Learning from the Intangible

The photo exhibition ‘Learning from the Intangible’ by Alessandra Silver, with installations by The Learning Community (TLC), was hosted by the Centre d’Art in Citadines in March, and made possible thanks to the Project Coordination Group. It marks the culmination of Alessandra’s 3 years of work documenting TLC, in collaboration with in-house researchers, with 400 hours of raw footage that finally resulted in the award-winning film ‘Learning From the Intangible’, shown daily as part of the exhibition.

However, Alessandra says that this is not the culmination but just the beginning of her research, and that the children have been the greatest teachers along her journey of documenting TLC and becoming part of this emerging playground of unending education.

The exhibition experience begins before entering the Centre d’Art: orange curtains are drawn shut around the first hall, hiding what the exhibition contains, piquing the curiosity as one approaches it from outside. As one enters, the orange curtains cast a warm welcoming glow into the air.

A certain sanctity and concentration is immediately felt, with spirals of incense smoke playfully dissipating into the air, along with the inviting warmth of candles that have been lit in a circle around a flower arrangement. These are next to a beautifully inviting seating area made of matching orange pillows on the floor. I wonder whether it is an installation or if I could sit there for a silent moment of contemplation.

When I ask if there’s a specific direction to be followed to view the exhibition, I am invited to spontaneously explore and see where I find myself, in flow with the spirit of Free Progress.

The first room consists of photos of the children of TLC. It intends to inspire, ‘with and through the children’s eyes and hearts’. The images capture everything from the delight on a child’s face as it discovers something new, to a moment of exhilaration on a swing, or the wonder of blowing on a dandelion.

One photo shows a child’s face, looking straight into the camera, wordlessly conveying so much of the ‘intangible’: her piercing luminous eyes appear to take up most of the frame, and like pools of sunshine that seem to contain the whole world, they fiercely emanate a promise of the new, of an unimaginably bright future.

I find myself elated by image after image conveying the poetry of moments of magic, so delicately, skillfully, and patiently captured. Every image conveys an aspect of the ‘intangible’, but also showcases an immaculate photographic technique and mastery of composition. Each photo is accompanied by an inspiring quote such as ‘Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it’ (Roald Dahl).

In the second room, one is greeted by an entirely different scene. The TLC facilitators and parents have created several interactive displays that showcase some of the activities that are offered to the children, such as cooking, mathematics, arts and crafts etc.

The smell of freshly baked cookies, very temptingly on display with an array of cooking materials, giving the feeling that this space is alive, dynamic, and interactive, and I find myself wondering if I can eat a cookie.

The impact of this fine exhibition is perhaps best summed up in the words of a visitor: ‘These children are so lucky, I would have been a very different person if I had gone to school here.’