Art through the eyes of special children

Lai (third from right) and Lau (right) joining other project partners and supporters in daubing paint on a canvas to launch the art exhibition at GMBB Mall in Bukit Bintang. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star

ART is a form of communication and expression, allowing artists from all backgrounds to tell stories on a blank canvas.

At Artgene studio for differently-abled children, its owner and art teacher Eric Lai discovered that children had their own stories and talent even though they differed from others.

“I realise that these children are not as expressive as their peers. However, art helps them voice out their inner thoughts in their own style,” said the father of a differently-abled child, Yew Boy.

Lai collaborated with Zenshin Agency and Creative Studio to organise Malaysia’s first-ever combination of non-fungible token (NFT) and physical format painting display at Lonely Planet’s NFT Art Exhibition at GMBB Mall, Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur.

NFTs are digital items that can be bought and sold using blockchain technology. But they are not fungible, making them a different type of asset.

According to Zenshin founder Lau Shaw Ming, NFT plays a pivotal role in increasing the value of art creation.

“NFT not only opens a transparent way of purchasing art but also enables children to receive passive income.

Yew Boy says the art exhibition builds his self-confidence and motivates him to try different styles of painting.

“We plan to expand the art exhibition to Johor, Sarawak and Penang by the end of this year and add art from more differently-abled children.”

Yew Boy, who was one of the participating artists, said he was happy to see his artwork gaining recognition from all over the world.

“This art exhibition builds my self-confidence and motivates me to do more, such as trying different styles of painting.

“About six of my artworks are exhibited and all of them are based on the theme of animals,” said Yew Boy, also known as TaiYew.

The four-day art exhibition featured 36 artworks from five differently-abled children, namely YJX, Yew Boy, Huii, IF and LXC.