On the way home!

Young Art- Understanding the World Through Art 

The Co-learning Project features an art education workshop for children in elementary school grades 2-6. The program includes Discussion Classes, which use stories and creative activities to explore contemporary issues Exhibition Classes, which take participants directly to exhibition venues for an open-ended artistic experience.

On the way home!

Have you ever been to Houtong Cat Village? There, a local history museum founded by retired miners will have its lease expire at the end of June. Following a call for a public miners' museum, the Ministry of Economic Affairs will take over, ensuring these precious memories are preserved. But why is this so important? Did you know that Panay, who won Best Taiwanese Album at the Golden Melody Awards this year, once lived in a tent on Ketagalan Boulevard and in 228 Peace Park for 2,644 days? Why didn't she go home?

Before we look for answers, we'll dive into the exhibition "William Kentridge." We'll learn how this white South African artist grappled with, bore witness to, and exposed the realities of apartheid through his art, leaving us with room to think. Whether it's his charcoal animations, triptychs, collages, or sculptures, you might feel the sharpness of history and reality, but don't worry—the artist's humor and tenderness will embrace you at the same time.

Next, in our discussion class, we'll shift our focus from South Africa back to Taiwan. We'll examine the daily lives of miners as depicted by "miner painter" Hung Jui-lin. Through literary journalism, we'll reconstruct the situation of Indigenous peoples, talking about what led to it and whether other outcomes were possible. (And of course, we'll play a game! This time, we'll go on a mining expedition to dig for... ooxx!)

You'll discover that "going home" is not something to be taken for granted. It's a long, often conflict-filled journey to find understanding and dignity. This is true for people of color forced to relocate to the edges of cities during apartheid, for miners shouldering economic burdens at great risk, and for Indigenous peoples seeking a way back to the homes of their ancestors.

After this session, you might appreciate the simple road home more than ever before—or perhaps a "grand plan to go home" will be sparked within you.

---

HSU YA-LI

Instructor, Planner, and Main Visual Artist

HSU YA-LI is a children's literature and art educator and creator. In her teaching, she excels at using interactive games to explore ideas and spark creativity. She also uses lively storytelling and discussions to guide children toward a concrete understanding and reflection on various topics. Her published works include the prose/illustrated books Something's Weird with This World, and the children's books Journey to the Monster Kingdom: Unleash Your Desire for Words and Awaken Your Creativity, Troubles in the Monster Kingdom, Reading Classics, Playing Games: Cultivating Literary Skills, and The Chef and His Apprentices. She is also one of the individuals in charge of "Pin Wen Yi: Literature and Art in Games."