Tuesday, December 4, 2007
By PANG HIN YUE
Clement Ooi is an artist who captures powerful emotions in his work.
WHEN the National Art Gallery ended its monthly Saturday market last December, Annie Kam thought the door had closed on her son, Clement Ooi, 18. For two years, she had faithfully accompanied him to the gallery to sell his artworks, which range from black and white animated series to acrylic paint on canvas.
The weekend market had been a good avenue for Clement, Kam says, as he had attracted buyers from Japan, Germany, the United States, Australia and Britain. His best- selling pieces were – and still are – the Heliconia series, in which the flowers inflamed in blood red hues are contrasted against a backdrop of leaves of various shapes and sizes etched intricately in charcoal.
But the closing of the gallery was a just a temporary setback. Through a friend last year, Kam was introduced to Lookiss art gallery owner, Kerk Boon Leng, who took an immediate liking to Clement’s art and decided to help him.
Kerk, a corporate lawyer, has been buying paintings that capture the essence of the history and geography of Malaysia, for more than two decades.
“Clement is a fantastic artist. The emotions he captures are very powerful. They have to do with his artistic talent and not his condition,” he says.
When one tries to sell a piece of painting on the basis that it is done by a person with a disability, it does not give the artist due credit as this would be a case of trying to sell sympathy. “That’s not right,” says Kerk.
He feels Clement’s visuals embody “naïve art” in that he is able to tell a story as it is, without pretending to be profound. And, unlike some artists, he is not consumed by the need to perfect the techniques.
Clement is the youngest among 13 artists producing works for Lookiss, which is housed in a whitewashed double-storey bungalow in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
Last weekend, he held his first solo exhibition, themed Unadulterated, at the gallery. On display were over 40 drawings and paintings which he did between 2003 and 2007.
Ever since meeting Kerk, Kam and her husband have learnt to recognise that their son is indeed a gifted artist and that his autism is secondary. Kam admits that previously, when Clement had joint exhibitions with others, the caveat was that he is a person with autism who has a talent for art. But now she sees him as an artist in his own right and hopes others can see him in the same light.
Clement started drawing at seven. But at that time, Kam did not know how to appreciate his art.
“I threw most of his drawings away, thinking he should do something better than doodling,” she says.
Nevertheless, she enrolled him for art classes – probably one of the best things she has done for him, she says. Today, Clement is learning the finer points of art under the tutelage of Chee Sek Thim and Yau Bee Ling. Besides drawing and painting, he enjoys a hectic social life that can put his peers to shame.
Thanks to the untiring zeal of his mother, Clement is actively involved in dancing, acting and bowling, besides being schooled at Kairos in Petaling Jaya. He joins the monthly social clubs organised by Calvary Church and Damansara Utama Methodist Church for the learning disabled community. He is also learning about his rights through a self advocacy group for the learning disabled called United Voice.
“He is a very happy guy and I think it shows in his art work,” says Kam. Indeed his latest series of paintings on sunflowers with vivid hues of yellow seems to be bursting with energy and joy.
H.O.P.E.
4:47 PM
Autism
What is Autism?
Autism is a develepmental disorder that impairs the person's ability to communicate and interact socially with the other people.
People with autism have great difficulty in learning or intellectual disabillities.
They also have difficulty in understanding the world around them, and thus would rather keep to themselves or to a rigid "safer" routine.
People with autismhave a wide variety of symptoms, IQ level and behavioural problems.
A more common term used to describe this disability is Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD ).
Current global statistics state that up to a staggering 1 : 167 persons suffer from ASD!
Strangely, 80% of Austistic are males.
What causes autism or ASD ?
ASD is caused by dysfunction of the brain in receiving, processing, coordinating and responding to sensory information, a process which most healthy people carry out automatically at an efficient rate.
Research shows that the brain of an ASD person processes information in a perculiar manner and often at a lower rate.
Hence, their response to sight, touch, sound, movement and balance can be very different fron other normal and healthy people.
What causes such a brain dysfunction remains unclear, but the factor suggested include genetic, biochemical and metabolic abnormalities, enviromental pollution and even certain viral infections.
Mission
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder affecting so many around the world. Autism is not mental illness, these children and adults think differently. Albert Einstein, they say was autistic. How many in the audience know that there are
38,000 autistic people in Sri Lanka?
So we as entertainers, urge you all to ‘
speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.’
Lets spread awareness of autism, particularly when numbers of autistic children are rising and we urge our government to also provide public services – who knows we may even produce Albert Einsteins if we provide education, health, specialist speech therapy for autistic children in our lovely island....
Desmond de Silva
MISSION STATEMENT :
To equip Autistic children with the required skills to lead meaningful and independent lives within Sandakan society and to raise awareness among the public on autism.
OBJECTIVES :
+To expose the school community and the general public to autism in our effort to raise awareness via the creation of a website, so that the younger generation and the public may be more sensitive to the needs of these strata society.
+To help the autistic children, parents, teachers and the centre obtain a better understanding about Autism by providing any resources at the website on the subject.
+To give funds to the centre, so the teachers can get proper training in the future.
+To get the school community to contribute in helping the autistic children, through voluntary work such as charity work (cleaning and mural painting) and activity (mini concert) to raise fund for the centre.
+To change mindsets of every person in accepting autistic people in their community, so that they too feel loved and accepted as a contributing part of the society.
+To raise funds to improve the facilities of the centre.
+To create an awareness of the team members and the school community in general, of how much we should appreciate our lives and be grateful for it.
+To bring light to the children who are developmentaly delayed by having fun with them through activities.
Activities
A Cent A Day.
Date : From 18.09.07 to 12.10.07
Venue : Donation jars will be placed at school canteens and teachers' staffrooms.
Objectives : This activity gives a chance for the school communities to contribute and donate even just a cent a day! All collection and donation will be donated to Sabah Cheshire Early Intervention Centre in October.
Charity Work.
Date : 06.10.07
Venue : Sabah Chesire Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Along with Sung Siew community, this will be a whole day work on cleaning, planting and mural painting on the plain walls. This is to prepare the centre to children learning friendly.
Family Day.
Date : 21.10.07
Venue : Sabah Chesire Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : A set of games, aiming for these children. With these games involving the team members, the teachers of the centre, the parents and the children, we hope the children will have fun and know that they are accepted among the normal people too. This activity will be held during the Family Day, which will be officiated by YB Au Kam Wah.
Mini Charity Concert.
Date : 27.10.07
Venue : School Stage, School Grandstand
Objectives : A mini concert, allowing different group of students, consisting of uniform bodies, clubs and individuals, performing dance, singing and even band performance. This is to realize their talents and be thankful for it. So they get the chances to entertain, be entertained and the same time, do charity. All donation will be collected and used for educational aids, materials and toys for the centre.
Future Activities
H.O.P.E. team believes that these children need love, care and attention. Thus, the team is going to continue serving the centre in a long run. Starting with the adoption programme, festive celebrations and annual family day. This is a continuous effort and out of the team's willingness as we believe help doesn't come in short period of time, if one wants to see the outcome. We hope by then, we will grow with these children and see them becoming somebody too in the society.
Adoption Programme.
Date : In November
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Team members are able to adopt their brothers and sisters at the EIC and get to know them, by spending time with them and teach them through the guidance from the teachers in the centre. With this, the children learn to be accepted and loved. As for the team members, this will be an eye opener and awareness to learn more about the children, learning to be patient and appreciate of what God has given to them.
Festive Celebration.
Date : 13.12.07 & 19.12.08 [Christmas]
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : H.O.P.E. team will arrange activities for Christmas celebration with the centre's committees. This celebration will involved all occupants of Sabah Cheshire Home, too!
Annual Family Day.
Date : The centre's anniversary
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Since our successful family day, we intend to continue this activity in the future. It opens chances of good interaction among the communities.
...and many many more to come!
Expenditure
Team Name - H.O.P.E
Project Name - Let 'Em Shine, Too!
The 9 Sparkling Shiny Stars!
The H.O.P.E. team members
[ Email us at chesire-smss@hotmail.com ]
Ms. Michelle Tiew - Our Mentor from Maxis CyberlinQ
[Email at TMICHEL@maxis.com.my]
Ms. Yong Wye Yee - Our Mentor from Maxis CyberlinQ
[Email at WYYONG@maxis.com.my]
Ms.Latifah Yusof Embun - Teacher Advisor
[Email at mslat@sung-siew.com]
Crystal Leong Sukyi - Team Leader
[Email at crystalleong777@hotmail.com]
Olivia Hon - Secretary
Catherina Maria Wong - Graphic Designer
[Email at diana_wong123@hotmail.com ]
Low Gin Tung - Treasurer & Video Creator
[Email at tung_tung92@hotmail.com]
David Wong Yeong Yeow - Content Editor
[Email at david_wyy91@hotmail.com]
Stephanie Chen Mei Ying - Content Editor
[Email at mystepchen@hotmail.com]
Dont remain anonymous and silent, speak up!
Let us listen to the voices.
H.O.P.E. Team would like to convey our gratitude and thanks to the following for helping, supporting and contributing in anyway possible in making this project a success. Thank You!!!
~ YB Au Kam Wah (ASDK) ADUN N.45 ELOPURA, the Chairman of Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre.
~ Mr. Leong Kwok Cheong, SMK Sandakan Bestari's principal and the Treasurer of Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre.
~ Sabah Cheshire Early Intervention Centre. The teachers [Ms. Meryhati, Ms. Nelly, Ms. Yati & Ms. Sin Yee], the committee members and the children!
~ Mdm. Florence, Sung Siew Primary School's headmistress and Ms. Jennifer from EIC.
~ The children's parents. Thank you for your co-operation & supports.
~ Mr. Lee Chin Hoi, our school principal.
~ Sung Siew Secondary School community! Sung Siew is the best! :)
~ Maxis CyberlinQ 2007.
~ Our Mentors, Ms. Michelle Tiew and Ms. Yong Wye Yee.
~ Ms. Yati, for joining us on Family Day.
~ Angelique and family, our dear friends in US. Thanks for supporting us all the way!
~ Mr. Lo, Mdm. Dayang, Ms. Yau & Mr. Patrick, for your feedbacks in our interviews.
~ Raymond Heng, our ex-chief website designer.
~ Mr. Ahmad Kamal and Mr. Wahidi Abdullah for accompanying us on the Charity Day.
~ Mr. Patrick Lim and Mdm. Chong Fui Ha, along with all performers & volunteers for the Mini Charity Concert.
~ Mdm. Tan Puah Eng, our 1st Senior Assistant, for allowing us to use your printer and computer.
~ Cynthia Chee, for helping us with the video!
~ Family, parents, friends, individuals and organizations that had come to support this project.
We appreciate it!!
