From a CANVAS Facebook post

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[Kids Creative Institute]

For the July session of the Kids Creative Lab at the University of Tokyo’s Hongo Campus, we invited two members of the creative unit GwaGwa to serve as instructors, and the participants created their own video works!

Today we’ll be using “Pet Light,” a special tool created by the duo GwaGwa, who primarily create art installations featuring light. As the colorful Pet Lights appear to float in the
darkened room, the children let out a chorus of “Whoa!”
Today, we’ll use these to draw in the dark and even animate our drawings!

First, let’s try making a “glowing path.” We all worked together to create a single glowing path right
in the middle of the room, and then we all walked along it.
Perhaps feeling as if they were walking down a runway, the elementary school students naturally struck their own favorite poses and walked in their own unique styles.

Next up, it’s finally time to draw with light!
As we arrange the Pet Lights on top of the sketch displayed on the screen connected to the camera…? Chicks, cars, and fish drawn with light came to life.
“What about the legs?” “Where should we put the eyes?”
Even elements not shown in the outline were added as the children discussed and collaborated.
By shifting the picture slightly and taking multiple photos, the drawing began to move as if it were alive. It turns out that the animations
we all watch are created using this very method. At the end, the parents joined the children in watching the
finished animation.

I imagine the scene at this venue—which was a little different from the usual lab—must have felt a bit fresh and new to the children, too, don’t you think?

As part of the experience of creating a single piece of art together—which is also the theme of this program—I thought it was truly wonderful to see the participants calling
out to one another with comments like, “Move that over a little more,
” “That looks like it’s a bit off,” and “I’ll take care of this part,” and naturally finding their roles.

Kids, I hope you all enjoy everything the upcoming summer vacation has to offer to the fullest.
I look forward to seeing you again in August!