"I Know You're Not Happy, but I Want to Tell You..." - Self-Help Programme
About the Exhibition
What are students worried about? How can we support those navigating the challenges of growing up?
When a 15-year-old student writes that their concern is "being born (the inability to choose not to be born)," and a 12-year-old describes feeling "like I don't matter at all," reading their words is enough to make a grown-up get teary-eyed.
These sentiments are part of the student responses collected during our exhibition, "I Want to Tell You, Actually I'm Not Happy" - Student Emotional Support Programme, which launched in December 2023. We gathered reasons for students' distress, including adults' expectations, difficulties in peer relationships, pressure from public exams, the loneliness of not being understood, and low self-esteem. Over 100 students participated in this anonymous exhibition to share their struggles, and we later expanded the initiative to two community spaces, collecting responses from an additional 60 students.
Writing down their worries on cards is the first step in acknowledging their negative feelings. We continue to welcome everyone to express their distress and are excited to present the exhibition, "I Know You're Not Happy, But I Want to Tell You..." - Self-Help Programme. We have invited mental health professionals and the public to respond to students’ needs, offer encouragement and empathetic support, empowering students to address their emotional challenges.
Inside the exhibition, five mirrors display common concerns faced by students. We invite visitors to take photos with the mirrors, allowing their reflections to merge with those of the students, fostering a deeper understanding of their experiences.
Date
20 Apr to 31 Aug 2024
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Programme Impact
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Over 10,000 visitors came to the exhibition.
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About 900 people wrote down their concerns or offer encouragement to students.
Solitude Explorations
About the Exhibition
Does being alone always mean being lonely?
The two states should not always be associated with each other, unless solitude is forced on us, which can turn solitude into an overwhelming sense of loneliness.
On the flip side, if we make the decision to have some alone time, then it becomes our cherished me-time.
In fact, solitude has many positive effects hidden from plain sight.
Psychologists emphasise that moderate alone time helps us recognise our emotional needs and gain a deep understanding of ourselves. Solitude provides an undisturbed environment for inner dialogue, helping us answer the question, "Who am I?"
People who struggle to spend time with themselves often feel lonely, but the more they try to shake off solitude, the stronger the feeling of loneliness becomes. Even surrounded by others, one can feel like they are “together alone” and thus even more empty.
Learning to transform solitude leads to our personal growth.
The exhibition Solo Explorations showcases the role of solitude in mental well-being. We previously invited everyone to share activities they enjoy doing alone.
Some love sharpening knives, some enjoy showering in the dark, some savour tea, some talk to plants, some speak Japanese to themselves even though they don't understand Japanese, some watch ASMR facial treatments, and some simply cry.
We also invite you to participate in the exhibition by sharing your way of having fun in solitude, exploring the value of solitude, and finding resonance in moments of silence.
Date
17 Feb 2024 to 31 Mar 2024
