Recently, “Handshake with the Future” curator, Liu He talked with Shenzhen Middle School Teacher Zhong about the current exhibition at Handshake 302. Here’s what she said：

Q: 让学生们参与《与未来握手》的初衷是什么？／ What did you hope to see happen when by having your students participate in “Handshake with the Future”?

A: 我认为城中村是城市发展中一个很特别的存在，希望学生能通过302项目，有一个走入城中村契机，对自己生活的城市有更进一步的了解和加深认识。／ I think that urban villages are a special aspect of urban development. I hoped that by way of this 302 project, students would have an opportunity to go into an urban village, becoming more aware of the city they live in and developing a deeper understanding about it.

Q：自己和学生们对城中村的认识有什么变化？／ Did you and/or your students impressions of urban villages change as a result of participating in the project?

A：我认为最大的变化是，我们原本对城中村的认识仅仅是脑海中的表象，而现在则是具像化了，过程中产生的感触，使得我们对社会和生活的理解更丰富了，也比以往更关注与城中村相关的信息。／ I think that the biggest change has been that our understanding used to be abstract, but now itsmuch more concrete. Over the project, we experienced different things that enriched our understandings of society and life. We also became more sensitive to news about urban villages.

Q：说说你认识的对方的学生。／ Tell us what you know about Xin’ an Polytechnic students.

A: 我对新安职业学校的学生印象最深刻的是他们对待他人的礼貌和真诚，而在听他们分享研究过程中，深深地被他们的认真态度所感动，我非常欣赏这些年轻人，从他们的作品中可以感受到他们对社会的一种责任感。／ Xin’an students impressed me with their courtesy and sincerity. When I listened to their research reports, their earnest attitudes moved me. I truly admire these young people, and it is possible to see in their art work a sense of responsibility for society.

Q：学校在这次握手展览活动中的角色和对艺术活动的态度。／ What was the school’s role in this project and what has been the school’s position on art?

A：学校对课程以外的活动，基本上由老师和学生把握，所以这个项目校方并不了解。教师的教育观点和理念不尽相同，学生的想法也是各异。我最高兴看到这个项目的启动带给老师们和同学们一种与以往完全不同的认识世界、表达自己对世界的理解的课程；尽管最终坚持做的只有几个学生，但我可以从他们的笑容感受到收获，他们对自己的努力是非常满意的（虽然我认为他们还不够认真负责）。／ The school leaves the organization ofoutside activities up to the teachers and students, so the school doesn’t really understand the project. Teachers have different positions on education, as do students. With respect to this project, I was most pleased with the fact that it prompted teachers and students to go out and learn about acompletely different world and to document the inspirations that different world brought. Although only a few students remained committed to the project, nevertheless I felt their satisfaction in their smiles and their pride in their work (even though I also think that they still need to be more responsible for their commitments).

Q：302的吸引力和可以做得更好的地方在哪？／ What does 302 do well and what could we improve?

A：我认为302对学生和老师这个群体最大的吸引力在于将自己的研究想法艺术化地呈现，这是现行教育中最缺乏的事物，我和徐鹏老师在这个过程中都感觉到深深地被震撼，感觉是第一次重新认识和理解艺术。／I think the best part of 302 is that it allows students and teachers to express the results of their research through art. This kind of learning is completely absent from contemporary education. Teacher Xu and I had the same moment of awareness, as if we had encountered art for the first time.

现在对《与未来握手》好奇吧！本周日（6月14日）14:30在握手302再一次有机会与广东新安职业技术学院交流他们对自己的作品、梦想，还有我们共同的未来的看法。／ Curious about “Handshake with the Future”? Join us this Sunday, June 14 at 2:30 and talk with students from Xin’an Polytechnic about their work, their dreams, and our common future.