ties on their necks, a standard in Chinese school uniforms, and which highlights the youth of the children. The children’s display of pride for the nation reminds audiences of the burdens of societal pressures on our childhoods, and also of our desire to achieve what we want for ourselves no matter our circumstances.
Wu Liang Yan - Flower of the Nation no. 1
Christian Pendelio’s artworks take on a more subtle display of childhood. In his paintings, he adopts a theme of fantasy and whimsicality, illustrating fantastical scenes that reminds us of childhood stories penned by Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl. His paintings carry a more sombre tone, with a mix of colours depicting the joy and sorrow of each scene. However, the characters in his paintings show us that, despite the joys and sorrows of life, they persevere in their search for hope and happiness.
Christian Pendelio – On a World-Flower
Perhaps that is the underlying reason why we, artists and audiences alike, continue to search for the child in us. Adulthood presents us with many stressful and complex challenges, and can quickly paint our lives bleak and grey. But remembering the child inside us will teach us to hope and rejoice, and allow us to paint light in our lives again. If we persevere in our search and never give up, we will one day succeed, just like these artists have, and find our own Eden.