Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material

The size and structure of the exhibition “Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material” make it easier to define concepts that go beyond those strictly connected to the contents displayed and illustrate a way of working in the Reggio Emilia Approach where research, staff development, and collective and social exchange proceed together.

There were a number of motivations for choosing an investigation like “Mosaic,” which focuses on drawing and narration, for example the visual language and the verbal language. First of all, there was a desire to go deeper into and reignite interest in the powerful language of drawing, which risks becoming weakened in the everyday repetitiveness. In this case, the graphic language was approached from an unusual point of view already explored and verified with the children, according to which drawing is invigorated by words, and words are invigorated by the marks of drawing. The idea was to examine the extent to which drawing, and the materials and instruments used, are nourished by words and mental images, and the extent to which the words and images are nourished by visual, tactile, bodily, and auditory perceptions.

Vecchi, V. (2019). A Fascinating Profession: For a democracy of knowledge. Innovations in Early Education: The International Reggio Emilia Exchange, 26(3), 4-15.