Thursday January 19, 2006
Ping Lian, 12, is autistic and a hit in New York
By JOHAN FERNANDEZ
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
NEW YORK: Malaysian sensation Yeak Ping Lian, a 12-year-old autistic savant, is a hit in the Big Apple where he is holding his debut art exhibition.
His works were being shown with fellow autistic savant artists Richard Wawro of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Iranian-born Christophe Pillault of Olivet, France.
Ping Lian was the only artist present at the launch of the exhibition Autistic Savant Artworks: Don’t ‘dis’ the Ability at the Henry Gregg Gallery in Brooklyn on Saturday.
Italian artist Daniel Rossi was clearly impressed.
“He draws and paints what he feels. His work is not contaminated by other influences. I just love his work,” said Rossi.
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TALENTED: Ping Lian posing with Dr Becker in front of some of his paintings at the launch of the exhibition at the Henry Gregg Gallery in Brooklyn on Saturday. |
He received home tutoring and attended supplementary lessons for children with special needs.
Lee said Ping Lian was a wonderful child, full of love. She advised parents with special children not to give up.
“Have faith in your child. Celebrate each small progress as a major achievement. Who knows one day a miracle may happen,” she had once said.
Dr Laurence Becker of the Creative Learning Environments of Austin, Texas, said artists like Ping Lian, Wawro and Pillault provided a fitting embodiment of the quality and persistence of the human spirit.
“I’m not an artist but an educationist, and my gift is to share this story, of these wonderful, gifted people,” he said.
Wawro is known worldwide for his detailed drawings using wax oil crayons; while Pillault, who is unable to talk, walk or feed himself and cannot use his fingers, uses his hands to paint.
Dr Becker and Dr Rosa Martinez of the Children’s Centre for Early Learning Creative Learning Environments in New York were responsible for organising the exhibition.
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