Through our eyes

This June, Julia Winckler was commissioned to return to Hong Kong for a third time to continue a series of Train the Trainer photography workshops for the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation.  The foundation supports innovative and creative photography and art projects in Hong Kong and mainland China, and Mandy Chow, the foundation’s project leader, is currently planning exhibitions and educational events in Bejing.

In 2006 Julia was lead curiculum developer and facilitated experiential workshops for the foundation project Through Our Eyes. Subsequently the foundation worked with nearly 200 12 to 18 year old pupils using creative photography techniques.  Two exhibitions featuring student work have already taken place: Through Our Eyes: My Light was exhibited in the Hong Kong Central Library. Wanchai in a Different Light, an installation of large scale projected images on Lee Tung Street explored the students’ heritage and memories and attracted over 30.000 visitors. A book featuring the students’ work will be published this autumn.

This year the foundation’s focus is on community, cultural heritage and the environment.  Julia facilitated another 10 day intensive workshop working together with San Francisco based writer Mimi Lok. The pair worked with twelve Chinese artists, including photographers John Fung and Robert Tan, to develop curriculum for the foundation.

The artists then worked in the Guangdong province, mainland China and are now working with 10 schools in Hong Kong where several hundred pupils partake in this year’s Through Our Eyes project.

Julia has begun to forge linkages between the Robert H.N. Ho foundation and the schools of CMIS and Art & Communication at the University and it is hoped that further connections will be made over the coming year.