Art-Busi-Creative-Tech (ABCT) Creation for Expression of “Rights to Learn” – How to Create and Co-create for Diversity, Inclusion and Expand Collaboration in
Hong Kong
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INTERVIEW
How did you find your way into art – was there a specific moment or person that set you on this path?
Creation has long been recognized as a powerful and enjoyable tool for education, wellness, and social development.
The moment that sets me into the creation pathway is the time when we are tired of doing repetitive tasks in life where we need to take a breath.
One of the recent moments that I come across with ocarina music which triggers me to create paintings to match the ocarina music as cultural artifact and music-art therapy. They align with my ongoing contributions to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), uphold the right to learn, and align with the principles of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and design thinking theories that I have learnt in GsD, School of Design, Harvard University. I enjoy art in my research thinking process and collaboration, such as that facilitated by the Hong Kong Ocarina Exchange Association of Sunny Yuen. I invited Sunny Yuen for ocarina performance during my exhibition on “Restore the Nature” in the Fringe Club, Anita Chan-lai ling Gallery a few years ago which impressed me with new elements in art.
How would you describe your artistic practice to someone encountering your work for the first time?
For the first time visitors approached my artwork, environmental apparels and tissue drawings, they were inspired by my curiosity and boundary-free creation in combining Chinese calligraphy drawing techniques with languages and colors to convey messages on SDGs with actions.
What themes or ideas keep returning to your work, even when you don’t plan for them?
The themes of “Restore the Nature”, “Nature with Blue Green”, “SDG x ESG” and “Art-tech-Business” are always in my mind that consistency of themes makes my personality stand out and artwork for sustainability x responsibility, aligning with 7 principles of UNPRME – Purpose, values, teach, research, practice, partner, share and 17 SDGs with UNGC 10 principles.
Can you walk us through your process – from the first idea to a finished piece?
Set a habit and time for creation with a sense of calmness and a moment of exploration for fun. Choosing things that you haven’t tried before and mixing with traditional techniques that may have heritage and cultural values in the creation process and end products, bringing a message to the audience that education is a transformation journey.
What are you currently working on, and are there any upcoming exhibitions or projects you’d like to share?
The events / conferences/ colloquium/ exhibitions that I am currently working on supporting UNPRME Anti-poverty working group colloquium, nurturing students in studying business to have artistic mindset with SDG x ESG for actions to serve the community, and Sunny Yuen, Ocarina Music Therapy with Artistic way of presentation.
I believe the UNESCO statement on art and culture in 2024 that “We recognize that education systems must be strengthened and transformed by taking decisive steps in order to rethink the purpose, content and delivery of education to promote equity and inclusion, quality and relevance, as echoed in United Nations efforts, such as the Education 2030: Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 and the Transforming Education Summit (2022). We commit to taking actions to ensure that education meets the needs of all learners in diverse contexts and equips them with the knowledge, skills, values, attitudes and behaviours needed to “promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development”, as stipulated in Target 4.7.” (UNESCO Abu UAE, 15th Feb., 2024, p.1 )
How has your practice evolved over the years – what has changed, and what has stayed the same?
For me, “Change is a way of life”. “Transformation is to change for the better way of thinking and acting”.
I have evolved from Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting with mixed medium to using environmental materials and concepts for paintings, apparel, homeware and exploring sounds to art-busi-tech with AI for transformation to align with the message of UNESCO, 2024:
……culture can be transmitted, expressed and experienced across time and space through words (literature, oral traditions, language), sound (music, radio, media), images (visual arts, media) movement (dance, theatre), monuments and objects (architecture, design, crafts), digital media of all types, and traditional knowledge (local and Indigenous knowledge systems, living cultural heritage and expressions), among others.
Education is defined as “an inalienable human right. This is a lifelong and society-wide process, through which everyone learns, and develops to their fullest potential.UNESCO Abu UAE, 15th Feb., 2024, p.1.
What advice would you give to emerging artists just starting out, looking back on your own journey?
I believe walking the talks and collaboration with like-minded persons/ mentors/ mentees is better than offering “advice” without a feel of actions.
When looking back to my journey of creation without limit, I believe culture and arts is part of education. SDG#5 gender equality and SDG#10 Removal Inequalities are embedded in SDG#4.7 knowledge transfer for rights to learn.