- Which intention did you pursue by applying for a staff mobility?
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I was hoping to experience how the issues of ecology and creative arts are practiced and researched outside of Hong Kong. I started my PhD research with the social unrest in Hong Kong and the global pandemic situation. In addition, my research focuses on working with orchids, which effectively reduced human contact for me. So, a major goal was to physically meet people and be inspired by different perspectives.
- Which contents and activities did you work on and realise during your mobility at the ZHdK?
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I started my visiting semester at the ZHdK and thus the fourth year of my PhD research. I finished my research film entitled “(Welcome to) The Planet of Orchid” and began writing my dissertation. I was already in the final stages of my research and eager to share my work with people in Zurich.
- What kind of professional exchange did you experience?
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I regularly attended the monthly meetings of the pre/doc group, who were in the process of finalising and submitting their PhD applications. I joined their meetings to exchange ideas and provide feedback on each other's work.
Additionally, I worked closely with Dr Barbara Preisig, who found my research interesting and relevant to her own research interests. Together, we organised a colloquium called “Sensing Beyond: How to Interview a Stone” that explored human and non-human relationships through artistic practices. The colloquium was held successfully from 3 to 5 April 2023. During the event, also my PhD research film was screened.
- To what extent has the objective of fostering an exchange been fulfilled?
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The exchange itself was meaningful because it was a great opportunity for me to connect with people from different backgrounds. My research is about the relationship between plants and humans, which is a universal topic with the current discussions about the ecological crisis. However, the subject I have chosen to talk about in this larger issue is the wild orchids of Hong Kong, which are very specific and locally focused. Having the opportunity to talk about my work in Zurich allowed me to better reflect on it from different perspectives.
- What competencies were you able to acquire and what perspectives have resulted for you from the exchange?
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I learned a lot about artistic practice-based research. The way ZHdK works with artist-researcher is very different from my home institution. It inspired me a lot about conducting artistic research.
- What interesting experiences have you gained and what influenced you in particular?
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I was fortunate enough to attend the writing workshop specifically designed for dissertations on artistic projects. Academic writing is challenging for me because artistic research requires creativity and flexibility in describing the project. It was very nice to participate in the workshops with researchers from ZHdK, sharing difficulties, giving feedback and learning together.
- What cultural insights are you bringing back from your exchange?
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In dealing with such a common and global issue as the ecological crisis, I assumed I would find more commonalities than differences. However, it seems that we are all strongly influenced by our own cultural backgrounds. I learnt that the willingness to share and empathise with each other is more important.