The experience was incredibly inspiring. I was deeply impressed by my students’ creativity, compassion, and problem-solving abilities. Students developed thoughtful and inventive engineering concepts that addressed real-world challenges connected to conflict resolution, accessibility, environmental sustainability, communication, and community support. Watching students apply engineering design not only to technical problems but also to human-centered issues reinforced my belief that education can empower young people to become thoughtful global citizens and changemakers.

In this quiet corridor of mirrored walls and repeating floral forms, I see peace as reflection, balance, and continuity. The intricate patterns speak of patience, craftsmanship, and generations of shared cultural memory. Peace is not only the absence of conflict — it is the preservation of beauty, heritage, and spaces where people can pause, wonder, and connect across time.

This image reminds me that art carries the power to hold histories gently, to create harmony through detail, and to invite us into stillness together.

Peace begins when we are able to look at one another without fear, without judgment, and without the desire to defeat.

For me, art is a universal language that reminds us that, before borders, ideologies, or differences, we are human beings searching for beauty, dignity, and meaning.

Art does not shout: it unites.

Art does not impose: it reveals.

Art does not divide: it opens paths of encounter.

That is why I deeply believe that educating through art is also educating for peace. Because where there is sensitivity, there is listening. Where there is beauty, there is hope. And where there is soul, a new way of living together can always be born.

Peace is not only the absence of war. Peace is the presence of dignity, empathy, beauty, and humanity.

Dr. Ignacio Bonasa

—

Dr. Rocío Lara-Osuna, University of Granada, Melilla Campus (Spain).

Currently, visiting scholar at the UBC (Vancouver).

By: Dr. Joseph Bonney

Jardín Botánico Jose Celestino Mutis - Bogotá DC

PEACE means acting together.

Stephanie Jones, University of Georgia

- Borders will no longer be barriers but bridges, with countries collaborating instead of competing.

- Resources will be shared equitably, reducing poverty and hunger and ensuring everyone has access to education and healthcare.

- Diversity will be embraced, with traditions, languages, and art enriching global unity rather than dividing it.

With less conflict over resources, humanity will focus on restoring the planet—clean air, flourishing forests, and oceans teeming with life.

-Collaboration in resources and skills

- Freed from fear and war, people will dedicate their energy to innovation, creativity, problem solving and compassion.

- Children and women will grow up and live in safety, learning values of kindness and cooperation, carrying peace forward into the future.

By Phuti Technogranny Ragophala

Peace begins in little acts of care. A small figure holds two large tomatoes, surrounded by vines and animals, suggesting nourishment, protection and interdependence. The image invites us to see peace not as an abstract ideal, but as something grown, held and shared.

"I chose these things for my collage because long car journeys with the people I love and music gives me peace."

"I chose penguins and sunsets for my collage because penguins remind me of my nanny as they are her favourite animal, and I chose sunsets because they make me relax and feel calm."

"I did a sunset as a symbol of peace because I think they are very relaxing. I put clouds in the sky that spell out peace. In the grass I put more things that remind me of peacefulness, like a book & music notes, because I find listening to music or reading very relaxing."

"I picked the flower because I thought it resembled peace because flowers are beautiful and peaceful."

"I chose a Yorkshire Terrier because they bring me peace and happiness."

"Peace can be doing something you love like helping people or animals who need help. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall."

"The reason I chose this design is because I find nature very calming and peaceful. If I feel stressed or nervous I take a long, nice walk outside."

"I made a collage in the shape of a dove using magazine cut outs, pictures and words. I used different colours and textures to create a peace themed design."

"If there is no dark, there would be no light and if there is no bad there would be no good. So just appreciate the little things and you will find your peace everywhere!"

"I added in a person relaxing because my image of peace is relaxing with no negativity. Calming images of nature give me peace."

"I added these things to my collage because music is a big part of my life, and playing guitar and listening to music brings me peace. I added a volleyball because it's my favourite sport and I love playing it. I added a beach because I am at peace when I go to the beach. The skulls and night pictures are because I find night to be peaceful and I love finding out facts about the body."

"I added these designs to my collage because the colour red reminds me of roses and the smell of lavender brings me peace."

"The reason why I chose sunsets is because I think they are pretty and peaceful - the butterflies are beautiful and peaceful also."

"I chose a sunset because they give me peace when you see the sun go down slowly."

"I chose to make this collage a picture of the sun breaking through the clouds and darkness, because I think it symbolises breaking through all the stress and worries and doing what you love and finding peace in what you do and love."

Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia

Peace grows in silence can be seen through the calm beauty of nature, using leaves as symbols of life, healing, and renewal. The organic shapes of the leaves are soft and delicate, creating a peaceful environment. The repeated leaf forms suggest harmony, continuity, and peace grows slowly through small acts of care. The thin stems connect the leaves together, symbolises unity, relationship, and interdependence among people and nature. The asymmetrical balance shows that peace does not need to be rigid or perfect. The deep Prussian blue background creates a quiet, reflective, and meditative atmosphere. The tints of white with blue botanical silhouettes stand out as signs of hope, purity, and gentleness. The contrast between dark blue and light blue leaves can represent hope emerging from conflict or sadness. The handmade cyanotype print with abstract texture adds sincerity, fragility, and emotional depth to the artwork. Hence, the visual suggests that peace is a living process that grows silently through nature, connection, healing, and shared existence.

Elisabeth Noske

ao direccionar o olhar para outro lugar, 

e esse lugar olha-me, desafia-me para o registar.

Peace is a place of respect, understanding, inclusion, and discover the beauty of different cultures.

希望可以不要有戰爭。

I hope there will be no more wars in the world.

#art4peace

Interwoven circles and hearts symbolize the connections between people, conveying the power of understanding, care, and acceptance. Each small act of kindness is like a circle that gradually comes together to form the shape of love, making society warmer, more harmonious, and full of hope through mutual support.

I am actually very shy.I'm grateful for the encouragement from many teachers; they gave me the courage to try more things and share my culture with the world.

和平是什麼？分享與理解或許就是和平的基石。放下恐懼，勇敢用友善的方式交流，或許就是帶領我們前往和平的星光。我也正在此路上前行。

Sharing and understanding may be the cornerstones of peace.Communicating bravely and kindly may be the guiding light to peace.

這首歌曲是客家歌曲《油桐花》由呂金守作詞作曲，描寫油桐花以及客家民族的精神，油桐花與客家有十分深厚的淵源，我的爸爸跟媽媽都是客家人，印象中的阿公只會說客家話，雖然阿公只會說客家話，但仍與不同族群建立出深厚的友誼，我想這是不是也是一種分享與理解所帶來的和平呢？

美麗的油桐花帶著童年的回憶，記憶著客家的故事，歡迎來台灣聽聽我們的故事，「客家桐花祭」滿山遍野的油桐花、縈繞在山中的歌曲。在台灣這片土地，有許多的故事。

《Tung flower》This is a Hakka song from Taiwan. The tung flower has a very deep connection with the Hakka people. My parents are both Hakka, and my grandfather, as far as I remember, only spoke Hakka. Although he only spoke Hakka, he still built deep friendships with people from different culture. I wonder if this is also a kind of peace brought about by sharing and understanding?

Welcome to Taiwan to hear our stories and join the"Hakka Tung Blossom Festival" There are many stories on this land of Taiwan.

#art4peace

Chiara

Each drawing reflected a unique and deeply personal interpretation of peace. As the lead artist, I wove the children’s individual works together into a single collage piece. To symbolize peace, I incorporated the red-and-blue taegeuk—the symbol featured on the Korean national flag—which represents the harmony of yin and yang, along with the color white. In Korean culture, white has traditionally been associated with peace and was historically worn by many Koreans during periods of independence movements.

My friend and I wanted to transform these individual drawings into a larger image of people embracing one another, conveying a message of comfort and encouragement during the difficult times we are living through today. The phrase “사랑과 평화” (“love and peace” in Korean) is embedded throughout the canvas. Although the context differs significantly from my previous post, I regard this piece as a portrait of the cosmopolitan Seoulites’ vision of peace.

Sono una persona che ama la semplicità e il romanticismo. Spero di poter passeggiare, chiacchierare e mangiare ogni giorno con la mia persona amata, trascorrendo insieme ogni festa, ogni anno, in modo semplice e meraviglioso

我觸摸一片海邊的藻

濕潤、安靜 貼著岩石呼吸

這片海 不只在這裡

也許世界的另一端

也有人同樣伸出手 感受同樣的流動

我們共享一片藍海 同一塊土地

藝術讓我看見

每個生命都存在 都值得被溫柔的對待

What is peace? Peace can have many broad and specific meanings. To me, peace is being able to look up at the beautiful sky while feeling safe and at ease. The sunlight, trees, clouds, and a quiet corner of the campus remind me that beauty can be soft and calm. I enjoy this sky, and I sincerely hope that every corner of the world can also have such a peaceful moment. When the sky is no longer occupied by pollution, missiles, and fear, people can finally have the space to look up slowly, appreciate the clouds and light, and feel that life is still full of hope. Peace does not have to be far away; it can exist in a simple moment when we can breathe freely and quietly feel the beauty around us.

The artwork includes symbols such as hearts, doves, praying hands, flowers, and children, all communicating messages of compassion, friendship, and togetherness. The eye containing the peace symbol encourages viewers to see the world through the lens of peace and empathy.

Bright colours and playful imagery create a hopeful atmosphere, showing that peace can spread through love, care for one another, and positive actions. Overall, the artwork inspires viewers to imagine a world where people live in unity, respect diversity, and choose peace over conflict.

The doves, peace signs, flowers, and smiling sun symbolize happiness, harmony, and a brighter future for the world. Beneath the ground, the hidden bones and skull suggest the pain and destruction caused by conflict, reminding viewers of the importance of choosing peace over violence.

Through bright colours and expressive drawings, the artwork encourages people to care for one another, protect nature, and build a world where everyone can live together in unity and peace.

The white dove symbolizes peace, freedom, and unity among people across the world, while the heart represents love and compassion. The peace sign further strengthens the message that a world without violence is possible when people live with understanding and respect.

The contrast between the dark and bright colours reflects the choice between conflict and peace, reminding viewers that love, kindness, and unity can overcome darkness. Overall, the artwork inspires us to work together in preserving peace and creating a safer, happier world for everyone.

Every calm breath tells your body: _You are safe_.

Every calm breath tells your mind: _You can choose again_.

If each person took one conscious breath before reacting, before speaking, before striking back… the world would be quieter. Softer. Kinder.

Peace isn’t something out there to find.

It’s something in here to remember—with every breath you take.

So breathe.

And let peace start with you.

Right now, stop.

Breathe in slowly… and let your chest rise.

Breathe out slowly… and let the weight fall.

In that breath, you are alive. Not in the past, not in the future—just here.

And in this moment, no war can reach you, no anger can own you.

That’s a quiet power.

With each breath in, you invite calm.

With each breath out, you let go of what you can’t control.

You don’t need noise, permission, or perfect conditions.

Peace starts right here, with you choosing to breathe and be present.

Hold onto that line today:

I can breathe in peace. I am safe in this moment.

Even though I have never seen the Northern Lights in person before, I have always admired how vivid and magical they appear in photos and videos. Their movement and colors feel almost dreamlike, which inspired me to recreate that feeling through my artwork. I hoped to capture not only their beauty and vibrancy but also the sense of wonder and emotion they can bring to people. By creating this piece, I wanted viewers to feel the same amazement and peacefulness that I imagine when thinking about the Northern Lights, while also understanding the deeper connection between art, emotion, and human expression.

“The expression suggests that art does not ‘fight’ with force, but wins through the beauty and evocative power of colors. It transforms tension into visual harmony, offering a symbolic response to conflict. In this way, art shows that imagination can prevail where confrontation fails.”

Francesco, Ilenia, Lisa

Scuola di Didattica dell'Arte

Carrara Fine Art Academy

“Painting by Corrado Giaquinto, Museo del Prado, 1754.”

But full of love!!

Phantasmagoria Pacis (Collage by Damiano Fasso, 2025, Italy)

A work of art entirely focused on artistic activism against war, inviting us to reflect on the themes of violence portrayed by the media and social media, by combining historical posters and works of art.

Carlo, Giuseppe, Pierpaolo

Scuola di Didattica dell'Arte

.. ..

what

we carry

forward

changes

how we

see back.

Peace begins

in re-seeing.

Inside this quiet machine,

we look forward

and witness the past

upside down.

The world does not need

to be captured,

only reflected.

In turning history over,

light makes room

for justice.

May

future

generations

find more

wisdom in

listening

than in

conquering.

.. ..

past ← now → future

perspective is a door.

invert

to understand.

understand

to heal.

rooted

in memory,

branching

toward

what is possible.

OBSERVE

REFLECT

REVIEW

REIMAGINE

REPAIR

RESTORE

RECONCILE

REPEAT PEACE.

.. ..

Public art

as a practice of

reflection

and

peace.

GPeMC - Cultural Mediation Research Group: Aesthetic Provocations and Contaminations

International Network + Art in Pedagogy

"Preson" Pavillon at Malta Biennal 2026

Floating Fragments

Curator

Rolf Laven

Artists Exhibiting:

Pierre Mifsud and Residents of the Correctional Facility

About the Thematic Pavillion

Floating Fragments is an immersive installation curated by Rolf Laven that brings together artworks and music created by people in prison. Transparent water‑filled cubes suspend these fragments in space, evoking both confinement and the persistence of creativity. Visitors move among images, sounds, and reflections that form a constellation of human stories, revealing connection within fragmentation. The project introduces a rare reciprocity: public reflections are carried back into the prison and transformed into new artworks. Set within Malta’s island landscape of passage and enclosure, the pavilion invites contemplation on freedom, belonging, and the shared fragility of human experience. https://timesofmalta.com/article/inmates-participate-artists-second-malta-biennale.1123640

ふるさとに帰った日の夕暮れ時、田んぼが広がる中の風景

#art4peace #Niigata

Leaves

#art4peace #Niigata

#Art for peace

#niigata

The moon floating in the dusk.

# Art for peace　# Niigata

flowers

바다와 하늘의 푸르름색을 많이 느낄 수 있어요.

행복해져요ㅋㅎ

能欣赏到美丽的玫瑰、我觉得现在很平静。

#art for peace

#art4peace #Niigata

#art for peace

#niigata