Rising Above Handicap

CEBU, Philippines -  A unique art exhibition is currently on display in The Gallery of the Ayala Center Cebu, where the works of a young artist with Down Syndrome are displayed until tomorrow, Friday, July 25.

Entitled "Clarissa: A Painting Exhibit by a Young Artist with Down Syndrome," the exhibit opened on Friday last week, gathering a range of paintings made using a wide gamut of mediums, steered by a variety of visual design directives and painting techniques.

At its core, the show's presented works bear an undeniably contemporary thrust, with a majority of the presented pieces punctuated by the process and content-oriented contexts of the impressionist and expressionist visual art movements.

As impressionist paintings are known for playing with the changing qualities of light in framing subjects and themes, this indicative aspect of the show's presented pieces are complemented by the process-oriented inclinations of expressionist art - where an artist gives more focus on the real-time process of creating; as opposed to being hindered and inhibited by the rules and guidelines representational artists always adhere to.

From impressions of forests to works that brings pristine cityscapes to viewers, the exhibit's featured works take the time to lead audiences to how unique an amalgam of impressionism and expressionism can be, apart from proffering what a young artist with Down Syndrome can accomplish in terms of creative execution.

As a part of the PWD (Persons with Disabilities) Awareness Month's highlights, the art exhibit is preceded by a photo exhibit entitled "Inspiration," which ran from July 4 to 9 in the 1st Level, Paseo Solana of the mall.

Featuring 11 photographs taken by photographer Joseph Ong, the exhibit was set on telling the stories of different individuals whose respective physical handicaps did not hinder them from rising against the odds.

In essence, both exhibits - while different from each other in terms of creative theme and execution - are one in saying something about how persons with disabilities are not limited and inhibited in attaining their goals. (FREEMAN)