Name | Alice Kok Tim Hei
Age | 47
Title | President at Art For All Society
Place of birth | Macao
Macao in one word | Multicultural
What got you into art in the first place?
I’ve loved drawing since I was a kid. Anything visual or aesthetic just clicked with me. When I was around seven or eight years old, I already told my mother that I wanted to be an artist. In high school, I got into photography through my dad; I borrowed his camera and taught myself. That became my main medium, and later I moved into video art.
How did you become a curator?
It began while I was studying in France. After earning my master’s, I interned at a European art association, where I organised and reviewed artists’ portfolios from across Europe. That experience gave me my first real taste of curating. When I returned to Macao nearly 20 years ago, the local art scene was growing and needed curators. Art For All Society (AFA) invited me to curate a solo show, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
Has being a curator changed over the years?
A lot. When I first started, there weren’t many curators, and people didn’t even fully understand what the role was. Now it’s much more professional, and there are a lot of independent curators – especially younger ones – doing really great work.
Where do you usually get your inspiration from?
A lot of my inspiration comes from within – my spiritual practice, dreams, the subconscious, meditation. The mind is an endless source of ideas. There’s always more to explore and is a resource that you can constantly tap into.
What’s something people often get wrong about creativity? Any advice?
People often think creativity is about coming up with totally new ideas. It’s not. It’s about being real. When you fully feel something and express it honestly, it becomes unique. We all experience the same core emotions – life, illness, loss – but no one else can express them exactly the way you can if you are authentic and follow your emotions. So, instead of searching for something ‘special’ out there, look inward. The better you understand yourself, the more powerful your work will be.
What’s the art scene in Macao like right now?
It’s thriving. There are at least one or two exhibitions every week, which is kind of amazing. I think it’s very vibrant nowadays and constantly evolving. There’s also more collaboration with the hospitality industry, thanks to government policies connecting art with integrated resorts. That’s opened a lot of new platforms and opportunities.
Are there any Macao artists that people should be paying attention to right now?
Leong Chi Mou. He’s young, sharp, and has a great sense of wit. His work is deeply connected to Macao’s culture, and his craftsmanship is strong. I worked with him on a two-year project in Belgium, and the work he recently showed at Art Central in Hong Kong came from that. I’m excited to see where he goes next.
