Sense the Art, Fence the Passion

Quality of life should be enjoyed by individuals of all abilities. Sense the Art, Fence the Passion was a series of events held in March to celebrate diversity and inclusion in arts and sports, to enhance empathy and promote inclusiveness among HKUST students. We were grateful and proud to organize these events in collaboration with Gay Games Hong Kong.

One of the highlights was a tactile art exhibition held in the Academic Concourse, featuring Beyond Vision International (BVI) and their founder and CEO, Dr Rico Chan's innovative Tactile-Audio Interactive System (TAIS), a system which enables everyone, including the visually impaired, to understand and appreciate visual art pieces. The exhibition invited visitors to experience artwork created from captured shots of the Tokyo Olympics through the sense of touch.  

Rico and BVI's innovations were further shared at the Colors of Life Beyond Sight talk, a part of the Changemaker Gear Up Training Series (GUTS). Rico passionately shared his dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all, while Mei Ling, Rico's colleague and a professional visually impaired golfer, shared her athletic experiences. 

Additionally, Hong Kong's professional parafencing team participated in an exhibition fencing match with the HKUST fencing team. The Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (HKSAPD) explained the basics of parafencing to the audience, who enjoyed an exciting match where both teams displayed exceptional fencing skills. Our student-athletes were inspired by the precision and speed demonstrated by the parafencers. HKSAPD also provided a para-fencing experience booth for students and staff to try out the sport.