Nurturing a new vision
From exhibiting in Europe to creating NFT art, autistic artists in Malaysia are reaching for the sky.
AFTER eight years of giving art lessons to special needs children, Eric Lai knows a thing or two about what makes them tick. It is also a personal undertaking of sorts, as his son, is part of this world.
“Although it is challenging for me because they are special and they do things according to their own rules, I have learned a lot from these children during this journey of teaching them. Things that are simple for most people can be extremely hard for special needs children,” says Lai, artist and founder of Artgene Studio in Ipoh.
This weekend, five of these students will be exhibiting their art at Lonely Planet’s NFT Art Exhibition at GMBB in KL.
This is Malaysia’s first combined NFT and physical art exhibition by special needs children, including individuals with Down syndrome, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory integration disorder and autism.
The show features 36 artworks from participants who are aged between 12 and 23.
“In a short time, NFTS have played a pivotal role in increasing the value of art creation. In addition, the NFT market allows direct transaction between the buyers and the NFT creator. Thus, it will allow the art created by differently-abled children to gain vast exposure and development,” says Lai.
At the Lonely Planet’s NFT Art Exhibition, the paintings can also be purchased via Opensea, an NFT marketplace.
Lai, who currently works with 10 special needs children at Artgene Studio, hopes that this exhibition will help set up a new platform to empower these children.
“We hope more people can see their works, and also help bring them income,” says Lai, who sees the digital space as an important creative outlet to complement on-site exhibitions.
Beyond a technology-savvy future art scene, he notes that the most important thing for parents is to persevere with cultivating a child’s talent.
“We need to continue to find spaces and platforms where special needs children can play, survive and thrive,” he says.
thrive,” he says.
“We live in a society that grades us by ability. If we strive to improve the abilities of autistic children, we can reduce the pressure they face in such a society. A solitary pursuit like art is very suitable for autistic people. With perseverance in this field, there will be no shortage of contributions from this community,” he says.
On the international front
Autistic artist Wan Jamila Wan Shaiful Bahri, known professionally as Artjamila, has taken her paintings beyond Malaysia since she broke into the art mainstream a few years ago.
This year, her works are being exhibited in four locations in Europe, including Vienna, Munich and Paris, by invitation of Heinz Playner, curator, art critic and director of PAKS Gallery and MAMAG Modern Art Museum.
Artjamila’s recent career-spanning solo exhibition A Voyage Of Moments at UITM’S Creative Media and Technology Hub, showcased 15 years of her work.
In total, Artjamila has participated in one grand solo exhibition, seven mini solo exhibitions, 12 international group exhibitions and 56 group exhibitions in Malaysia.
Her mother and art manager Noorhashimah Mohamed Noordin has been homeschooling Artjamila since her primary school days, initially as a supplement to the regular school curriculum.
“Despite her being non-verbal, I enrolled her into a normal primary school because I wanted her to mingle with other kids her age and familiarise herself with communication,” she shares.
Now, Jamila is fully homeschooled, with a customised curriculum that adopts a “people-centred approach”, with art being a major component. Survival skills like money matters, home science, conversation, housework, religious studies and health management, are included too.
“Awareness and acceptance of autism is getting better in Malaysia, but mainstream support, like in education, is still lacking. The tertiary education system needs a restructuring to accommodate diverse people. In my case, I have to work on my own to create a path for my daughter to develop her passion and career,” says Noorhashimah.
Last year, Artjamila was selected as one the young Malaysian leaders make up the regional Gen.t List 2021.
In 2019, she was appointed as an Impact Artist 2020-2022 for Switzerland’s Viatalenta Foundation. In the same year, her Unity In Diversity artwork adorned the Putrajaya Sculpture at Putra Square for National Day.
“Some people with autism are born with extraordinary gifts and unique abilities in specific fields that interest them. These people are known as autistic savants. Artistic talent may not just be visual art. It can be music, sculpture, writing and more,” says Noorhashimah.
In Artjamila’s career, she has brought her voice to the world for climate change, autistic awareness and inspiring the young generation.
“She has impacted various industries like the art industry and sustainability industry, through her pollution and climate change artworks. She generates her own income and indirectly contributes to the economy of art-related services,” says Noorhashimah.
“Autism is not a disease, but a condition. We should accept that everyone is born different,” she adds.
The right environment
Dr Che Ann Abdul Ghani has seen how far her autistic son Yuri Azzari has come when given the right environment to hone his skills. When he was two, he doodled with crayons and pencils on any piece of paper he could find.
“At that time we were not aware of his artistic skill, but slowly, we began to notice his passion and how drawing calms him. That is when we started buying colouring books, more crayons, colour pencils and colourful markers. In his early years, Yuri used only these tools and A4 paper to scribble,” she says.
Today, Yuri attends art sessions with artist Raja Azhar Idris. He has been going for these art lessons since 2008. Dr Ann describes it as more like a working space for him to create art, as he is easily distracted at home.
“We take him out of this space so he can concentrate on his paintings. He benefits holistically from these art sessions because it trains him to focus, to be creative and to be able to sit longer. They help to reduce Yuri’s hyperactivity,” she says.
One of the highlights in his career as an artist is having four of his artworks featured on Touch ‘n Go cards in 2018, one depicting a mosque and another a kampung house, plus two abstract artworks. The year before, a local fitness apparel brand collaborated with Yuri, using his artworks for its yoga pants. In 2021, Yuri held his first solo exhibition Art And Autism in Selangor.
“People are becoming more aware of the uniqueness of art produced by artists with autism. Many collectors are fascinated by the ingenuity of their masterpieces as their artworks are unusual and original.
“In addition, art buyers like the stories that go along with each painting. For example, every piece that Yuri produces is connected to the place, the experience he had, and his mood on the day he paints,” says Dr Ann.
She believes that giving opportunities to autistic children to develop their artistic skill is very important because it is what they are passionate about and it is therapeutic to them.
“The arts (painting, music, dance) enables them to think outside the box and put their creative minds into physical expressions that do not require them to follow social rules, which is one of the biggest challenges faced by children with autism. This creativity, if channelled productively, can be very useful and also produce some amazing results to help cognitive development and make art in its various forms,” she says.
Noting that organisations that often showcase works of artists with autism are independent art galleries and corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects by non-governmental organisations (NGOS), Dr Ann says it would be ideal if we can have a permanent art gallery in Malaysia that display artworks from local artists with autism rather than make-shift art exhibitions in malls, which are organised by generous charity organisations.
“My hope for other autistic children in the country is that they will be given equal opportunity to obtain education that meets their needs. Don’t underestimate the ability and sensitivity of people with autism because they are capable of learning and developing skills beyond what many abled-people can,” she concludes.