"Haksolok Ami - Our Joy", 2023 - Crewe Library
Updated: Feb 2, 2025
With “Haksolok Ami”, or “Our Joy”, Toto aimed to share his culture through his art with the residents of Crewe, which is currently home to over 500 Timorese.
Timor-Leste, or East Timor, celebrates its Independence Day on May 20 every year. The country has had a long and complicated struggle with its independence. The first proclamation of independence was signed on November 28, 1975, when the country sought independence from Portugal. However, their independence was short-lived as East Timor was quickly and violently captured by Indonesians. Up to 200,00 people died from the violence and other woes such as illness and hunger. East Timor was recognized as an independent republic by the United Nations (U.N.) in 2002 and in September of that year, the country was renamed Timor-Leste to honour its Portuguese Roots.
“Happiness has no Boarders means a lot to me,” says Toto. “Not only is it my first exhibition in the UK, but it acts as a reminder to myself and my peers to be proud of our heritage – and share it with our fellow Crewe residents”. Toto has been honing his skills in art since 2010, and is a principal talent in the Timorese arts’ community – where developing creative voices is often faced with continuous challenges. Toto, having persevered to develop his own creativity and artistic expression, is an advocate for the arts, and strives to raise people’s awareness, appreciation, and respect for the work of Timorese artists.
The exhibition took place from 20-27 of May in the Crewe Library. For a brochure of this event, please click here.
Press from the event:
Crewe.NUB.News “Art Exhibition: Haksolok Ami” May 2023
Comments