Four pieces of A3 paper each containing an area marked out to form a page that will scale down to 150mm wide x 260mm high.
Page One
The page is divided into four sequences of equal size.
The title, “A Child’s First Visit to a Gallery : An Imaginary Graphic Short Story” is written in block letters in a banner across the top of the page with full credits.
The rest of the page is divided into three sequences of equal sized boxes with square edges.
The first sequence shows a child and their parents (or only one parent, or other grown-ups, if you would rather) walking up to and into an art gallery, one showing the child looking up at Maman with a mix of fear and awe.
The second shows them entering its entrance lobby, where artworks can be seen, before showing a close-up of the child looking around and smiling.
A third shows the parents looking at a map before leading the child toward a display.
Page Two
The page is divided into four sequences of four boxes. The first three boxes have square corners, the fourth in each sequence has round corners. Each box contains a picture as follows:
Sequence 1, Box 1: The parents of the child point out an artwork.
Sequence 1, Box 2: The child looking at the Venus di Milo.
Sequence 1, Box 3: The child thinking to themself.
Sequence 1, Box 4: The Venus di Milo is seen, with arms, a milkshake in one hand, its straw extending up to her mouth, the other giving a thumbs up. The child is looking up at her, smiling, a milkshake in one hand and returning the thumbs up.
Sequence 2, Box 1: The parents of the child point out an artwork.
Sequence 2, Box 2: The child looking at A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.
Sequence 2, Box 3: The child thinking to themself.
Sequence 2, Box 4: A close-up of the painting, the child now in it and playing football with its occupants, who have removed their coats and are using them as goalposts.
Sequence 3, Box 1: The parents of the child point out an artwork.
Sequence 3, Box 2: The child looking at The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
Sequence 3, Box 3: The child thinking to themself.
Sequence 3, Box 4: A close-up of the print. The wave in the painting is now a little smaller and the boat has moved to a safer position. The child is riding the wave on an inflatable rainbow narwhal while the occupants of the boat watch with enthusiasm.
Sequence 4, Box 1: The parents of the child point out an artwork.
Sequence 4, Box 2: The child looking at Sunflowers.
Sequence 4, Box 3: The child thinking to themself.
Sequence 4, Box 4: The child is giving sunflowers to one of their parents as they walk away (the painting can be seen in the background but now only shows an empty vase).
Page Three
The page is divided into four sequences of four boxes. The first three boxes have square corners, the fourth in each sequence has round corners. Each box contains a picture as follows:
Sequence 1, Box 1: The parents not so much pointing out an artwork but rather putting out their palms face-up and looking around to show this is the artwork.
Sequence 1, Box 2: The child standing in a room covered in white polka dots on a red background.
Sequence 1, Box 3: The child thinking to themself.
Sequence 1, Box 4: Child is sitting and playing in a ball pit, next to which is a box of felt tip pens. The walls of the room are now plain red.
Sequence 2, Box 1: The parents of the child point out an artwork.
Sequence 2, Box 2: The child looking at The Treachery of Images.
Sequence 2, Box 3: The child thinking to themself.
Sequence 2, Box 4: The child with a pipe in their mouth, blowing bubbles. The painting can still be seen in the background but the pipe is missing and it now says, “Cette toile est vierge” and has been renamed #138 The Treachery of Words.
Sequence 3, Box 1: The parents of the child point out an artwork.
Sequence 3, Box 2: The child looking at an artwork chosen by you.
Sequence 3, Box 3: The child thinking to themself.
Sequence 3, Box 4: The child doing something amusing or strange with, or within, your chosen artwork.
A fourth sequence of four boxes all with square corners. Each box contains a picture as follows:
Sequence 4, Box 1: Front view of child looking up at a gallery wall.
Sequence 4, Box 2: Rear view of child looking at a large space in between two paintings.
Sequence 4, Box 3: The child thinking to themself.
Sequence 4, Box 4: The child smiling to themself.
Page Four
The page is divided into two parts.
The top three quarters are empty.
The last quarter is made up of four boxes of equal size with square edges.
The first three show pictures of the family leaving the gallery and walking back along the street, the three of them talking animatedly.
The last contains, “The End” in block letters.
If I was brave enough*, this is what I would have entered [opens in a new window, published via Google Slides, showing for one minute per page but you can press the down and up arrows to navigate] (but printed out on paper).
