The Rui Cunha Foundation (FRC) yesterday launched the Students Art Exhibition 2024 “Dragon and Phoenix Winged to Welcome Dual Celebrations”, an event annually promoted by the Macau Association for Intellectual Development Services (MAIDS) to share with the public creative works by young people with intellectual difficulties.
The association was formerly known as Macau Association for the Mentally Handicapped.
The event is organised every year with the works of the members from the associated schools and centres in Macau, resulting in 51 paintings and crafts created by students from the Kai Chi School, Kai Chi Early Training Centre, Kai Lung Vocational Centre, Kai Hon Centre and the Sam Meng Chi Snack Shop.
The arts display is always joined by an internal competition – this year under the title “Delivering Love – Walking Together with Love” – to challenge the minds of the participants, according to the art showcase’s information page on FRC’s website.
There are 25 paintings and 5 three-dimensional works of art, in addition to the prize-winning pieces from the adjacent competition, which include paintings, ceramics, handicrafts and collages, resulting from the ongoing MAIDS’s project of validation through art, for its communicative potential, and its ability to stimulate personal self-knowledge and to challenge the difficulties, stigmas and prejudices among these young people with special needs. This year the age group of participants was expanded, allowing more students to take part in the competition, in line with the objectives of the “World Autism Awareness Day” established by the UN on April 2nd.
Founded in 1986, the association offers early intervention services, special education, and day centres for didactic activities, as well as rendering employment support services for people with intellectual disabilities. At the same time, MAIDS has encouraged the learning of manual arts, as a way to develop emotional and behavioural skills through self-expression. These workshops offer children and young people an opportunity to manipulate materials, stimulating the exploration through alternative communication methods, which give them a sense of control of the creative environment.
By supporting and inspiring a free artistic creation space, the schools and centres associated with this project have been able to follow the growth of these students in terms of individual expression, improvement of social opportunities, greater self-esteem, well-being, and happiness. These feelings contribute to their mental health and the experience of a life with dignity, according to MAIDS.
The artworks will be displayed at FRC’s Gallery until 1 June. For more information visit the foundation’s website. (Wong Kin Ang)
Image: FRC
COMMENTS