King Wong - Artist with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Project Grant: stART Up Community Arts Project

Why did you join the stART Up Community Arts Project for the elderly?
I recently worked on a project with a group of elderly participants. Their way of dealing with challenges and their openness towards new things inspired me a lot, and showed me how to improve myself. Another reason was that we often think of teaching as a way of passing on knowledge, and as teachers we think of ourselves as the starting point for this ‘passing on’. So this time I wanted to make my role more of a ‘bridge’, to help elderly participants share their approach to life, their experience and their wisdom with the youngsters.

Which person do you respect the most?
My mentor, Mr Bubble. He made me the person I am today and taught me the true meaning of education. He showed me what I should aim to achieve as an educator.

How did you work with the elderly participants?
By listening and observing before speaking, and being patient and understanding. It’s important to put yourself in their shoes. We can learn so much more if we make use of their own experiences. 

What impressed you most about working with the elderly?
I taught a group of elderly participants how to make and operate their own puppets. Even though they complained about how hard and tiring it was, they never actually stopped practicing. They joked about the problems they were having, but in the end they made faster progress than my younger students. 

What do you want to say to your future 70-year-old self?
Be bold, be curious, be caring.

Do you have any advice for youngsters who are passionate about the arts?
Theory, technique, passion and practice are important. But caring about society and people is also important. No matter what art form you practice, fundamentally it’s all about humanity. 

What is your favourite book?
“Why Is That So Funny? – A Practical Exploration of Physical Comedy” by John Wright. This book taught me how to find pleasure in the things I do, and showed me how much we can achieve through games and play.