Life at nine

Most artists I know sleep on art, literally. If you happen to find yourself in the home of an artist try and take a discreet look under their bed. There you will find a collection of drawings, unframed, possibly sandwiched between sheets of foam core… a veritable treasure trove, a who’s who of contemporary art. This pile naturally accumulates after decades or more of swaps, a reminder of the passing of time like the growth rings of a tree. There the drawings stay, gathering dust, until the happy day one can afford to take them to the framers.

I was riffling through one such pile last weekend when I came across one of my own works. A coloured pencil drawing of ballet dancers, each figure overlapped in a slightly different pose: an attempt to make it look like the dancer was moving. I took out my Faber Castells to try and finish it: perhaps, my niece would like it for her room? After all, all nine-year-olds are wild about ballet dancers, aren’t they? Well, I’m sure they were at some point. What about the nine year olds today? What kind of art do they like?  How do they think? Time to ask my niece some questions…

What pictures do you like to put up in your room?

Blue and green pictures. I like flowers and fairies.

What do you think about ballerinas? Do you like them?

Why? Yes well hmmm… I sort of like them but I’m not that high about them, I like soccer more. I do like the way they can jump very easily, they are very hard things.

What are your favorite books?

Roald Dahl books. They are gruesome, there are twists and turns and it’s not always happily ever after.

If you had a whole day where you could do whatever you wanted what would it be?

Play soccer with all my friends. When we get tired we can have a little picnic in a secret place. A place with a lot of trees that you can climb, a lake, very adventurous not too neat and trimmed.

Do you like drawing? Why?

Yes. You can draw anything you want and you can give them to other people.

What do you think artists do?

They do pictures and make creative things.

Do you think it would be fun to be an artist?

You could make whatever you want with all of your things and be creative with your mind.

What do you want to do when you are older?

Play soccer, be a Matilda person.

Ok, now some general questions. What do you think politicians do?

Errr, hmm, oh no, don’t know. Decide things and vote. Things to help things or make things better, or change things – that sort of thing.

What do you think of the Queen?

The Queen is fine, she is very nice.

Is it better to have lots of money or just enough?

Just enough. If you have a lot of money it will be very troublesome. It would be very hard trying to keep it all together.

What makes a good person?

Caring, kind, cares for the environment. Isn’t mean. Isn’t bullying everybody.

And a bad person?

Probably bullying, littering.

You like the idea of secret places. What is it that appeals to you about them?

It’s mysterious. You can have your own space and share it with your friends you can trust.

What is your favorite food?

Nasi goreng.

Analysing these results I would have to say that the average nine-year-old’s outlook is overwhelmingly positive. They have confidence in the current political system, are relatively content with the monarchy, are physically active, environmentally aware, like nutritious food and don’t necessarily believe in the dictum of infinite economic growth. They are actually (what is that word again?) quite balanced. I am reminded of an interview with Lewis Lapham I heard on Counterpoint last week. He talked about ‘freedom of mind, not freedom of markets.’ What a radical. Perhaps it’s time historians and children ruled the world, promoting fairness, dignity and empathy for all mankind.  And maybe I should shove this drawing back in the pile and look for a soccer painting instead.