The international holiday Children’s Day coincides with the first day of summer, a favorite season for boys and girls, when schoolchildren begin their long vacations and can devote more time to their hobbies, playing with younger brothers and sisters, and visiting cultural and entertainment venues. To mark the occasion, the State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan has opened an exhibition titled “Turkmenistan – A Land of Happy Children.” All the exhibits on display are museum treasures preserved in the institution’s collections. The organizers approached the theme creatively by asking themselves a simple question: What accompanies children of all times and nations throughout their childhood? The answer, of course, is toys. For this reason, the exhibition begins with artifacts dating back to the 3rd century BC, specifically items discovered in Parthia that once served as playthings for children of that era. Among the exhibits are a clay bird whistle, clay figures of dogs of various breeds, small jugs, and a model of a cart—the primary means of transporting goods at the time.
These ancient artifacts are followed by a photographic exhibition featuring children from all the velayats of our country. One photograph shows a young boy learning mathematics using an abacus. One cannot help but imagine how much easier life would have been for him in today’s world of calculators. Another photograph depicts boys on their way to school, while elsewhere young girls are captured performing a dance.
At the center of the exhibition is A. Kuprin’s painting “My Mother,” portraying a happy mother and her healthy, cheerful child. Peaceful skies, a mother, and her child symbolize the very foundation of happiness. The painting carries profound meaning, uniting across time and space humanity’s greatest value—peace.
The section dedicated to modern children features handicrafts created by youngsters themselves. Among the exhibits are bright and joyful pictures made with buttons and beads, bouquets of colorful flowers knitted from yarn, and fairy-tale characters such as the Golden-Crested Rooster and the Golden Fish that grants wishes. One of the most interesting displays is a hollow tree trunk containing owl chicks. There are also stained-glass panels featuring contemporary children’s literature.
The portrayal of happy childhood through games and toys evoked nostalgic emotions among the first visitors who came to the museum on June 1. Adults found themselves recalling the toys that accompanied their own childhoods and expressed their gratitude to the exhibition’s organizers for the interesting selection of exhibits.
