Mini Acts for the Greater Good (MAGG) is holding an exhibition of over 100 diverse paintings and sketches by refugees who are awaiting asylum in Greece or Hong Kong.
The upcoming event – called “Artists in Exile Near and Far: Refugee Stories Through Art in Hong Kong and Abroad” – is organised in collaboration with art gallery DreamLikeBubbles, networking group Drink for Justice, and refugee project Table of Two Cities.
Vincie Ho, co-founder of MAGG, told HKFP: “The objective of the event is to foster better understanding of the global refugee crisis and change the narrative that stigmatises refugees and displaced persons in Hong Kong and around the world, as well as raise funds for contributing refugee artists.”
Refugees make up just 0.2 per cent of Hong Kong’s population. From 2014 to 2017, 52 or 0.7 per cent of asylum seeker claims were accepted as qualifying for “non-refoulement” – meaning they cannot be sent home – because of the likelihood of torture. Unlike China, Hong Kong is not party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. Asylum seekers are sometimes made to wait years before hearing the outcome of their refugee claims in Hong Kong.
The paintings displayed were created by refugees during art therapy workshops in Greece or Hong Kong. The exhibition will also feature a collection of Hong Kong refugee stories in the form of videos, photos, and installations, as well as a video screening of refugee artists in action; entrance is free, but attendees are invited to make a small donation to purchase unlimited wine and canapés. All paintings will be available for sale afterwards, with proceeds going directly towards supporting the artists.
Date: Saturday October 13, 2018.
Time: 5pm-9pm
Venue: The Hive Spring, 3/F Remex Centre, 42 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong Island. Click for directions.
Entry: Free.
Love Without Borders – For Refugees In Need and Refugee Union Hong Kong are the beneficiaries of the event.
