Review by Rui Pastorin
“Disability can be a source of richness and a wonderful gift to humanity”. – Cyril Axelrod
“TOUCH the Heart” is an exhibition that kicked off on Sunday at the Cardinal Newman Centre for Culture and Arts Performance of Macau (CCCN) and is something I haven’t stopped thinking about since covering it. And if you were to visit to view the exhibits or take part in some of the activities on offer, perhaps it will stay with you too.
This is one of those exhibitions that have left an indelible mark on me, particularly for opening a window to understanding certain conditions that I only had a vague idea of, those being deafness, blindness, and especially deafblindness*.
Organised by the Macau Deaf Association (MDA), exhibitiongoers get to know more about these conditions through informative exhibits along with a raft of artworks created by participants including those who are deafblind, blind or hard of hearing, showcasing their talents and capabilities in a way that also allows exhibitiongoers to learn.
The variety of artworks on display are found across two parts of the venue. One section sees creations by participants from Macau and Hong Kong. From watercolours and calligraphy to an artwork that creatively incorporates LEGO pieces, there is much to see. A highlight piece is a woven artwork of various materials that was jointly created by the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind, resulting in a tactile ring that represents Macau and its diverse faces, as highlighted by a description of the artwork.
Found in this section are also interactive elements that give participants an idea of what it might mean to live without one or two of your five senses. Among them is a game where a participant must close their eyes and attempt to thread the needle, something that some of the participants had done for certain works. Under the encouragement of both MDA staff and the husband of one of the participants who had created the works, I also got to try it out for myself, allowing me to understand what the process was like. Another is a workshop where participants can create art while blindfolded, offering a non-visual approach that also seemed to be an activity widely enjoyed during the opening day, which saw moments of applause through clapping, the waving of hands or the stomping of feet throughout the programme.
The second section features the paintings by deafblind priest and Macau Deaf Association (MDA) founding president Cyril Axelrod OBE.
The 84-year-old was born deaf in South Africa and, later in life, went on to also gradually lose his sense of sight, now having been deafblind for 25 years. Painting with his forefinger, the works he is presenting were created from memory, particularly depicting scenes of people and places of Macau, the place where he continues to help others.
In his latest book “Conquest of Darkness”, he notes: “With my painting, I try to help people see the true contribution disabled people have within society. I try to break down barriers and change misconceptions about disability”, adding that he was always grateful for his deafblindness, which “has revealed ways for me to serve others”.
Aside from the artwork, the exhibition also includes a section showing the tools and items that he uses daily ranging from a cane to assistive technology like a Braille keyboard and a watch, referred to as a Braille or tactile watch. Accompanying the exhibits are also videos that allow members of the public to learn more about being deafblind and how people who are affected by it go about their lives.
Altogether presenting a showcase of art while providing something that visitors can learn from, the exhibition ends on July 12, with members of the public able to visit it from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. The venue is closed on Mondays.
This article is part of a series of stories, the first part of which can be read on https://macaupostdaily.com/news/28626
*The World Federation of the Deafblind notes it as a “distinct disability”, stating: “Deafblindness is a combined vision and hearing impairment of such severity that it is hard for the impaired senses to compensate for each other”.
A workshop draws many participants after Sunday’s opening ceremony.
Fr. Cyril Axelrod’s works are showcased at a section of the “TOUCH the Heart Exhibition” at the Cardinal Newman Centre for Culture and Arts Performance of Macau (CCCN) on Calçada da Vitória (得勝斜路). – Photos taken during Sunday’s opening ceremony by Rui Pastorin
These photos show the artworks in a section of the exhibition featuring artists from Macau and Hong Kong.
