Naomi's Journey: Freedom Through Art
For people with Autism, art is a form of independence. This is what Ananda Naomi feels. Naomi uses her artistic talent to communicate her feelings. Ibu Maharani, a university lecturer, strives to give Naomi freedom of expression through art.
Art as Communication Media
Naomi first showed an interest in art when she was two years old, towards the end of 2018, when we returned to Bandung. It was a memorable moment when I saw Naomi scribbling with markers on the tiles on the floor.
Although drawing on the floor is not common, I was struck by how quickly she cleaned up the scribbles with a wet cloth when she was finished. She also showed her creativity by sticking Play-Doh on the wall. Naomi had a speech delay at the time, but she had already started to communicate through her drawings.
We as a family began to realize that Naomi's drawings had interesting shapes, ranging from simple shapes like the sun to pictures of animals and other objects. Seeing this potential, we gave Naomi paper to draw on. Without any special instructions, she began to tell stories through her drawings.
Naomi often draws things she sees, including from YouTube videos she watches. Every time she draws, I can see the happiness and pride on her face. Especially when she sings while she draws, even though she can't speak fluently yet.
As a mother, I feel compelled to document every piece of work Naomi produces, no matter how small. I see her trying to communicate and express her feelings through art.
Art becomes a way for us to interact. For example, when Naomi feels angry or sad, she expresses it through drawings by adding certain expressions such as a sad or angry face. Although she can't speak well yet, Naomi finds a way to tell us what she is feeling and thinking through this visual art.
Printing Naomi's Work
Over time, Naomi's talent was honed, especially after she found a creativity-based daycare in Bandung. This nursery helped Naomi to further develop her drawing skills.
Although her speech was not developed until the age of 5 and was still limited to two or three words, Naomi has made remarkable progress. At the age of 9, Naomi continues to develop her drawing skills.
I vividly remember the first time I documented Naomi's artwork. In the beginning, she would often change the paper immediately after drawing or destroying the cute Play-Doh figures she had made.
Realizing this, I took the initiative to 'save' Naomi's work before it was deleted or destroyed. I would take the work, be it a drawing or Play-Doh, and document it by photographing or saving it. For the Play-Doh, I even gave the figures a clear polish to make them last longer, so that they would become a record of Naomi's creative journey.
Naomi now prefers to draw on Canva after seeing me use the app to create college presentations. Out of curiosity, she started exploring Canva on her own, found the pencil icon and started drawing digitally.
I was very impressed with her work on Canva, especially her bright and expressive color choices and bold lines. As a mother with a design background, I tried printing Naomi's work on various products such as t-shirts, tumblers and bags. Seeing her work on these products made Naomi very happy. Her happy face is the main motivation for me to continue supporting Naomi's artistic talent.
Marketing Naomi's Work
Thanks to information from the MPATI Foundation, we even took part in a business mentoring scheme run by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs. From an initial selection of 2,500 participants, Naomi and I made it to the five finalists after six months of intensive mentoring. Naomi's work was recognized at last year's event at the Jakarta Convention Centre (JCC).
Since kindergarten, Naomi has participated in several exhibitions. Her first exhibition was in Picupacu and since then she has exhibited about four times. Although she has never had a solo exhibition, Naomi always has a happy expression on her face when she sees her work on display. She immediately recognizes her work, approaches with a smile and even takes my hand to proudly show me her work.
Through efforts such as exhibitions and Instagram accounts, many opportunities began to open up for Naomi. One of them was when Naomi was invited to join a drawing class at Damakara, a fashion brand in Bandung that specializes in drawing skills. All this time Naomi had been drawing on her own, without any formal guidance. However, with this training, Naomi will be able to better understand drawing techniques and develop her skills.
However, I am also aware of the challenges related to stigma and misunderstanding in society. I once had a bitter experience when Naomi's work was questioned at an event. Someone accused me of exploiting children. This was very shocking and hurtful, because my intention was purely to provide a space for Naomi and other children with Autism to express themselves and show their talents.
However, seeing how Naomi recognizes and is proud of her own work is a joy for me. With art as a means of communication, I believe that every child has a path to fortune and extraordinary potential. In every bazaar we attend, Naomi proudly guards her goods and sees many people come to see her work.
Art is not only a means of expression for children with Autism, but also a tool to break down stigma and raise awareness in the community. We hope that with support and understanding, Naomi and other children can continue to grow and share their talents with the world.
Naomi's story is summarized from a webinar entitled Independence Day Special: Independence Through Work, held on Saturday 17 August 2024.
