Katerina Blahutova, an architect and multifacted artist, presented a collaborative workshop for over 50 children enrolled in several Móðurmál groups. On September 27th, she organised an interactive experience called Saeskrímslabúrið (the sea monster aquarium) in Hólabrekkuskóli for children. Students from the Czech, Korean, Spanish, and Russian groups took part in a supervised session and were able to interact creatively with a sea monster that they created themselves during the workshop. The project’s central concept is based on externalisation in narrative therapy, in which children are encouraged to express their emotions artistically by creating a sea monster, which is then placed in a digital aquarium. Children can then engage with the sea monster, which reacts like a real fish when tapped, appearing alarmed and swimming away. The digital interface also resembled real-world water elements, such as ripples when touched. The first part of the workshop consists of storytelling and inventing sea monsters, with children encouraged to use their imagination and empathy to create their own sea monster. They are then asked to design the monster on colored paper and name it. The monsters are then scanned and used in a digital projection, allowing the children to interact and play with their own creations. Móðurmál is grateful for the invitation and partnership, and the participating children had a fun class. The project has been funded by Barnamenningarsjóður until June 2027.
