THERE is a gallery in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, that feels less like a traditional art space and more like an intimate, vibrant landscape of the human soul.
Greydea Studio is hosting an exhibition titled “Celebrating Individuality: An Art Exhibition by Gem & Bread”, which features the works of 17 young neurodivergent artists.
Through bold strokes, rich textures and vivid colours, the artists with conditions such as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy invite the public to see the world through a lens that is often overlooked by society.
In 2012, Teresa Tan founded Gem & Bread with just two students learning beadwork to improve their focus. Her youngest son, Karl, is autistic and non-verbal.
She officially converted the initiative into a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in 2016 to support more families.
Today, Gem & Bread provides a safe space for 17 individuals to thrive, offering them everything from speech and drama to music and dance.
The exhibition in TTDI marks the group’s first foray into the art world.
“This exhibition is a tribute to the artists who offer us something profound: a perspective that is unfiltered, honest and entirely their own,” said Teresa.
“Their work is a celebration of ‘different’ as something beautiful, rather than something to be corrected.”
The logistical challenge of putting together the exhibition was taken on entirely by Teresa and her other son, Keith Tan, who left his corporate banking job to help restructure the struggling NGO.
From photographing the artworks to handling their physical installation, the mother-son duo poured their hearts into the project.
The centrepiece of the exhibition is a stunning community installation made of 200 egg trays and painted by all 17 artists.
“I reached out to my neighbours in SS20, Petaling Jaya, to donate empty egg trays.
“Within a single day, they rallied and provided all the egg trays we needed,” said Teresa.
Teresa and Keith shared that the process of setting up the exhibition had been tiring but incredibly rewarding.
Plans are also underway to establish a cafe to provide vocational training for participants.
Ho Mei Kei, Gem & Bread art educator and lead curator for the exhibition, said the artistic process was a journey of organic discovery.
“I gave the artists some paper to see what they could sketch.
“Once I saw their potential, I prepared the canvas, paints and colours to let them explore their creativity,” she said.
The gallery walls pulse with the distinct personalities of the artists, including Vicki Tan Wei Qi.
A mainstream school graduate with tertiary qualification in early childhood education, Vicki said she often found it challenging to fully engage with society.
However, her art has become a powerful emotional anchor.
Her pieces titled “Sunset and Sunflowers” burst with intense yellows, oranges and palette-knife textures.
On her artwork called “Blossom in Blue”, which depicts a serene lotus flower, Vicki said: “The lotus symbolises peacefulness.
“I want everyone and every country to be peaceful and not fight.”
Her parents, father Tan Song Poh and mother Tan Lee Eng, beamed with pride, saying that her emotional well-being had transformed beautifully through her creative journey.
For See Choy Yuen, 25, his art brings a joyful, local flavour to the gallery.
His “Bubbles of Hope” series is inspired by his favourite aquascape cafe in Bandar Sri Damansara – a space dedicated to landscaped underwater environments.
See’s brushwork captures the lively fish and floating bubbles of the cafe’s aquariums, mirroring his own sunny demeanour.
The artwork titled “Familiar Reflection” by Glenn Chin, 21, offers a whimsical contrast.
Using a simple marker pen, his bold black ink outlines reveal a deep, sophisticated preoccupation with symmetry and form, infused with a distinct sense of humour.
Greydea Studio is located at No.30-1 (first-floor), Jalan Wan Kadir 4.
“Celebrating Individuality: An Art Exhibition by Gem & Bread” is being held until tomorrow, from 11am to 3pm daily.
