A special group of children broke from their routine this week to take part in an engaging art project at Citywalk mall in Tsuen Wan.
The project, called 'Take a Break with ART', is an extension of the Sino Group's award-winning effort 'Art in Hong Kong', a programme that brings art to Hongkongers inside various Sino properties.
The latest project is housed in a Citywalk shop on the upper ground floor, numbered UG 45a and b. Artists from the Hong Kong Society of Illustrators have painted the shop's walls, and created objects, around the theme 'Take a break'.
There are depictions of take a break to shop, take a break for coffee time, take a break to be a sloth, take a break to feel the world. There's even take a break to fly over the city.
The exhibit - which lasts until early February - is not just focused on individual work or the illustrators' impressive joint mural. From time to time, the Sino Group invites the public to join the artists for art jam sessions, interactive art demonstrations for the curious and the creative.
An art jam session 'is a community art activity', said Nikki Ng, group general manager of the Sino Group. 'It is an art process that involves professional artists and community members in a collaborative creative process resulting in collective experience and public expression.'
On Sunday, the Sino Group invited children of Stand by U, and some parents, to attend two sessions.
Stand by U is a mentoring and counselling programme for children who live with a parent or parents suffering from mental illness. The programme was created by the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service group, which is an Operation Santa Claus 2009 beneficiary.
'Sino Group has been a long-standing supporter of this annual charity campaign,' Ng said. 'All Operation Santa Claus campaigns are heavily community-focused and are making a direct and noticeable impact with specific projects. We are delighted to be a supporter for another year.'
On Sunday, the Stand by U participants learned how to make window stickers under the guidance of illustrators. The guests drew pictures on plain paper with pencils and markers, placed a clear adhesive sheet over their works and traced their expressive efforts on to them.
Afterwards, the group cut around their images on the adhesive sheet, peeled away the backing and stuck their work on the shop's front glass window.
Their drawings joined the illustrations of some of the city's most talented artists.
The art jam was 'a good opportunity for them [parents and children] to have an opportunity to draw together,' said Cosette Chan Lee-ting, a Stand by U case worker. Some 'parents who suffer mental illness ... like to stay at home, and they seldom have any activities with their children'.
'This kind of activity provides chances for the parents to ... improve their relationships,' Chan said. And for children, 'they also have the chance to spend time with other children. It may help their social skills and it's also a good opportunity to have some fun.'
Chan said Stand by U was still looking for bilingual volunteers to help mentor children or chaperone group outings.
Anyone interested in becoming a Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service volunteer can call 2386 1717.
Those interested in the 'Take a Break with ART' exhibit times or taking part in a Sino Group art jam session can call the Citywalk Art Project on 2132 8600.
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