Interview by William Chan
Cynthia Chan Lok Si, in an interview with the Post yesterday, discussed her curation of a Chinese-language book series entitled “The Mysterious Packages” at the 10 Fantasia gallery.
The exhibition is a collaboration between 10 Fantasia and The Macanese Publishing Ltd. The series consists of three children’s books featuring robot animals. The first book addresses the issue of school bullying, the second focuses on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the third explores autistic themes. Chan was tasked with curating the book production, while local author Cyan Cheong (張燕青) and illustrator Justin Ng (吳正楠) were involved in the writing and illustration, respectively.
Chan noted that the project originated from the desire to create Macau’s own Intellectual Property (IP) cartoon character in storybooks, similar to the UK’s “Peppa Pig.” The chosen themes arose from considering educational issues in Macau, she said. Campus bullying, which Chan said is prevalent in Macau, was one of the topics she believed needed more attention in children’s literature. She noted, “I think there aren’t many books, especially those aimed at children, that discuss the problem of bullying at school, despite it being a very important topic for children to be aware of.”
Recognising the gap in the book market, Chan approached Ng and Cheong to collaborate on the book series. “Ng enjoys drawing robots, and I believe animals are a good theme for children. Therefore, the characters in the book are all robotic animals.” The first book serves to introduce readers to the characters, who reappear in the second book addressing ADHD and will also be featured in the third book focusing on autism, considered the most challenging topic to portray in an illustrated book.
According to Chan, the series aims to help readers comprehend the genuine requirements of inclusive education in everyday life and learning. It strives to instil values of respect and care for individual differences, emphasising the absence of hierarchies among people with diverse abilities. Like many children’s books, the characters in “The Mysterious Packages” ultimately resolve their problems and experience a happy ending, providing a positive and uplifting message to readers.
In addition to illustrations, the books also include interactive elements to enhance reader engagement. For example, the first book asks readers to identify the names of the robotic animals through multiple clues, while the second book incorporates various maths problems for solving.
Chan added that during a recent book publishing press conference, they enlisted the services of a musician to compose music specifically for the event. She emphasised that in today’s publishing industry, it is no longer just about publishing books but also curating various events and collaborating with different multimedia platforms to promote their works.
She also maintains a presence on Xiaohongshu (“Little Red Book”), also known as RED, a popular social media and e-commerce platform in mainland China. Through her account, she frequently introduces books and shares information about related events, further engaging with readers and promoting her works.
Chan expressed her aspiration to establish “The Mysterious Packages” characters as Intellectual Property (IP). She aims to extend their presence beyond the books themselves and utilise them for further promotion in the future.
The exhibition will run until June 30 and admission is free.10 Fantasia at 10 Calçada da lgreja de S. Lázaro is open daily between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. but closed on Mondays.
Cynthia Chan (left) and Cyan Cheong (centre) pose at 10 Fantasia gallery during the exhibition’s recent opening ceremony. – All photos provided by Chan
