Children's exhibition highlights the universal language of art

A global children's charity art exhibition, Small Canvas for the Mind, was held at Haitang Academy in Beijing's Yuanmingyuan Park from May 10 to 12, showcasing the creative voices of young artists from around the world.

The exhibition featured 40 paintings created by children aged 6 to 16 from countries and regions including China, Singapore, Canada and Hungary. Using art as a universal language, these young artists expressed themes of emotion, personal growth, and mutual understanding, offering adults a unique window into the inner world of children.

The initiative was conceived and organized by two young art enthusiasts and longtime charitable activity participants — 9-year-old Zhang Yuxiao and 10-year-old Zhang Yucheng.

"Sometimes adults can't hear or see how kids feel because we're not good at expressing ourselves," said Yuxiao. "So, we draw our thoughts — that way, adults can better understand us. I started this exhibition hoping that adults would better interpret children's thoughts."

From the hundreds of submissions, the curators selected 40 artworks distinguished by their emotional depth and imaginative power.

In a special highlight, Yucheng collaborated with installation artist Xu Zhuo'er to create an installation piece inspired by her mother's favorite animal — the rabbit.

Xu explained the work's backstory: "During our conversations, I saw how much Yucheng loves her mother. She shared many stories about her mom, but also confided that there are feelings she keeps to herself."

"What these children offer is not just artistic inspiration — it's an entirely new way of seeing the world," Xu said.

Among the guests at the exhibition's opening ceremony was psychology educator Wen Hongyang, who emphasized the importance of supporting children's emotional well-being. "Children's mental health is fundamental to their lifelong happiness. Art provides a gentle yet powerful, nonthreatening means of dialogue."