What’s new?
An absolute honour to be the guest speaker invited by the Rotary Club of Kowloon West to their luncheon, joining a group of well respected, experienced and influential figures across multiple disciplines, speaking about the story from a banker to an artist, and how an artist committed herself to driving social change through art.
Their recognition, encouragement and support were the inspirations to the future generations.
Looking back to the past two years, Winnie summarised that “Dialogue in Art “ delivered 17 social art initiatives, more than 100 1:1 conversational sessions through art, 80 expressive art sessions at school, served more than 85 children, 100 teenagers and adults.
As she reflected at the presentation, if one “Winnie Wong” could achieve this much within two years, what’s exactly the potential if we create a network to connect capable, passionate and visionary people, in driving the same agenda? It would be extraordinary.
There is still a lot of hope for our future.
The recent last “Bud to Blossom” exhibition was a huge success because it was much more than just a showcase of artwork.
It connected people across disciplines, cultures and backgrounds on an emotional level.
It inspired many to create positive impact on others within their capacity, no matter how small the effort may seem.
700 days ago, Winnie left the job she enjoyed in banking to strike out as a full-time artist. The persistent pursuit of a social mission to promote meaningful dialogues through art in the city of Hong Kong, were made possible by people in the community who supported and encouraged Winnie in the journey.
“Bud to Blossom”, told a story of the social impact created through a riot of colours, and used the the artwork to visualise the stories and impacts of the social art initiatives. A collaboration with Neil Daswani, a talented poet, also gave the audience a new experience in translating words into colours.
‘Drawing to Stranger’ has been an overwhelming success since it launched a few months back. There are more than 300 letters in drawing, received and replied by Winnie – a pair of empathetic ears willing to listen to the minds of the public audiences, from the exam anxiety to the current political turmoil in Hong Kong, emotions are expressed in visual art. Real dialogues are happening.
An encouraging expansion of this meaningful social art initiative into this beautiful Aberdeen community, with the support from the Warehouse Teenage Club in Hong Kong.
“Dialogue in Art” is a one-of-its-kind environment which promotes emotion-based experiential learning through art. In a spacious, well-lit, and relaxing environment, we use painting, clay work, drawing, and many other creative activities, to explore topics and conversations which matter to us.
The founder and emerging local artist, Winnie Wong, leads open conversation and creative art-making sessions to help people from all walks of life reflect and express inner thoughts and emotions.
Very fortunate to have the opportunity to participate and help the warm, supportive and passionate Spanish female artist, Eva Armisén, in her workshop at the “Blooming” exhibition for the talented young artists in Hong Kong.
People like Eva brought us a reflective question – “can I also be like her when I grow up, remaining humble, inclusive and supportive to the younger creative minds?”
Brining the artist’s joint passion in art and people development to the fabulous Sovereign Trust Limited with 50 amazingly talented staff from culturally-diverse background at the Ladies Recreation Club in Hong Kong. It was fascinating to see how engaged the team was throughout the innovative art workshop facilitated and designed to discover the preferred communication styles across cultures.
What the organiser says,
“Thank you so much for delivering that workshop! I have had such positive feedback on the workshop and on you personally you as a professional and engaging presenter! It was very interesting watching everyone recognize their own different styles and then seeing everyone else across the room and what categories their colleagues were in. I think everyone participated in a very positive way and enjoyed it. Bringing into it the collaborative art works brought another element of fun (and competition) into it also! It was fascinating to see just how different each piece was!!”
– Michelle Wong, HR Manager, Sovereign Trust Hong Kong
I began the project of “Art at Home” because I wanted to promote and expand the vision in a sustainable manner for the people in need. I wanted to be able to help parents who had to work and could not spare time to bring their children to multiple spaces, and families which were less fortunate, to practice using art to start a meaningful conversations. I made use of the conditions and setting at home, to help parents initiate a communication style which allowed their children express how they felt emotionally and creatively.
This meaningful project demonstrated to the parents that their children could express themselves in a completely different way as they saw, and encouraged them to build a mutually respectful communications. I became a regular and popular visit to homes – a “magician”, carrying a small suitcase along with me, and turn their familiar home into an imaginative, non-judgemental and expressive universe.
‘Gingerbread man!’ The kids shouted. The artist, Winnie Wong, told a story of Gingerbread man taking an adventure through sound only. They switched off the lights and let our imagination wander. One said they ‘saw’ a bird. ‘What’s the colour of the bird?’ ‘It’s a yellow one, the kind of small, fluffy and active bird.’ Kids around nodded and agreed in the dark.
Thank you for the invitation from The Times Nursery School in Hong Kong to give kids an unusual art experience in the city of practicality – it means that we are opening doors for their closed minds to possibilities.
“A few weeks ago, I started an initiative here in Hong Kong called “Drawing to Strangers” – inviting strangers to write to me, another stranger, in pictorial letters. I just wanted to provide another channel for people, from adults to children, to be able to express themselves emotionally through art. I have received more than 220 letters, in a short period of time.
These “letters” received, were completely beyond my expectations. I received letter from 5-year-old girl telling me how upset she was because her parents gave all their love to her brother; I received letter from a teenager who was under massive pressure from her public exam, and the tears filled up the sea in her drawing… there was also really cute letters which urged me to return to collect the “mail”, when I was away for a few days.
I see lots of connection, empowerment and love in the way how we exchanged our letters. I see that many people are in need of a space for authentic emotional expression. On some days my mailbox would be flooded with letters, and I’d postpone my dinner appointment to make sure I reply to all of them.” – Winnie Wong, Founder of “Dialogue in Art” and “Drawings to Strangers”