HONG KONG, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Art Basel, long known for spotlighting expensive canvases, rare materials, and renowned creators, concluded this year's Hong Kong edition at the end of March, where a modest, quiet exhibition space has drawn a large number of visitors to pause and linger.
Inside the booth, there was no showmanship, no gimmicks, but only the trees, stone houses, vehicles, and people of Pinehill Village in Tai Po, Hong Kong, gently depicted by lines and soft colors.
The artists were individuals with intellectual disabilities, students of the Hong Chi Association in Hong Kong, which is dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The association's chairman Edward Yau affectionately calls these students "our friends."
For three consecutive years, Hong Chi's students have stepped into the global art stage of Art Basel. In the first two years, their works were displayed in the cafe area. In 2026, they participated as an official cultural partner of Art Basel, with their own independent, immersive exhibition space themed "Whispers of Form," showcasing sketches of lives unbound by prejudice.
The team spent six months preparing for this exhibition, inviting Hong Kong artist Stephen Wong Chun-hei, known for landscapes and sketching, to guide 15 Hong Chi artists through five plein-air sketching sessions in Pinehill Village. "Paint what you see, paint what you love," Wong told the students.
Back in the 1960s, the Hong Chi Association established a small residential home in Pinehill Village. Half a century later, it has grown into a community of 14 special schools and 106 service units, supporting nearly 10,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
On March 29, one of the most touching moments of this year's Art Basel unfolded at a sharing session. There were no polished speeches, no rehearsed lines, just several artists standing on stage, telling their stories with brushes in the simplest words.
Thirty-six-year-old Chow Chiu-ming stood before the audience, speaking slowly, with pauses and a hint of shyness. In his early years working at a fast-food restaurant, he faced criticism and rejection, which left him withdrawn and reluctant to go out. Now, he is an art assistant at his alma mater, painting in cafes and teaching children; his life has been brightened up.
At the sharing session, Chow spoke of Pinehill's beautiful scenery, his love of nature, and his practice with fine pens and water-soluble colored pencils. When asked what he wanted to say to art teacher Stephen Wong, he replied, "Thank you for teaching me. You are very attentive. I hope to keep learning from you." His once hesitant voice suddenly grew clear, fluent, and firm, with each word deliberate and heartfelt.
Even the host was moved and remarked, "That last sentence was the smoothest, straight from his heart."
Twenty-six-year-old Tong Tsz-ching recalled painting a jackfruit tree as her most unforgettable moment. "It was interesting. Why can a tree grow fruit?" When she struggled with mixing colors, she sought help again and again. Now, even during holidays, she goes outdoors to sketch on her own.
Forty-one-year-old Chau Ka-ching tried sketching for the first time. He drew childhood playgrounds, old service centers, and classmates posing in different gestures. "I want to record everything I see, love, and find interesting in life," he said.
They may not be eloquent, but they are deeply sincere. Art has become their language of freedom, safety, and truth.
During the interview, Yau consistently referred to the Hong Chi students as "our friends." To Yau, they are equal, dignified, and talented friends.
"Society often measures human value with a single yardstick. But my friends are simply different, not lesser. Their talent, focus, and sincerity in art surpass many others," Yau said.
Apart from participating in art exhibitions, Hong Chi also collaborated with auction houses to bring students' works to market, hoping to show that these paintings are worthy of collection and their creators worthy of respect.
"Their creations have no formula, no hesitation. They paint when they want, and paint what they love. The directness, innocence, and unreserved honesty are something many professional artists lost long ago," Wong said. "People think I am teaching them, but in truth, they are teaching me." ■
