Born with autism, Nem cannot think in language to communicate with people. To communicate, the 2-year-old boy Nem turned to painting instead of language to think and communicate with the outside world.
To mark the theme “Education and disability” of the Global Action Week for Education for All, the Center for Research and Action for Inclusive Development (IDEA), in cooperation with the Centre for Community Economics and Development (ECCO) and a group of parents of children with autism, organised an exhibition of paintings and photographs called “Nem’s Story”.
The exhibition runs from 6 p.m. on 8 May to 15 May at Kai Art Centre, 342 Nghi Tam, Tay Ho, Hanoi.
The paintings drawn by Nem, a boy with autism
These are paintings drawn by Nem, whose real name is Ha Dinh Chi (born 2005, Hanoi), from the age of 2 to the present. This is a journey of discovery into the colourful, creative and spontaneous world of a boy born with autism. Although he faces difficulties in everyday life, Nem’s world always has bright patches of hope and dreams. Each painting is a small story about the love of family, friends and the community for Nem.
According to Lan Phuong (Nem’s mother): “Nem seems to have no need to share and play with friends, but he does have a need to share and play with the lines on a blank sheet of paper. Nem spends hours absorbed in the colourful, varied images in his head”. Thanks to this, Nem can depict his colourful and diverse world in paintings full of feeling. Over time, painting has become the means for Nem to think and communicate with the outside world.
It can be said that in his efforts to free himself, Nem turned to painting as a bridge connecting him with people. For Nem, painting determines awareness, thought and action, just as people speak to express sadness and joy, to share and empathise…
Through this, audiences can also come into contact with the real life of a child with autism, from which parents in general will learn a great deal about educating and engaging with their own children, especially patience. What matters is not the child, but creating the environment and opportunities for that child to develop. Every child is different; each one is a seed of potential.
“Nem’s Story” hopes to bring children with disabilities the opportunity to live and express themselves in their own voice.
Many visitors, after touring the exhibition, wrote in the guest book their impressions and their admiration for young Nem.
Ngoc Diep – Petro Times