Connecting the Personal and the Political

I am a Hong Kong-based multidisciplinary artist whose creative practice explores the intersections of urban life, gender, and mental health through performance, writing, and visual culture. Alongside my artistic work, I am currently working as the Editor at the Performing Arts Division of the West Kowloon Cultural District.

After obtaining my MALCS degree, I worked for a while and went on to study Devising Theatre and Performance at arthaus.berlin in Germany. My studies at MALCS have had a profound impact on my artistic vision, instilling in me the belief that "the personal is political". This has allowed me to situate my personal narratives within the broader socio-cultural context. My recent exhibition “A Room Without Myself”, inspired by the novel of the same name by Hong Kong writer Lee Chi-leung, delves into my personal journey of navigating the ebbs and flows of depression. Using pill packaging as a starting point, my work combines text, colours, and sound to negotiate my subject/object relationship with medication, prompting reflections on the performativity and autonomy of the individual within processes of socialization.

While studying at MALCS, I faced a very difficult period in my life. The academic journey did not go as smoothly as I had expected, but the professors, academic advisors, and my peers offered me generous support. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Winnie Yee for her kind support and mentorship throughout my academic journey. Dr. Jason Ho, my dissertation supervisor, also provided invaluable guidance and feedback that helped me navigate the research and writing process.

The interdisciplinary approach I gained at MALCS has provided me with a nuanced understanding of the city as a cultural text and a self-reflective lens that has become integral to my creative practice. Most importantly, my time at MALCS has reminded me to stay grounded and human, even in the face of life's complexities.

The interdisciplinary approach I gained at MALCS has provided me with a nuanced understanding of the city as a cultural text and a self-reflective lens that has become integral to my creative practice.

Lam Kiu Yan Grace: Posted on Facebook and IG on Sept 3, 2024