Clay creations inspire young minds at SIBF 2025

November 16, 2025 / 7:17 PM

Sharjah 24: Dozens of children visiting the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025) spent an engaging evening transforming soft clay into miniature pots, characters, and whimsical figures that will soon nurture real sprouts.

Hands-on learning through art and nature

The interactive “Sculptures and Plants” workshop introduced young participants to the fundamentals of clay modelling while encouraging responsibility and environmental awareness through simple, seed-based planting. “The kids are learning how clay works; why it needs water, how to shape it, and how it changes,” said the instructor, who urged children to mould anything their imagination suggested, from animals and faces to abstract forms.

From clay to life

Once each piece was shaped, Mezher handed out pre-soaked chia seeds to tuck inside the hollowed clay forms. “Their real task begins once they place the seeds,” she added. “They’ll need to spray their pots with water every day, and after a week or two, they’ll see their creations starting to grow.”

Creativity meets responsibility

The instructor emphasised that the workshop was designed to instill more than artistic skills. “They’re expressing themselves and having fun, but they’re also learning what it means to care for something,” she added. “And they have complete creative freedom — that’s the most important part.”

Children share their experiences

The children took that freedom to heart. Lithika Viswanathan, 14, from India, shaped a small bowl she plans to keep on her windowsill. “I like that it becomes something living,” she said. “You make it today, but it keeps changing.”

For Palestinian Yousef Ahmed, 16, the charm was in watching art and science meet. “It’s cool that you can make a sculpture and then it grows hair,” he said with a laugh. “It’s like you’re designing a creature.”

Ten-year-old Saja, from Algeria, held up her clay animal with pride. “I feel like a real artist,” she said. “I can’t wait to see the plant come out. I’m going to water it every day.”

Part of a broader programme of creativity

The session was one of many hands-on workshops held throughout SIBF 2025, which continues its 12-day programme of storytelling, creativity, and culture at Expo Centre Sharjah. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘Between You and a Book’, this year’s edition features more than 1,200 activities that inspire learning and imagination in young visitors.