Imagination unleashed in joint exhibition by four artists with disabilities
, Lianhe Zaobao
After graduating from Nanyang Polytechnic with her classmates, 23-year-old Amelia Tan felt that the road ahead was uncertain. She used a triptych The Robin’s Song to convey her anxieties on the next leg in her life. In an interview, she said the first painting Guide Me Through The Dark conveyed the struggle of fresh graduates to establish careers. Without courage and faith, many are unable to accept new challenges. In her second painting Tempest, Amelia expressed how graduates gain strength after going through difficult situations, with many preparing to spread their wings. In the final painting of the triptych Gale, graduates stand above the clouds as they achieve their dreams.
Amelia painted these large paintings, each measuring 1.42 metres high by 1 metres wide, under the guidance of artist Andy Yang. He believes that Amelia is naturally talented and enjoys working with her, viewing the mentorship process as more of a dialogue where they can both learn from each other.
Alongside 3 other neurodiverse artists, a total of 20 new works was showcased in joint exhibition Turning Point II, organised by ART:DIS (Arts & Disability) Singapore. The exhibition is part of Singapore Art Week 2025, and is curated by independent curator John Tung. As part of ART:DIS’s Emerging Artist programme, four established artists provided creative guidance to support four young artists with disabilities in their professional practice and development.
Fun in nature
Abraham Koh (26 years old) obtained a Diploma in Fine Arts from LASALLE College of the Arts. Under the guidance of artist Tang Ling-Nah, his five paintings are a burst of colours, highlighting nature’s fragility and beauty through texture, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. “Singaporeans are so busy and miss out on simple pleasures, especially things in nature. I hope that my artworks will enable them to appreciate what is often taken for granted,” he shared.
Noah Tan (24 years old) started painting at the age of seven, enabling him to concentrate despite his hyperactivity. He is fascinated by rainbows, which became the basis for his intimate understanding of colours, he passed the CLE Certificate in Visual Arts from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Under the guidance of Leo Liu, his Garden series of paintings uses bold colours, simple lines and dots in a hyper-flat style. The influence of Japanese artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami is self-evident. Inviting people into his world, he said: “Please look at my ability, not my disability.”
The history of architecture
Zulkhairi Lutfi, 20 years old, started painting full-time after graduating from Eden School in 2023. In his Beyond the Horizon series, it becomes apparent he is obsessed with depicting unique buildings. From past to present, he captures iconic buildings such as the Central Fire Station on Hill Street, the former National Theatre and the Capitol Theatre. Following his mentorship with artist Justin Lee, Zulkhairi focused more on paying homage to everyday life through striking colors and a flat, pop art-style works.