Section 4: The value and importance of aesthetics

About the studio, beauty, and everything in between

December 2, 2024

In the fourth episode, three active studio artists discuss the value of aesthetics and what it means in and for practice.

We discuss: Where does a studio begin and end? How do we engage with children in a material that we ourselves are not comfortable with? Do we make room for the "ugly," and what is that really?

Sitting in the Reggio Emilia Institute studio, we gather around a host of questions and thoughts together with Maria Kozlovska: preschool teacher, studio artist, and head of the studio at the Institute; Johanna Björkqvist: artist, studio artist, and preschool teacher at the Karusellen preschool in Reimersholme; and Gittel Strassman: art teacher in Södertälje.

Detail from the Reggio Emilia Institute studio where episode 4 was recorded. 

Reggio Emilia Institute podcast

Program hosts and producers: Sofia Hedin and Leicy Olsborn Björby

If you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas for future episodes, please feel free to emailpodden@reggioemilia.se.

The podcast is produced by the Reggio Emilia Institute, a meeting place for Reggio Emilia inspiration in Sweden with over 30 years of experience in practical development. Read more atreggioemilia.se/podcast

Related links

Sign up for our introduction to Reggio Emilia March 31–April 1, 2025

Reggio Emilia Inspiration in Practiceis a two-day introduction to Reggio Emilia inspiration, featuring lectures and two study visits to two different Reggio Emilia-inspired preschools.

With: Anna Söderström Ahrborn, educationalist, chairperson, and consultant at the Reggio Emilia Institute, and Greger Rösnes, educationalist, preschool teacher, and CEO of the Reggio Emilia Institute.

Next date: March 31–April 1, 2025