Welcome Children (Stay Small) is a multimedia installation exploring a series of manipulated Google Search images of diverse children, which are juxtaposed with moving images of a children’s night lamp. The images are concurrent with drones and reverberated audio samples, which sonically collide. Through the symbolism that sound and image provide, this installation highlights the inevitable reality of children losing their innocence in an imperfect world and the longing of so many of us to protect them from the harm of life and adulthood.

Welcome Children (Stay Small) was inspired by the song “Stay Small” by former North American post-rock band, The Receiving End of Sirens, and the New Testament theological essay, “Jesus Loves the Little Children: A Theological Reading of Mark 9:14-29 for Children with Serious Illnesses or Disabilities and Their Caregivers”, written by Dr. Melanie Howard. It is important to note that from 2004-2018, I worked with children as a music teacher and Christian educator. I dedicate 'Welcome Children (Stay Small)' to those who also work with children and seek to help them become resilient in the face of life’s pain and ambiguities.

As a resource to this exhibition, please listen to the curated music playlist on YouTube or Pandora related to the theme of this installation.

And the artistic research exposition will be available on Research Catalogue.