Nostalgia for the past: the painting "Lost Childhood" at the "Legacy for the Future" exposition

The exposition "Legacy for the Future" continues its run at the National Centre RUSSIA. Until February 2, visitors to the National Centre RUSSIA can explore works by young artists from six countries: Russia, China, India, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Iran. The exposition features over 250 paintings, photographs, sculptures, and art objects.

In their works, the artists not only reflect on important social issues but also share their personal experiences, feelings, and emotions. A striking example is the piece "Lost Childhood". Its creator, Husum Lata, depicts a girl in a pink dress against a backdrop of childlike drawings, as if sketched with chalk on a school blackboard. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

The child stands barefoot, arms outstretched, seemingly ready to embrace the entire world. Elements like the sun, stars, flowers, and butterflies symbolize the child’s unwavering confidence in a bright future. However, the dark background and overall tone of the painting subtly suggest that the adult life awaiting the child might not be so carefree.

The artwork "Lost Childhood" was created using the unique techniques of etching and aquatint. Etching is a method of fabric decoration based on chemically altering the dye layer of textile material with bleach, enabling the creation of remarkable effects and stunning compositions. Aquatint, on the other hand, is a technique for producing engravings on metal. It allows for the creation of fascinating textures, yielding images that resemble watercolor paintings. Renowned artists such as Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro have turned to aquatint in their work.