Date: 10 Jan 2026 - 1 Mar 2026
Venue: 1/F, T. T. Tsui Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam
From Machai’s sand art, we can see that he continually seeks to connect with the expression of life—using painting as a way to proclaim love.
As we step into 2026, we aspire not only to celebrate the brilliance of life but also to learn to let go of our fear of death, journeying through every stage of existence with wisdom and grace.
Machai’s artistic practice intersects with the Zhao Hai Tien exhibition currently showing at the University Museum and Art Gallery, creating a dialogue between their worldviews and life experiences.
From her work Ocean of Worlds, one can readily sense Zhao Hai Tien’s vast cosmic vision—vivid, radiant, and fully embracing the beauty of life. In Life and Death, a meditative spirit emerges, evoking peace, freedom, and serenity.
This prompts us to ask: what does it mean to be human and open-hearted? Machai will guide participants through the highs and lows of life using grains of sand, helping them reconnect with the energy of the world, respond to the inner anxieties and helplessness we all carry, and experience the profound mystery between the universe and the cycle of life and death.
Instructor: Machai
Machai graduated from Alliance Bible Seminary with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. He later served as a voluntary preacher at the C.C.C. Covenant Church, focusing mainly on children and family ministries. As an art pastor, he shepherds artists from different sectors and works alongside them to serve the community.
In addition to his pastoral work, Machai is also a sand art artist. He has studied sand art for over ten years, and has also taken courses in art therapy. Since 2013, he has incorporated sand art into his spiritual practice and psychotherapy work, integrating faith with art.
Machai has organised sand art therapy groups at institutions such as Castle Peak Hospital, Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, YWCA, and St. James’ Settlement. These programmes help individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental health recovery patients, people with physical impairments, and those with autism to express and release their inner feelings through sand art—especially those who need emotional support or struggle with verbal expression—enabling them to overcome challenges.
In recent years, Machai has also travelled around the world to countries with Chinese communities, performing and engaging in cultural and artistic exchanges to promote art.
This is an event associated with the exhibition Zhao Hai Tien—Cultivation: 50 Years of Painting. For details, please click here.
Date | Time | Audience and Language | Registration fee and material cost | Registration Deadline
10 January 2026 (Sat) | 2 pm–5 pm | Adults (Cantonese) | HK$ 500 per person | 7 January 2026
24 January 2026 (Sat) | 2 pm–5 pm | Adults (Cantonese) | HK$ 500 per person | 21 January 2026
*The quota for each time slot is 15.
^Necessary tools will be provided for use during the workshop and must be returned after the class.
Registration:
Registration opens on 23 December 2025. To register, please fill in the following e-application form and settle the corresponding course fee by online payment. (HKU Online Payment System (OPS) account is required. Account registration method is included in the e-application form)
All applications will be processed only when both the completed form and course fee are received. Applications are confirmed upon receiving an email from UMAG. The applicants may be requested to provide online payment receipt as proof.
Please click on your preferred date to apply and proceed to online payment:
For enquiries, please contact us Tel.: 3917 5513 / Email: wifung@hku.hk.