Blog
Students passionate about painting created a map showcasing the landmark buildings of each district in Paris using Chinese ink | Why does map drawing inspire children?
Whether you are a fan of drawing and maps or an admirer of the city of Paris, this creation will surely catch your eye. The 20-year-old Pablo Raison recently unveiled his latest work: a meticulously drawn map of Paris using Chinese ink, showcasing the iconic buildings of each district in exquisite detail.
This map’s style might seem familiar to you. In fact, Pablo Raison completed a similar project last year—a map of France. Naturally, this artist embarked on his second “crazy” project, spending several months to complete it, with the lockdown seemingly boosting his productivity. To achieve this, the artist referenced many old maps of Paris, aiming to accurately depict the capital’s 20 districts and their famous landmarks.
After sharing numerous tweets showcasing the progress of his creation, Pablo Raison finally revealed the completed map on Sunday, April 19th. The online community seems to love this piece; within a few hours, his tweet was retweeted over 5,000 times and received 20,000 likes.
For those interested, Pablo will be selling copies of this Paris map. Although the specific conditions have not yet been announced, if you want to stay updated, it is recommended to follow this artist’s Twitter and Instagram accounts. Below is the large map shared by Pablo Raison, along with detailed visuals.
drawing created a map of Paris using Chinese ink why does mapmaking have the power to inspire children
drawing created a map of Paris using Chinese ink why does mapmaking have the power to inspire children
drawing created a map of Paris using Chinese ink why does mapmaking have the power to inspire children
drawing created a map of Paris using Chinese ink why does mapmaking have the power to inspire children
drawing created a map of Paris using Chinese ink why does mapmaking have the power to inspire children
Why Does Mapmaking Have the Power to Inspire Children?
This map showcases the important buildings of each district in Paris, using fine ink strokes to outline these iconic structures. For children, drawing maps is not just an artistic exercise; it is also an opportunity to explore history and culture.
Cross-Disciplinary Learning
Drawing is not confined to the realm of art; it can also integrate geography, history, and architecture. By creating a map of a city, children naturally learn about the stories behind those buildings. For example, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in Paris are not just artistic creations; they are also historical landmarks. Parents can research these buildings with their children, learning about their origins and their impact on the city’s development.
Enhancing Observation and Concentration
When children start drawing a city, they notice many details that they might otherwise overlook. From the shapes of buildings to the layout of streets, all these require careful observation and attention. Creating such a complex map can cultivate their concentration and patience, while also enhancing their sensitivity to the world around them.
Inspiring Creativity and Imagination
Maps can be created, especially when precise navigation is not required. Through artistic expression, children can reshape the city in their own style. Encourage children to imagine: If you were to design a map of this city, which buildings would you place where? What colors and lines would you use to represent different areas of the city? This creative process not only makes children more imaginative but also teaches them to view problems from different angles.
How to Engage in Similar Activities at Home?
Exploring the City with Children
No matter where you live, whether in a big city or a small town, mapmaking can be a fun way to explore. Take your children to visit local landmarks on weekends, let them take photos and observe details. Back home, use these materials to start creating your own “city map.”
Combining History and Cultural Stories
Every building has a story, and these stories are the best way to spark children’s curiosity. For example, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is not just a tall monument; its construction history and the war stories behind it can be topics of discussion with your children. Similarly, parents can discuss local historical sites with their children during the mapmaking process.
Integrating Crafts and Art
In addition to drawing on paper, families can make this activity more engaging by using recycled materials to build city models or using various colors to fill in the map. The combination of art and crafts can make children more involved and encourage them to actively express their creativity.
Inspiration for Children’s Future
Mapmaking is not just a simple art project; it cultivates children’s observation skills, creativity, and historical awareness. Through this fun activity, children not only learn about the layout and buildings of a city but also experience the endless possibilities of artistic expression. More importantly, through these cross-disciplinary explorations, children gain lifelong skills—critical thinking, concentration, and curiosity about the world.
Therefore, parents can help children discover the interweaving of art and reality, encouraging them to understand the world from different perspectives. The next time you visit a city, ask your child: “If you were to draw a map of this city, how would you showcase its beauty and uniqueness?” This will be a journey full of inspiration and creativity.
“Do Cities Create Us, or Do We Create Cities?”
In each of our hearts, cities are not just a collection of buildings and streets. They are alive, breathing, and growing, like a giant organism. But where does the soul of a city come from? Do we give it life, or does the city shape us? This is a question that philosophers and thinkers have pondered from ancient times to the present. As parents, how can we help children draw wisdom and inspiration from cities to understand the world they live in?
Aristotle once said, “Man is by nature a social animal.” He believed that the establishment of cities and societies is a necessary result of people’s pursuit of common happiness. However, he might not have imagined that in today’s world, thousands of years later, cities have become so complex and diverse, influencing every aspect of our lives. Whether it’s the romance of Paris, the antiquity of London, or the grandeur of Beijing, cities are stages where history, culture, and people’s daily lives intertwine. On this stage, we perform our own stories.
What Stories Do Children See in Cities?
When we walk the streets of a city with our children, have we ever stopped to think: Every building, every street, even every small corner, is a sediment of time? The ancient Greek philosopher Plato once discussed the “Allegory of the Cave,” arguing that what we see of the world is only a shadow of reality, and the truth is hidden beneath the surface. The same logic applies to the cities we live in. Cities are not just bricks and mortar; they are a collection of countless people’s dreams, sweat, and stories.
Take, for example, the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Its magnificent stained-glass windows are not just artistic displays; they record biblical stories, with each window filled with religious, historical, and artistic intersections. Through these windows, children not only see colors and light but also feel the human pursuit of faith, peace, and beauty. This is not just a visit; it is a deep lesson in history and art.
What Kind of Education Can We Create for Children?
Let’s return to that thought-provoking question: “Do cities create us, or do we create cities?” This question is not just philosophical speculation; it is also a guide for family education. As parents, we are both shaping our children’s future and helping them understand the world. This understanding should not be limited to books and classrooms; it should permeate every corner of the city.
The educator Maria Montessori once said, “The goal of education is not just to impart knowledge but to teach children how to think.” When we take our children into cities, we are not just taking them to see the sights; we are guiding them to think. Children, through observing buildings, streets, and people, can learn to think about the relationship between people and cities:
- What is the history of this city?
- Why are the buildings designed this way?
- How do people’s lives sync with the rhythm of this city?
These questions not only spark children’s curiosity but also cultivate their ability to think independently. In the process of answering these questions, parents can also explore deeper wisdom with their children.
Cities as Mirrors of the Soul
The Italian poet Dante once said, “Every place we experience becomes a part of our soul.” Cities are not just the land beneath our feet; they also reflect our inner world. When we walk through every street and see every skyscraper, we are also exploring ourselves. We are both traveling and discovering ourselves in the process.
Taking children on a journey through cities is like guiding them on a journey of the soul. Every city is like a mirror, reflecting our emotions, hopes, and dreams. Parents can, through the thoughts of philosophers, guide children to think about some profound questions:
- Why do we create these buildings? What dreams do they represent?
- Is the art in cities meant to beautify life, or does it express our inner pursuits?
- In this noisy world, how do we find our own voice?
These questions, though profound, can inspire children through the actual experience of cities.
How Do We Bring Cities to Life?
Family education is not just about passing on book knowledge; it is also about guiding a way of life. Parents can make the stories of cities come alive through interactive methods. For example, during weekend walks, parents can create a “city task card” with their children, encouraging them to discover details they have never noticed before. For instance:
- Find a building you like the most and draw its shape. What does it remind you of?
- Listen to the sounds of the streets. Do you think the pace of this place is fast or slow?
- Observe the crowd. Do they look happy? What kind of life might the people living in this place have?
This kind of parent-child interaction not only makes the city a fun classroom but also helps children build a deep understanding of the world in the process of exploring the city.
Education is a Lifelong Journey, and Cities are Our Best Classrooms
The French thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said, “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” This reminds us that although the world is full of rules and restrictions, the freedom of thought and curiosity cannot be bound by any chains. And cities are precisely such places where thoughts can roam freely.
As parents, the most precious gift we can give our children is a mindset that is curious, brave in questioning, and active in thinking. Taking children into cities, exploring the stories of every corner, is not just about cultivating their knowledge; it is also about inspiring their creativity and imagination.
Every city is like a giant book, and each of us is a part of this book. In the end, we will discover that cities are not just created by us; they also shape our thoughts and souls.
The next time we enter a city, let’s stop and ask ourselves and our children a question: “What have cities taught us?” Perhaps the answer will quietly emerge in our hearts.
