The ‘Filial Piety and Parental Grace Art Exhibition’, organised by the Mothers’ Association Care Home, drew to a close yesterday (22nd). The exhibition was kindly sponsored by the Social Welfare Bureau and the Municipal Affairs Bureau, and received strong support from the Mothers’ Association. The event showcased over 40 works. In addition to pieces created by residents using materials such as pearls, aroma stones, harmonious pastels and twisty sticks in their daily lives, ten groups of family members were invited to collaborate with residents on body paintings depicting their family stories. We hope that through this exhibition, we can promote the spirit of filial piety and allow the community to witness the capabilities of our residents.

The exhibition attracted over 5,000 visitors, ranging from the elderly to middle-aged and young people. Furthermore, around twenty organisations—including schools, rehabilitation centres, elderly care services and nurseries—took guided tours to gain a deeper understanding of the stories behind the works. The residents’ creative achievements have been recognised by diverse groups across Macau, and this mutual appreciation embodies the community inclusion we strive to achieve. The one-month exhibition period flew by in the blink of an eye. Looking back on the challenging curatorial process, organising this art exhibition was not only a first for our home and its staff, but also a first for any elderly care home in Macao. Consequently, the process involved a series of innovations and explorations as we sought a display arrangement that was both heart-warming and engaging, whilst also informative. We would like to take this opportunity to say to our staff: this remarkable achievement belongs not only to our residents and their families, but also to every single one of you at the Mother’s Association Care Home.

We have also received feedback of all kinds: we were honoured to have the leadership of the Mother’s Association visit the exhibition on two occasions, where they expressed high praise for the event and the residents’ creative work, and pledged to ensure the exhibition reached a wider audience. We took the residents to the exhibition in person so they could find and revisit their own works. Seeing members of the public carefully admiring their creations, the residents felt that their abilities were ‘being seen’, which helped to re-establish their sense of capability and acceptance. The home also organised visits to the exhibition for family members, all of whom remarked on the extraordinary significance of the event, noting that it had fostered more meaningful interactions between residents and their families. Staff were equally moved by the event, stating that they could never tire of viewing the residents’ works and the behind-the-scenes moments of the creative process; they also remarked that this event would become an unforgettable memory.

Finally, we would like to once again express our gratitude to the Mothers’ Association, the Social Welfare Bureau and the Municipal Affairs Bureau for their strong support of the exhibition. We thank every visitor who came to support the elderly residents, as well as every staff member, family member and resident who participated in the creation of the works. We also hope that more care homes will organise such exhibitions to showcase residents’ abilities, working together to provide the elderly with more opportunities to participate in society.