7/28/2019 Special works of art

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Story and photos by VINCENT TANvicet.ta@thetar.com.m

ART can be a wonderful tool tohelp special needs childrendevelopskills,andcan evenhelp

parents bond with their offspring.Exhibitionssuch asPaint WithMe

currentlybeingheldat theArtemisArtGallery in Publika, reflect this.

Paint With Me features the art-works of three special needs children

as well as their mothers. The exhibi-tion is presented by artist Tan SeeLing,whoalsorunsarttherapyclassesfor these children.

These works of art are primarilyimpressionistin nature.Togetherwiththeir mothers works, with the excep-tionof onepiece,theyare allexecutedusing acrylics.

Acrylics was used because the oil-based paint dries faster. For somechildrenwithfinemotor controlprob-lems, using another medium may bebeyond their current physical ability,said Tan.

The subject matters vary. For exam-ple, 18-year-old Fitri Raslans subjectsveer towards nesting birds, withthemes such as mother and childbonding. There is one exception how-ever, as depicted in his painting titledDad Has His Day Too.

Meanwhile Luqman Hakim, 10,almost always includes his trademark Woofy, a black dog in his paint-ings. These paintings mostly tell thestories of friendship.

Zahrah Nakhjavani, 13, however,goes for variety; from flowers to apiecefeaturinga childswimmingwithtwo fishes.

Her mother, Iranian expat LeiliSadaghiani, was determined to haveher child grow up as normal as possi-

ble, and among other efforts, enrolledZahrah for art classes.My hobby is painting and I felt

this was an avenue for Zahrah toexpress herself, said Leili, addingthat it also helped her bond with herdaughter.

Arthashelpedusbothbybroaden-ing our horizons, she added.

Previously, Zahrahs artwork wasshowcased along with those by agroup of Malaysian special needs chil-dren, also organised by Tan.

Meanwhile,Fitri,18, diagnosedwithautism, is eager to talk about the sub-jects in his artwork, with innovativetitles such as Time Out to denote theenforced peace between two arguingchildren by their parents.

Luqmans mother, Aida Lim, saidherson wasdiagnosedwithdyspraxia,a neurological condition which makeslearning a task, especially sinceLuqman was placed in a publicschool.

Hetrieshard atschool,eventhoughit is hard for him. But he likes to

sketch, and when we discovered hisinterest in art, we set out to look for ateacher, said Lim.

Tan said Paint With Me was heldto provide support and guidance toparents as well as encourage them tostart painting with their children at

home.

Children with learning difficultiesare usually not self-motivated, and asteachers and parents, we are con-stantly seeking ways and solutions tohelp them tap their inner potential,she explained.

Suchchildrenalsohave vividimag-inations,as youcan seefrom paintingssuch as Luqmans or Zahrahs, saidTan.

Paint With Me will be held untilMay 31 at the Artemis Art Gallery,located at Lot 21 and 22, Level G4Publika, KL. Opening hours are from10am to 8pm daily.

EVENTS StarMetro, Wnsy 29 My 201312 StarMetro, Wnsy 29 My 2013 EVENTS 13

Specialworks ofart

Self-expression: Luqma howig hi erie of paitig o cava. Ma ofthe piece are baed o makig fried, with Woof, a mall black dog, a atrademark of ort for the oug pecial eed artit.

Paitig b pecial eedchildre capture viitor heart

Mother and son:Revia Juu (aboveleft) ad her o Fitridicuig oe of the

latter work,Mother ad Child.Fitri work coit

mail of bird aubject.

Labour of love: never dig stor (above) i oe of the three acrlicpiece paited b ida, i upport of her o Luqma cotributio forthe Pait With Me art exhibitio.

Carefree: Zahrah swimmig With Fihe ad (above) Coutig gg.

Elegant strokes:Leili explaiig howhe executed her ole

oil paitig titledMovig Cloud forthe exhibitio.

Arthas helpedusbothby broadeningourhorizons.

LEILI SADAGHIANI