Interview by William Chan
Local art organisation Big Mouse Kids Drama Group Captain Mabina Choi Leng Chi told The Macau Post Daily in an exclusive interview that this is the second year that the group has organised the project “I can…” with the high school students from Escola Dom Luís Versiglia.
Choi noted that the “Small Island of Expression” (小島宜情) exhibition, showcasing the students’ work from phase two of the project, is currently taking place at Bookand in the Praia do Manduco neighbourhood from June 4 through this Sunday. The interview with Choi took place at the bookshop just before the students spoke about their works last Sunday afternoon.
According to Choi, the exhibition showcases artworks created by students that incorporate their life experiences and imaginations to express their desires for a good life. The students expressed their emotions, relationships, memories, tastes, and other aspects of their lives that they want to preserve through their creations. They built their own utopian small island through their art, revealing their unique perspectives and different facets of life.
Established in 2012, the Big Mouse Kids Drama Group aims to bring drama into the lives of children and youths, cultivating their artistic qualities and fostering cultural participation and appreciation from a young age. The group strives to continue its efforts to develop children’s theatre and performances while benefiting different communities of children and parents through various art programmes. The organisation will present their new show called “The Praises of Cat Warrior ‘’ at the Sands Cotai Theatre on June 24 and 25.
Choi, a former school teacher, felt frustrated and disappointed in the past when she failed to understand and connect with her teenage students. Two years ago, she decided to use art as a means to connect with her students’ inner hearts and created the “I can…” project with her team, targeting isolated students at Escola Dom Luís Versiglia, a male boarding school in Ka Ho. These students often come from complex backgrounds and are deprived of love.
Choi’s main focus is to listen and understand the students’ innermost thoughts and feelings. This is a task that takes time and requires trust building. The project has been running for several years, allowing the students to develop gradually and for Choi and her team to gain the students’ trust. Choi thanked the Cultural Development Fund’s “Financial Support Programme for Multi-Year Cultural Activities/Projects” for making the project possible, as well as the school and the Bookand shop for their support.
According to Choi, each students’ artwork reflects his unique character. For example, one student produced an artwork to express his happiness of receiving a new bicycle, while others delved deeper into questioning the value of material wealth, future plans and their utopian worlds. However, Choi also noticed that within most of their worlds they only feature one person, signifying their loneliness in their upbringing. Through this project, Choi hopes to introduce art to the students and provide them with a means of expressing themselves.
Apart from conducting workshops, Choi’s team took the students hiking on one occasion. Despite heavy rain that made even the instructors nervous, the students showed courage and took on leadership roles during the adventure. “It was amazing to witness a different side of these students during our journey with them,” Choi said. She also emphasised that each event provides a chance for the students to explore and discover more about themselves in their own distinctive ways.
Mabina Choi Leng Chi (front, right) and her team member Ivan (front, left) introduce the exhibition “Small Island of Expression” to visitors.
This photo shows art work by the students from Escola Dom Luís Versiglia, depicting an imagined island where they envision themselves living.
– Photos: William Chan
“I believe that the purest form of art is the expression of an individual’s authentic experience. Only the artist can truly comprehend the history, backstory, and origin of their work. Life can be compared to a staircase, becoming more challenging as we ascend. Each day, people encounter new and unknown challenges, much like climbing an endless staircase. But even if the stairs have no end, one may find a step that belongs to them.” – The exhibition label
“What if we could have a special ability?” – The exhibition label
