今年是我策劃牛房兒童藝術樂園唯一一次延續展覽主題的一年，也是以《齊齊展》命名，每一次做著兒童展都像一個摸索階段，從當下的經驗中轉化到下一年應該要怎樣做，像是一個永無休止的計劃。但不覺得累，當把她看成生活的一部份，有很多必需要的事情，支撐日常的運行，那就變成一件有氧份又自然的事。
像今年也加入特殊兒童以一對一方式去教導，可已不是重點。記得上一年開幕時，小孩們一起在展場中看作品及玩樂，他們都有自己的個性，愛笑的、好動的、沉靜的⋯⋯大家一起在這個空間裡渡過了一個愉快的下午。延續，可說是今年甚至往後想做的事情，不是做了一次就完，而是可以再發展下去，如果每年展覽都是不同的主題及組合，對於觀眾會有新鮮感，可對於展出的小孩，更需要是他們創作中的成長，作品的成長是之一，內心的成長更重要。所以我們也很想上一年有參與過工作坊的小孩，今年再繼續來上課，也當牛房是一個大家庭，大家定期一起相聚。
Bonnie老師今年騰出更多時間回來澳門教學，對於這樣密集式的課程，在她來說也是一項挑戰，但她仍然是那樣平靜優雅的做著，彷彿和平常無異。或者因為預早的準備，大家更信任更開放，所以能更輕鬆的面對，越來越清楚保持心境比能力高更重要，對於事情的穩定性及團隊們的合作關係，情緒、溝通及安排是人後天很需要終生學習的事情，反而創作能力是天生的。教育一方面是教懂我們怎樣群體生活，有規矩、語言及技能，同時應該提醒我們每個人的天性／初心，好奇心、幻想力及大膽等，甚至把潛在的創意及能力發挖出來，讓我們可以去實現所想。
一直想把表演部份放在兒童藝術樂團，小孩對於欣賞表演其實更熱愛，而又怎樣把表演與小孩放在一起，過往幾年都未有機緣做到，到上年認識了馬來西亞的麗香，想到她有做影子偶，就邀她可否做一個以教導工作坊為主，演出為次的兒童偶劇。她與拍檔Ah Goo來澳門三個星期，要引導小孩想像力及熱情，要他們構思故事，做公仔及佈景，最後是排練，還要做展場佈置的一切。說真如果對象是成年人，我也不放心在這麼短時間完成，但小孩就不同，特別幼齡的小孩，還不懂社會中的各種規限，她們有驚人的創作力，只要我們不扼殺，而去開發，很快就可以做出作品來。
吱喳兒童藝術工作室今年繼續與牛房合作，今年導師Vanessa呈現作品的方法與上年很不同，幾張以單線條為主的集體創作的大幅作品，簡單的放在展場，與上年很多零碎及色彩成對比，但還是有著老師給予小孩自由及大膽的感覺。常常改變方式，甚至跟著小孩成長，對於老師來說是很重要，而視覺藝術興趣班也已成了一班愛藝術小孩的快樂小日子。阿Lam以故事方式引導小孩，而怎樣去靈活運用及更深層次轉化，是要老師不斷試驗，對於小孩什麼新奇的事都愛試，懂得念頭一轉，把慣性的事情推翻重新再來，試一下未嘗不可。而上年才大學畢業的Lego完全是打破舊有常規的老師，上年及今年她分別在井井三一及風盒子舉辦兒童繪畫班，並於風盒子展出，看見她與學生們在戶外繪畫，看見她們為展覽一起佈置及準備，全身投入度令旁人無不讚嘆！熱情，就是生活裡很重要的一環。
在Natalie的Facebook裡看到她教的兩位小孩作品，而她為小孩開的相簿命為《藝術家教老師》，老師到兩兄妹家教藝術，會因應節日而做、會做大型作品、有平面有立體，不限於式，特別是哥哥可勤，做的作品可以掩蓋整個廳間，看到相片在驚嘆他的創作力之餘，更想到家人的給予及鼓勵才更重要。剛好在遊覽Facebook時發現小孩的爸爸是認識的朋友，就邀可勤來參與展出，也圓一直想有小孩獨立展區的想法，對於小孩做作品不是一個問題，問題是家人會否重視及儲存他們的作品才更重要，可勤的家完全做到這一點。
上一年展覽期間有很多學校來參觀，我們會為學校準備導賞及簡單工作坊，今年有一個展區就是展出上一年來參觀之後做的作品，可惜今年因為某種原因，展覽在暑假期間，所以我們變了另一種形式去做，以看展覽玩遊戲做實驗在展場進行延伸。也與井井三一合作把兒童繪本帶來展區，也帶到Bonnie的親子工作坊裡《故事裏》，用這種形式連結大家及展覽。《DFC創意行動家》與Design For Change(Macau)合作是新的嘗試，針對年紀稍大的小孩，不要以大人主導來參與，並且可以做更多行動及計劃的事，兒童藝術樂團也想小孩慢慢在這裡一直成長。今年繼續與Best Buddies一起辦跳蚤市場，一連兩天把牛房創造成一個更多元素的空間，並且帶出友誼共融，平等關愛的理念。
施援程
策展人
前 言
Preface
The 2016 edition of Ox Warehouse Children's Artland, under the same curator, continues the theme and title – Jolly Joint Exhibition – of last year’s. With a children’s exhibition each curatorial effort is like an exploration, an endless project in which we always have to ponder, from the actual experience, how to plan the next. Yet I never feel tired as I treat it as part of my life, a natural thing to do and enjoy, just like any other daily chores.
This year, we also include a one-on-one workshop for children with special needs, although that’s not the highlight. I remember how children appreciated works and played together at the venue in last year’s exhibition opening. They all have their own ways, some laugh, some are hyperactive and others very quiet… Different kids had a happy afternoon here. Continuation is something I really want to do this year or in years to come, as it is the way to further develop this project rather than drawing it to a close after just one try.
We admit that a different exhibition theme and a new set of elements would give visitors a sense of novelity but for the sake of the young participants, we prioritize their growth in creative terms, including development in their work and above all in their inner growth. That said, we hope participants in last year’s workshop can carry on with the course, gathering up here every year around this time in the big family of Ox Warehouse.
Bonnie returns to Macao and this year she spares more time on teaching. The intensive course is a challenge yet she does her job in a calm, elegant manner, as if nothing is weighing on her. She is at ease, probably owing to the earlier preparation, and more trust and openness between us. This case makes me aware that maintaining one’s poise is even more crucial than possessing ability. Creativity is innate, but having self-control, cooperation among team members, mood, communication and organisation are nurtured capacities that take a lifelong learning. On one hand education should teach us how to live and behave collectively, nurturing our language and other social skills. On the other hand, it should remind each student of his/her own nature/original purity, curiosity, and boldness, helping us to tap our potential creativity and abilities in order to fullfil our dreams.
I have considered to include a performance into the Children's Artland, because kids like watching shows. However, in the past few years we had no opportunity to connect a performance with children. This year, I invited Tan Lay Heong from Malaysia — a shadow puppetry artist I’ve met last year — to present a children’s puppet theatre integrating a core, teaching-oriented workshop with an ancillary performance. Lay Heong and her partner Ah Goo stayed three weeks in Macao to work out the plan. They have to direct the children, spark their imagination and passion, guiding them through the whole process, from conceiving the story, making puppets and stage design, until rehearsal as well as exhibition setup. Frankly speaking, if they were adults, I doubt if they could deliver in such a short time. But children are different, especially the youngsters. Unbound by norms and rules of the society, they possess an amazing creativity. As long as we (adults) don’t stand on their way, they can create their work quite rapidly.
This year, the Ji-Ja Art Workshop continues to cooperate with Ox Warehouse. In this exhibition, Vanessa, shows a way of presenting her pupils’ works in a different format: several large size works composed by single lines are simply displayed, contrasting to the fragmentations and colours of her guided creations in 2015. Nevertheless, they still give off a sense of freedom and boldness. In fact, it’s vital for a teacher to adapt, or even grow together with children. To our delight, the visual art course brings a group of little art lovers some happy days. Lam guides the kids with storytelling. Yet, with this approach, the teacher has to incessantly experiment on how to flexibly make use of storytelling, and deepen it, because kids love trying all kinds of curious things, and they can easily change their mind, overturning the conventional, doing it anew to try it out. Last but not the least, a new graduate with a BA, Lego is an innovative tutor breaking away from the conventional. In 2015 and 2016, she has been hosting a children’s drawing course respectively at Júbilo 31 (Children’s Drawing Books Store) and the Artistry of Wind Box Community Development Association, each with an exhibition at the latter venue. Anyone will be marvelled by their whole-hearted dedication upon seeing how she and the little participants draw outdoors and how they set up and prepare the exhibition. Passion is indeed a vital element in life!
I saw on Natalie’s FB page her two pupils’ work, in a photo album entitled The Home Tutor of Art, specially created for children. Natalie teaches the siblings art at their home. They create according to festivals, their works include large ones, either graphic or 3D arts, in free form. Noteworthily, the brother, Ho Kan, creates works so big that they can fill up the entire living room. I was amazed by his creativity as well as the opportunity and encouragement given by his family, which is more important. By pure chance, a FB browsing made me realise the boy’s father is a friend and thus I invited Ho Kan to participate in the exhibition. His participation fullfils my idea of having an independent exhibition area for a child. Apparently it is not difficult for a child to create art, the challenge instead lies in whether or not a family will value and keep the child’s work. In Ho Kan’s case, his family do it perfectly.
In Children's Artland 2015, many schools organised students to visit the exhibition and we offered them guided tours and basic workshops. This year, we set up an area showing works created by students after visiting. This time, however, the exhibition regretfully occurs during the summer holidays and therefore we changed another way, to let the kids visit the exhibition, play games and do experiment.
Moreover, we cooperate with Júbilo 31 to bring children’s drawing books to here, as well as to Bonnie’s parent-child workshop entitled Through Stories. All these are aimed at connecting visitors with the event. And DFC Creative Activists is a new try in collaboration with Design For Change (Macau) targeting older children. This activity excludes adults’ interference, encouraging children to act and plan more, reflecting Children's Artland aim to let children keep growing little by little through this event.
This year we continue to co-organise a flea market with Best Buddies, turning Ox Warehouse into a space with rich elements while bringing out the message of “friendship, integration, equality and caring”.
Cora Si Wun Cheng
Curator
