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In the aftermath of the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, many people need time and space to find their emotional footing. Some may feel unsettled, or struggle to concentrate. Others may be unexpectedly overtaken by fragments of memory. In response to these community needs, the Hong Kong Expressive Arts Therapy Service Centre (HKEXAT) has joined hands with Link Together Initiatives to launch “The Art of Cultivating Groundedness”. The initiative creates “Community Emotional Support Stations” where people can pause and tend to their feelings.
On an early-summer afternoon, a quiet corner of Tai Yuen Commercial Centre in Tai Po takes on a different character. Away from the bustling mall traffic, tables are topped with sheets of paper, simple paints and collage materials. Some participants sit, others stand, bowing over their work and exchanging the occasional whisper.
As the exhibition moved to Tai Wo Plaza in Tai Po, the setting shifted from an open, spacious environment to the bustle of a busy shopping mall. Yet it continued to offer a moment for people to pause, using simple creative expression to settle their emotions. Regardless of the surroundings, everyone can find their own moment of groundedness.
Janet Li, Founder and Service Director of HKEXAT, notes that even those not directly affected by a major incident may still feel its weight. “Some people feel unsettled, find themselves replaying images, or sense that the world has become less predictable than it once was. These are all natural responses. Even hearing about it through the news can be enough to leave a mark.”
Because emotions do not always surface immediately or translate easily into words, Fiona Law, Project Manager and Registered Arts Therapist at HKEXAT, explains: “There are times when we can’t quite express our feelings verbally. Through art-making, we can reach what’s going on inside us more directly.”
What “art” means in this context, Fiona clarifies, is not about technique or meeting any aesthetic standard. Rather, it is a process free of judgement, whether it involves drawing, collage or even idle doodling. In a space without right or wrong, people find it easier to open up and work through their feelings on their own terms.
Janet and Fiona have both observed participants finding calm through the creative process. One mother made a collage filled with green trees and plants. It turned out she rarely had the chance to spend time outdoors but drew a sense of ease from a small stand of trees visible from her kitchen window.
They recall a young girl who shared that her sense of safety came from her mother. Her mother, however, revealed that her most relaxed moments were simply having a quiet shower . Different answers point to the same essential truth: a sense of groundedness can come from our environment, a loved one or simply a moment of solitude.
Alongside drop-in community activities, the programme offers one-on-one and small-group expressive arts therapy sessions for those needing deeper support. HKEXAT also plans to partner with charitable organisations and schools across the Tai Po District to run experiential workshops and group activities, that residents can join whenever they feel ready. For those not yet comfortable participating, Fiona suggests some gentle starting points: stepping back from distressing news or content and allow your emotions to surface naturally through writing or freehand drawing.
As activities continue across Tai Po, the quieter corners of the shopping mall are slowly gathering creations and stories. Many finished artworks are put on display, forming a living exhibition. This wordless sharing ripples a sense of groundedness through the community, reminding people to slow down, check in with themselves and find their way back to their own rhythm.
