Held at KEN Gallery in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here recently, the exhibition brought together young artists living with disabilities and health conditions, offering them a platform to share their creativity and lived experiences through art.
Among them was Ainaa Farhanah Amali, 31, who proved that living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) did not stop her from producing artworks rich in Malaysian identity and artistic detail.
One of her featured works, “Malaysia I Know 3”, combined a bright red hibiscus with turquoise batik motifs on fabric, blending traditional local elements with her own artistic interpretation.
For Ainaa, however, creating art is never physically easy. SMA, a genetic neuromuscular disorder, causes muscle weakness and trembling in her hands, making precise brushwork especially challenging.
“Controlling the brush can be difficult because my hands sometimes shake,” she said during the exhibition. “But art doesn’t always have to be about perfect lines, so I learnt to make that part of my work.”
Passionate about art since she was two, the graphic-design graduate said many of her artworks are inspired by personal experiences and the sense of calm she associates with the seaside.
She also spoke about the demands of creating batik art, which requires the handling of hot wax and careful precision directly on fabric without preliminary sketches.
“While working on this piece, my hands were trembling throughout. Some parts turned out well while others didn’t go exactly as planned,” she shared.
“Thankfully, the wax dries quickly, which helps. I also have to work slowly to avoid injuring myself.”
Because of her condition, Ainaa said she limited herself to about two hours of batik painting each day before her hands became numb.
The exhibition also featured the work of 13-year-old Dhia Fadzli, who lives with autism and expressed her imagination through colourful abstract pieces inspired by galaxies and space.
Her mother, Mariena Malek, said Dhia’s passion for art became clear after she introduced her daughter to art classes about a year earlier.
“I tried exposing Dhia to many different activities because her interests tend to change quickly. But once she started painting, she showed extraordinary enthusiasm,” she said.
The exhibition featured 18 artists aged between six and 31, including individuals living with Down syndrome.
It was organised by FriendenArt in collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah under the ArtFas 2025 initiative, a programme at providing a platform for persons with disabilities and individuals facing health challenges to showcase their talents.