At the beginning, there was chaos. Now there is a rainbow!

Last year a friend told me about a voluntary organization known as the Fuhong Society of Macau. It specializes in aiding people with varying degrees of mental handicap and people previously affected by mental illness. Recently, this group cooperated with designers and artists to make use of the arts as a means of treatment and a medium through which to inspire personal growth.

Like most people I was curious about the artwork so I visited the Fuhong Society. The artwork there was incredibly honest. Their creations filled me with a real sense of joy. I was almost taken aback at how easily they allowed me to see their heart of hearts. Since that first visit, I have been returning, and each time with more and more friends.

Of all the people there, one person stands out in my mind. Y is an autistic savant. He can write large phrases of hollowed text incredibly quickly without lifting the pen and can hastily memorize songs he likes. He can answer questions like, "what day of the week was the 20th of June in 1993?" "Sunday!” His answers are fast and accurate. "How about the 1st of August, 1979?", "Wednesday," he responds without the need to think or calculate.

There is another boy named L, who sits in the same place everyday and works quietly with clay to sculpt Fuhong’s mascot "Ah Hong". Each of his hand-made clay works is no bigger than my little finger. “Ah Hong” has seven strands of hair which represent the colors of the rainbow. Each strand is the same thickness and length. L has created hundreds, possibly thousands, of "Ah Hong" clay dolls. Some have heart-shaped mouths, some are smiling and some wink at you... each one with a different personality.

There are many others at Fuhong, most of which work contently at their own desk. Sometimes, they look at me curiously. When we make eye contact, they laugh and wave. When we respond with a nod, they react very cheerfully and although only at a table’s distance away, they’re very friendly and keep on waving. Some of the artists were enthusiastic to show us their hand-made crafts. And although a barrier may sometimes impede their words, their sincerity is crystal clear and very touching.

Here in Macau, we, as the so-called “normal” people, are living a life more comfortable and convenient than any neighboring city. However, every day we compete over vanities like materialistic gain, social ranking, salaries, superfluous desires and other meaningless things.
This small workshop, much like a hidden paradise, revealed to us the existence of wonderfully talented and dedicated people. They are pushed to their potential without struggle, but instead with gentle encouragement and warmth.

The Fuhong Society of Macau established the "Creative Corner" in September of 2010. This centre is designed for the mentally handicapped and those that have overcome mental illness. It provides art and music lessons to encourage self-expression. Here, the simple yet uninhibited artwork will amaze you. Simply writing about this institute however does not do it justice. Please support Fuhong and experience its uplifting environment for yourself.

Once, I curiously asked how the instructors teach at Fuhong. An instructor replied tersely: "Give them pens, colors and paper, or the photos and pictures to imitate, and let them interpret the drawing in their own way. What they draw is certainly out of our imagination! The most important thing is that their attitudes are really much better than before. "

One of the artworks was painted according to a photo of Mattis. When I saw it, I couldn’t help but crack a knowing smile: Mattis’ face was composed by contrasting pink, green and dark brown; a blue and dark green background with a red plaid jacket. Lastly, the painter used black to outline the blocks of color to complete the painting. Ironically, this use of color and layout was just like Mattis’ style. In his lifetime, he tried to pursue the innocence and directness of painting. I believe this programs has helped expose the talents of those at the Fuhong Society, letting them show their hidden skills to the world. Through their efforts, they have made their own music group, produced some beautiful art, and even hosted their own exhibition.

Some people say: "When God closes a door, he opens a window." In our society, we live an increasingly mechanized urban lifestyle. We are losing the patience to tolerate difference. Every day we rush from one doorway to another, and when we can no longer see an open passage we feel trapped at the road’s end, but this is not the case. The people of the Fuhong Society, like a mirror, reflect the strength and tenacity of the human spirit.