- Annual competition established by Justice Centre, an NGO that helps the city’s refugees and migrants, celebrates diversity and inclusion through the arts
- Every week, Talking Points gives you a worksheet to practise your reading comprehension with exercises about the story we’ve written
“Together, a Better World,” by 17-year-old Jasmine Chan. The thought-provoking painting received the Justice Centre Choice Award, one of three grand prizes at the 2023 Colour of Humanity Arts Prize. Photo: HandoutFrom record-breaking temperatures to devastating wars in Gaza and Ukraine and the surge of artificial intelligence, 2023 was a year of tremendous upheaval.
Pondering over these tumultuous shifts, 17-year-old Jasmine Chan Yuet-chi wielded her paintbrush to convey a heartfelt wish in her watercolour artwork “Together, a Better World.”
Set against a backdrop of warm colours, the piece portrays two individuals running together towards a brighter future, with a deliberate focus on their legs.
“I wanted to shift attention from their age, gender, and race, instead highlighting the universal expression of unity ... By transcending our differences and coming together, we can strive for a brighter, more inclusive, and peaceful world,” said the Year 13 student at Sha Tin College.
Jasmine explained that the open-ended nature of art enables diverse interpretations. “My artwork aims to showcase the strength that emerges from collective action. I hope audiences can see themselves reflected in the artwork and feel inspired to contemplate their own contributions towards a better, brighter future.”
The thought-provoking painting received the Justice Centre Choice Award, one of three grand prizes at the 2023 Colour of Humanity Arts Prize. Established in 2013 by Justice Centre Hong Kong, an NGO that helps refugees and migrants, the annual competition celebrates diversity and inclusion through the arts.
The student artist, who concentrates on depicting topics surrounding humanity, said that winning the award was a “delightful surprise”.
“I never expected to receive this recognition ... it reinforced my belief in the power of art to connect people and evoke meaningful emotions,” she said.
Looking ahead, the teen aspires to continue exploring themes such as social justice, environmental sustainability, and personal growth.
“Ultimately, I hope to connect with audiences on a deeper level and evoke emotions through my art.”
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Reflecting on change
Lynette Nam, executive director of Justice Centre Hong Kong, said that the theme of the competition, “Our Changing World,” was an easy choice due to the significant changes we’ve seen over the past year.
“We’re seeing outbreaks of new conflicts, [even] eclipsing old ones still ongoing. So I think ‘Our Changing World’ [can help us] reflect on these changes and how human society as a whole has come together to weather [them],” she said.
Last year, the competition received a record 102 submissions from people from all walks of life, including established artists, students and refugees. The works feature topics such as international displacement, feminism, and labour, and utilise mediums like video and sculpture.
Nam said it was “invigorating” to see the quality of submissions, calling them “diverse” and “compelling”.
“There’s artwork that makes you question your own presumptions and assumptions. And there is work that gives you hope and work that makes you despair. Each and every one of them is compelling.”
Jasmine’s piece in particular stood out for the Justice Centre, as its positive note resonates with the organisation’s mission.
“It presents a vision of people really coming together and transcending differences to build a more inclusive future. And I think in times full of insecurity, violence and conflict, we need something that so beautifully and pointedly represents hope,” Nam said.
“Optimism is critical ... and I think her piece and the way she represented people coming together [carries] forward the hope that we want to see as part of the conversation.”
Space for dialogue
The 30 pieces shortlisted for prizes will be displayed at the Goethe-Institut Hong Kong in Wan Chai until January 14, with bilingual guided tours available.
The artists will hold workshops at the closing event on January 14, and there will be a reading corner where children can read about topics like the changing environment.
“We live in a world of increasing division and polarisation, and we hope that through the Prize, we are creating a space for deep introspection, creative expression, and inclusive dialogue,” said Nam.
“Art transcends ideological and social divides, it transcends borders, and it’s a great equaliser,” she said. “Through artistic creation and inviting people to appreciate art, we are going beyond everyday jargon ... [art] invites genuine conversation on concepts that have been thrown around so widely.”
Nam hopes the annual competition can continue offering a platform for creativity and conversation.
“We hope we can celebrate the diversity within our society [and] its beauty and authenticity,” Nam said. “We want it to ignite the compassion and the empathy that defines Hong Kong people.”
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