Education workshop: Renew Your Scales

The education workshops for the exhibition Red Celebration by Jae Pil Eun focused on how you can show new sides of yourself again and again, just like a snake.

In his solo exhibition Red Celebration, Jae Pil Eun explored ways of living in close connection with the earth. In his work, he investigates rituals that are no longer practiced, often drawing inspiration from mythology. In the exhibition at Vleeshal, he used the figure of the snake, a creature that symbolizes renewal and transformation through shedding its skin.

During the workshop, Renew Your Scales!, children were guided through the exhibition at Vleeshal, where they encountered two large ceramic snakes on the floor. The guide led them through the space and explained themes of renewal, transformation, and the relationship between humans, animals, and the earth.

After the tour, the students participated in a cardboarding workshop, where they learned to create artworks using cardboard. Each child made a large “scale” centered around the theme of renewal. They were asked: “If you were a snake and could let go of certain things, what would you choose?” and “Which parts of yourself would you want to show in your new scales?” The children used recycled cardboard to emphasize the transformation of themselves, but also of old materials into new art.

During this workshop, children learned that humans, like snakes, are constantly changing through growth, life experiences, and learning new things. These changes can be a little scary, but they always bring something beautiful in return.