IN anticipation of the sun

The "In Anticipation of the Sun" project, ongoing since 2018, explores human-nature relations, focusing on smog. I involve my 4-year-old son, fostering early environmental awareness.

'In Anticipation of the Sun' is an initiative I have been working on since 2018. Its main goal is to explore the relationship between humans and nature in a very broad context. In order to better capture the issue of smog, I decided to involve my 4-year-old son in the project. From the very beginning, he has been accompanying me in trying to understand and depict the threats associated with air pollution.

This fascinating endeavor not only allows us to delve into the intricacies of the human-environment relationship but also provides a unique opportunity to look at the problem of smog through the eyes of a child. Our collaborative work not only expands our knowledge of ecology but also enables a creative approach to illustrating and understanding the complex issue.

I am convinced that involving my son in this project not only enriches him with early environmental awareness but also allows him to develop creativity and observational skills. Together, we strive to make an effort to understand issues related to smog, air pollution, and seek inspiration for actions to improve air quality.

If you have any questions about our project or would like to learn more about smog and eco-friendly initiatives, I am at your disposal."

Something stopped us that day. Even now, I don’t know exactly what it was. It all began at an unnaturally early hour. For me at least. Kajtek is an old hand at spooning down porridge at 5:30 in the morning. Outside the window, Egyptian darkness. We were waiting for the sun. In winter, it sleeps in, rolls out of bed hours after Kajtek, who was already sitting astride his sled in the hallway. I opened the window, encouraging the caffeine to circulate through my veins. Chest pain hit with the first inhalation. Asthma was up, too. Smell of chimneys burning. It wasn’t smoke rising from the familiar shapes in the yard, not exactly. It was a fog, dense as the dead of night. A violent act perpetrated against a pinned-down sun. I rubbed my gummy eyes. Called to Kajtek. Nose squished to the windowpane, eyes open wide, his mouth forming the question of the day: “Dad, what’s that?” Through a mental mist, an answer emerged from a geography lesson of yore. “Clouds on Earth, son!” Something stopped us that day. Alert! Alarm! Smog! So we took off our hats and one-piece snowsuits, disappointedly stowed the sled. I closed the window. The smog transmogrified into a baleful dragon, writhing in the skies above the city. Kajtek had already armed himself with sword and shield. I, too, believed we could defend ourselves. I answered questions. I wove a tale, of verbs and adjectives, with exclamation points! Kajtek covered a sheet of paper as white as snow with grey and black graphite. We spun the globe, seeking to pinpoint the dragon’s lair. Brush-stroked Chinese characters appeared before my mind’s eye. Cough. I cannot speak. I cannot write. But I can look. I can show. The idea expelled itself from me like a cough. Biological, organic. An unconditional reflex of a concept. I owe it to my son. To you, too. And to the planet. To exhibit smog to the world. To expose its nebulous face. Something stopped us that day. We were held motionless, in anticipation of the sun.