Indonesia
Art Exhibition of People with Autism
Evelyn Oktavia Lukito starts the autism therapy since two years old. She is now 16. Thanks to the therapy Evelyn is now more focus on doing things. She likes to sing, dance and stitch. Her creations are among those that many people stop by to watch on the Exhibition of People with Autism, in Main Atrium Grand City Surabaya, 4-6 April 2014. Among them are hair picks, tissue holder, fridge accessories, finger doll and others made of flannel.
“At first, even to tuck the thread into the needle is a struggle. It takes need lots of practice before I can do that myself. I’m still learning to make my stitch neat,” said Evelyn, who sold her works for IDR 20 or more. Other than Evelyn’s handicrafts, eye catching artworks on display are paintings, drawings, sketches, pictures and videos. Not all belongs to people with autism. Some works come from people who call themselves Autism Care Artist are also there.
Louis Yudhistira Paksi Gautama presents a painting he calls “Undersea View”. Paksi is diagnose with hyperactive autism since two years old. The boy who was born on February 12th 2005 intensively undergo many kinds of therapy. He starts to draw in the age of 3,5 and his thing for painting starts shining when he was 5. Paksi, who is a student of third grade of Inlkusi Public Elementary School Tebel, Gedangan, Sidoarjo also likes to cut out everything he draws. With all the limitations on him, Paksi is a diligent loving boy, Superkids.
The theme of this exhibition is “Rainbow Sketches”, symbolizing the wide range spectrum of autism, variety of way to approach, different implications that come with each ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) case, those with laugh, tears and joy. “Yet all keep a glimpse of hope. Just like rainbow that comes after the rain, the beauty warmth the heart,” Vika Wisnu the chairman of organizer from ASA (Advokasi dan Sadar Autisme) Surabaya, explains.
There are 48 works in total displayed for the World Autism Awareness Day. It may be true that they are not 100 percent for civilian eyes, Superkids. However judging from the making process where even to hold something is barely possible for the artists until they manage to pull it together and actually create a painting, it is big achievement for kids with autism. No matter how small it is, progress deserves reward.
What is autism anyway? It’s a very complex development difficulty, causing by multi factors and required multi discipline handling. People with autism actually have potential of intelligence and ability to contribute in society. If supported with the complete acceptance of the society about their existence, people with autism with all the limitations sure able to become independent individuals. It’s a shame that society acceptance toward autism is still too low, that they are often become target for bullying, discrimination and handicaps treatments.
“This event is an effort to invite people to see, that people with autism can be accepted in social interaction. Not only about who should adapt, but more to how we can accept each other for what we are,” said Vika.
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTOS: HAFIDA INDRAWATI
