Drawings that remember what matters.

Life Philosophy 101 is an ongoing art-and-reflection project created by Sienna Ruyi Zhang (UWC @ Pearson College), who began with a simple question:

What if children were invited to draw their answers to the big questions we all wonder about, like love, sadness, happiness, or loss?

Inspired by her time helping in her mother’s early childhood classroom, Sienna was struck by how clearly and honestly young children experience the world. As adults around her grew more preoccupied with achievement and self-worth, she found herself returning to the clarity of children’s emotions: their unfiltered joy, their raw sadness, and the gentle way they hold wonder.

So far, Life Philosophy 101 has collected over 100 drawings from children ages 5 to 8 in both China and South Africa. This site features a curated selection of their responses to themes like love and happiness. Each drawing reflects a small but powerful perspective on what it means to be human.

The project is still growing, with plans to explore new philosophical themes such as truth, change, and free will, and to gather voices from more places around the world. Eventually, Sienna would like to create a “kid’s book” with the most unique drawings.

This is not a project about right answers. It’s about remembering what matters. A place for both kids and adults to pause, reflect, and maybe even smile.