It was such a pleasure to talk to the children of Lyndhurst Primary School about concepts of identity and uniqueness, as well as the things we have in common. Seeing these ideas reflected in the submitted artwork was lovely – from portraits of faces surrounded by aspects of the children’s culture, to more abstract pieces incorporating an array of ideas about what makes us different and similar!
Dr Salim Hashmi, Lecturer in Psychology at King’s IoPPN
21 December 2023
Young artists from Lyndhurst Primary School visit the Department of Psychology to unveil their artwork
The Department of Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) linked up with Lyndhurst Primary School for an art competition to brighten up the Psychology labs. The winners visited the labs in December for an unveiling of their pieces.
During the school's Art Week, Dr Salim Hashmi, Lecturer in Psychology at the IoPPN, talked with pupils across all year groups (ages five to 11) about the concepts of ‘self-identity’ versus ‘social identity’. He explained that people can think of their self-identity as the things that make them who they are that are individual to them, and their social identity as who they are based on the groups they belong to. Pupils were then invited to submit 2D artwork on their interpretation of this theme of ‘identity’.
Out of over 60 entries, 16 winning pieces of art were chosen by a panel from the Department of Psychology. On Wednesday 20th December, the young artists from Lyndhurst Primary School visited the Psychology labs for the unveiling of their pieces, which have been framed and hung. Getting in the Christmas spirit, the labs were decorated with lights and streamers, and several children arrived with their festive accessories.
The winning artists visited the Department of Psychology to admire their work
The panel chose from over 60 entries
The whole process has been such a wonderful journey, from initiating new connections with the school staff and making collaborative decisions on how to take the project forward, to framing and hanging the winning pieces. It has been a delight to transform these amazing and individual pieces of art into framed creations, now displayed in our testing room. Meeting the budding artists when they came to admire their work was a rewarding highlight. This project has been a great success, and we hope to work with the school and pupils again in the future.
Jackie Sansom, Business Support Officer, School of Mental Health & Psychological Sciences at King’s IoPPN
It’s been fantastic to see the Department forming meaningful connections within our local community. As proud neighbours on Denmark Hill Campus, we are delighted to have welcomed the creativity of the children from Lyndhurst Primary School into our Psychology labs. Not only do we endeavour to make a positive impact in our local communities through research, but we can see the positive difference our community brings to us.
Professor Rona Moss Morris, Head of Department of Psychology at King's IoPPN
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Senior Lecturer in Psychology (Education)
Professor of Psychology as Applied to Medicine