When Ms Nur Sabrina Binte Rahim first encountered ‘The Starry Night’ by Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, she was struck by its vivid beauty. The iconic oil painting depicts a blue night sky filled with yellow stars that brim with raw energy, in contrast to the quiet, orderly village in the foreground.

The 18-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy (CP), spotted a replica of the painting while attending an art programme conducted by Rainbow Centre, a social service agency which serves children and youths with disabilities. Inspired by Van Gogh’s impressionistic brush strokes, she developed a technique of applying dashes and short consistent lines to create art. “I can’t draw as fast as others. I need a longer time to practise and perfect my skills, as well as a lot of help from my teachers to paint fine details,” says Ms Sabrina, who experiences challenges with fine motor coordination due to CP.

With her specially-honed technique, she can execute her strokes more adeptly. Having gained confidence in her abilities, she now aspires to become a well-known artist — and her journey has begun. Her creations — including ‘Bon Voyage’ (pictured above) — will soon be showcased at Shaping Hearts, an annual inclusive arts festival organised by North East Community Development Council (CDC).

Held from 11 to 25 November at Our Tampines Hub and 18 November to 3 December at One Punggol, the festival will feature workshops, a bazaar and dance and musical performances, as well as an exhibition where artworks — including Ms Sabrina’s ‘Bon Voyage’, a painting that depicts 16 roses — can be purchased. “It’s my first time participating in a public exhibition, and I’m excited to show my art to people outside of school,” says the Rainbow Centre student, who is also a huge fan of K-pop music.

This year’s edition of the festival will mark the launch of the North East Art Grant to support visual artists with disabilities in developing their artistic talent.

TRANSLATING ADVERSITY INTO ART

Besides serving as a platform to promote their creative achievements, Shaping Hearts 2023 also aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the differently abled. For some of these individuals, including Ms Christina Lau, art is a medium to heal and grow. The former prison officer became paralysed from the chest down after sustaining a major spinal cord injury from a car accident in 2005. This restricted her ability to perform daily activities such as showering with ease. She struggled to pick up items owing to a weak grip, and had to learn to use a motorised wheelchair.

“When the doctor told me I would be paralysed for life, I was at a loss because I didn’t know how I was going to live. Not being able to perform basic tasks can get frustrating,” recounts Ms Lau. “I thought, ‘Why do I have to go through this?’”

The hardships caused her to suffer from depression, but she eventually got better with her family’s support and resolved to make the most of her circumstances. Today, she is a national table tennis player with two ASEAN Para Games bronze medals under her belt.

In 2012, Ms Lau was introduced to mouth painting by a group of amateur artist friends. Although she had never possessed artistic inclinations, she picked up the artform after being gifted a painting set. It was a tedious process, and the rookie initially could only paint for up to 15 minutes at a time.

“It’s very different from painting by hand. You have to bite down on the brush quite hard, and there’s the issue of dripping saliva. Your jaw and neck start to get tired,” explains Ms Lau. However, she persisted in practising the artform, and is now able to render intricate landscapes in both watercolour and acrylic.

“I want people who are tired after a long day to forget their problems and feel a sense of joy, inspiration, and respite when they look at my art pieces,” says Ms Lau, who attends live outdoor painting sessions at locations such as Little India, Chinatown and Tiong Bahru. Represented by charity ART:DIS Singapore, her painting of a Joo Chiat streetscape will be displayed at the upcoming exhibition.

BRIDGING CONNECTIONS

For other artists such as Mr Gary Chong, a 26-year-old with an intellectual disability who struggles with verbal communication, art is an especially pertinent vehicle for self-expression.

The young man, who works at the YMCA’s housekeeping department, recently discovered his passion for art after attending the exhibition of a friend with Down Syndrome. This prompted him to paint his own nature-inspired pieces such as 'Yu' (Fish), which brings to life a vibrant underwater world. It will be exhibited at the festival.

Mr Chong’s mother, Mdm Elise Ng, shares that her son has always held a fascination with marine life, having grown up visiting neighbourhood aquariums and admiring his cousin’s goldfish. Painting allows him to convey his unique perspectives to the world, thus presenting an opportunity to foster greater empathy for those like him.

“I hope that Gary can develop more confidence to express himself, and for the public to show love and patience when interacting with people with special needs,” says Mdm Ng.