From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Categories: Children | Photo project |

"Playground" is the name of James Mollison's photo series. Thinking about his childhood, the British photographer noticed that most often he remembers the school playground — a place of laughter, games, noisy antics, and even the first tears, conflicts and fights. He decided to return to his school in England to see how it looks now, and at the same time look at other playgrounds nearby. The contrasts between what he saw in British schools only sparked his curiosity, and he decided to see what school playgrounds look like in different parts of our planet.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Catholic secondary school "Sacred Heart" in London.

While working on his photo project, James Mollison encountered a wary and suspicious attitude of the administration in many schools. At the same place where he received permission, the children immediately ran up and were interested in what the photographer was doing, and then returned to their fun games on the playground.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Village Council School in Ludiya, in India.

James Mollison has photographed playgrounds all over the world, from a monastery in Bhutan and in slums in Kenya to well-organized schools in Japan and Europe.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Valley View School in Nairobi, in Kenya.

The photographer wanted to show those details that concerned his personal memories of the school playground. Therefore, most of his photos were created by superimposing several frames taken during one break. The photographer does not consider this manipulation, but only a story about what has already been there for a long time.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Shikim Maoz School in Sderot, in Israel.

According to the photographer, although most of the schools he visited were very different from each other, he was struck by the similarity of the behavior of children from different parts of the world and the games they played.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Holtz School in Tel Aviv, in Israel.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Stonyhurst College Lancashire in the United Kingdom.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

A primary school in the city of Naivasha, in Kenya.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Rajkumar College is located in the city of Rajkot, in the state of Gujarat, India.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Ugo Foscolo Elementary School in Venice, Italy.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

St. Augustine's Roman Catholic School in Palm Loop, Montserrat.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Al Khan Al-Ahmar Primary School, Zone C, Jericho, in the West Bank.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Dechen Phodrang School playground in Thimphu, Bhutan.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Gomalandet School in Kristiansand, in Norway.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Paso Payita Playground in Chuquisaca, Bolivia.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Playground at Bhakta Vidyashram School in Kathmandu, Nepal.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Shohei Elementary School in Tokyo.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Children's playground at school No. 2013 in Moscow.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

Adolfo Lopez Mateos Elementary School in Mexico City, Mexico.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

The School of the Navy in Los Angeles, USA.

From Moscow to Bhutan: what school playgrounds look like in different countries

An elementary school in Guangzhou, China.

Keywords: School | Countries | Children | Photo project | Playground

     

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