The Early Years – A Window of Opportunity – a Global Art and Science Exhibition
Event
Dear friends and colleagues,
Birth is our entrance into this world and we live our lives based on the experiences we received via our mother and the environment in those formative years, particularly from conception to early childhood – also known as the first 1000 days.
Globally, pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period are synonymous, regardless of nationality. The time has come to acknowledge and prioritise the following, non mutually exclusive, universal challenges:
- Environmental Stress (i.e. neglect, isolation, abuse including domestic violence)
- Nutrition and the importance of Breastfeeding
- Perinatal maternal Mental Health and Infant Mental Health
- Industrialised Birth, Bonding and Attachment
To help raise awareness on these and other important issues, Professor Monica Lakhanpaul, Prof. of Integrated Community Child Health, University College London (UCL) in partnership with DBT/ Wellcome Trust India Alliance (India Alliance) and team members have created a Virtual Art & Science Exhibition with panel discussion titled:
The Early Years – A Window of Opportunity
Global Art & Science Exhibition
Launching on 26th March 2021
(with a physical exhibition in India tbc), and further aims to roll out this project across other countries.
For further information and to enter the exhibition launch day, please visit:
The following theme categories we’ve chosen to focus on for our India exhibition contain the foundation themes mentioned above:
- Education, Growth, and Development
- Nutrition and Care Practices
- Infections (for example: Vaccinations, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH))
- Environment (for example: Social, Family, and Natural Environment)
- Impact of COVID-19 on the Early Years
Significant evidence has now accumulated on how important these 1000 days are for optimum brain development, an outcome which is most readily achieved through exposure to healthy environments and good relationships. These positive early connections last a lifetime, and are vital in creating successful, happy and healthy adults.
The Early Years will showcase selected artwork and text from the Birthing a Better Future Art & Science Exhibition alongside photographs from the PANChSHEEEL Project, India and will also include artwork collected from Indian rural and urban artists. In addition, we will screen films and hold a panel discussion comprising of distinguished policymakers, researchers, and artists committed to Child, Maternal and Family Health.
Our combined projects emphasise why babies physical, cognitive and emotional health & wellbeing REALLY matters!
“The period from pregnancy to age 3 is when children are most susceptible to environmental influences. Investing in this period is one of the most efficient and effective ways to help eliminate extreme poverty and inequality, boost shared prosperity, and create the human capital needed for economies to diversify and grow.”
(UNICEF, World Bank and World Health Organisation, Nurturing Care Framework)
WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO JOIN OUR Public Engagement PROJECT to help raise awareness on these first 1000 days of a Child’s life.
For further information and to enter the exhibition and panel discussion launch day on the 26th March 2021, please visit:
This exhibition is part of an on-going initiative to encourage the use of the Arts & Film for Public Health engagement.
We really look forward to sharing this important work with you so we can really make a difference in the lives of Children – from conception to early childhood.
* * *
Exhibition Hosted by:
University College London (UCL) and DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance
Project PI: Prof (Dr) Monica Lakhanpaul
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London
Email: m.lakhanpaul@ucl.ac.uk
Twitter: @ProfLakhanpaul
Project Co-Lead: Dr. Kartik Sharma
Public Arts Health & Us (PAHUS)
Email: kartik@pahus.org
For further queries please feel free to reach out to:
UCL: Prof (Dr) Monica Lakhanpaul: m.lakhanpaul@ucl.ac.uk
India Alliance: public.engagement@indiaalliance.org
Project Curator: Alex Florschutz, MA
Zero2 Expo
Email: alex@florschutz.com
www.zero2expo.com
Exhibition Poster
ARTISTS on the Exhibition Poster Banner:
Hemant Chaturvedi (left)
Alex Florschutz (middle) – Rise of the Divine Feminine www.florschutz.com
Leanne Pearce (right) – Breastfeed – Portraits with Purpose www.leannepearce.co.uk