Malaysian artists with autism reach for the sky, from Europe exhibitions to NFTs

'Lonely Planet’s NFT Art Exhibition' at GMBB in Kuala Lumpur this weekend features 36 artworks from five special needs artists, who jointly created this publicity image. The hybrid exhibition's artworks are also available as NFTs. Photo: Artgene Studio

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.