Huang Yi-bei, a 12th grader who suffers from cerebral palsy, can only use a brush attached to a device around her head to paint. Referring to herself as a “woodpecker artist,” Huang explained that she can now express herself on canvas using the device, designed by one of her teachers.
About 300 disabled students from nursery school to the high school level attend the school, which is located in Changhua County’s Hemei Township. The school recently held an exhibition of paintings by 10 students, all of whom have cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries or chromosome disorders.
In addition, the school and a local foundation for the handicapped have cooperated in printing postcards of the work of these students. The postcards are being sold over the school’s website and the funds raised will go toward helping more students in need.
Besides Huang Yi-bei, the other students whose artwork has been printed on the postcards include Huang Jun-yan, Lin Yu-feng, Jiang Yu-ting, Huang Yi-lun, Yu Cai-wei, Lin Ting-jie, Ceng Yi-kai, Liu Yi-jie and Shi Shan-an. Their works exhibit their emotions and realizations about life, and prove that these individuals have not let their disabilities stand in the way of expressing themselves artistically.
Painting has not come easy to Huang Yi-bei. Given that she controls a brush through movements of her head, she has taken pains to persevere despite having to suffer through neck aches. Her painting "The Dawn of Hope" shows a sun that has been blocked out by trees. However, the rays of light are still gradually making their way through the branches and leaves, symbolizing all of the challenges she has had to face and overcome.
Huang Yi-lun's painting "Flourishing" is dedicated to her grandfather, who has helped her from the time she was young and has encouraged her to overcome the unhappiness that her disabilities have caused her. The painting features bold colors and strokes of the brush, and the work is so impressive that it won an award at a gallery exhibition of artwork by handicapped painters.
Ceng Yi-kai's painting is called "Sowing the Seeds of Love." Given Ceng's difficult physical state, she has remained at home and has been schooled by a teacher via Skype. Last week Ceng was admitted to the intensive care ward in a hospital, but her situation has fortunately stabilized.
Hemei Principal Lin Yi-hui said several of the students were so happy upon hearing the news that their artwork was going to be made into postcards that they shed tears. A set of the postcards sells for NT$150 (US$4.94), while individual cards are being sold for NT$15. Lin stressed that behind each postcard is a moving story.
She added that as December is a month with many holidays, she hopes that people will buy the cards and send them to their friends.
(This article originally appeared in The Liberty Times Nov. 22.)