(Reported by Broadcastmagz.com)
While admiring the colorful paintings from the roof of nirvana,
the boundless majesty of the creator delights the heart,
occupying the azure sky across the earth of my brilliant imagination, adorned with colors.
The Colors Exhibition is one of a series of events for the launch of Andien’s single “Warna-Warna” (Colors). It is a collaboration between Andien and the Widyatama Art Therapy Center (ATC Widyatama) that aims to raise public awareness of children with special needs.
Art Therapy Center Widyatama (ATC Widyatama) is an art education institution in Bandung that educates children with special needs using art as a therapeutic method. It was founded as part of a mission to educate all children, both regular and disabled.
Over more than 10 years of research, the Sensory Method was discovered, which is a creative sensory stimulation method that incorporates aspects of art, namely audio, visual, and kinetic. The Sensory Method was discovered by Anne Nurfarina, who is the director of ATC Widyatama. This method forms the basis of the learning system for ATC Widyatama students to build behavior, skills, and work abilities through synergy between spiritual, cultural, social, and business aspects in the creative industry. Students are trained to understand the knowledge they learn, technical skills, concepts, and the work environment. ATC Widyatama students are expected to be able to survive in life through the provision of practical knowledge that can be applied in the world of work, especially in the creative industry.
Andien & Art Therapy Center Widyatama Hold Colorful Exhibition: Colors in the Perspective of Children with Special Needs
According to Mrs. Anne, this exhibition aims to show that children with special needs have good forms of expression and abilities that deserve a place in the public sphere, as a result of their learning and therapy. Because they are special students, they are people with disabilities who have various strengths.
These strengths emerge because of the efforts of their teachers, who are also exceptional. With patience and persistence in guiding, accompanying, and teaching them, these abilities have emerged as expressions of human qualities in children. Ms. Anne believes that this exhibition is happening because of these qualities, not simply out of empathy or pity.
Quoting Mrs. Anunsiata Srisabda, one of the teachers at ATC Widyatama and also the curator of this exhibition, almost all of their works were created through a process aimed at improving their behavioral abilities, how they are required to learn to concentrate, focus, be tolerant, build communication through pictures, and hone their fine motor skills. They don’t just draw. There are many things that happen and interesting stories throughout the process.
Through this exhibition held at Dia.Lo.Gue Art Space, Andien wants to invite the public to see children with special needs from a different perspective. That they are just like us, only they have different abilities. A rainbow is beautiful because it is created from various colors. Children with disabilities are a form of God’s creation that we should appreciate.
Engel Tanzil, the conceptor of Dia.Lo.Gue Art Space, wants to provide opportunities for children with special needs to publish their works. Their works are also worthy of being exhibited and appreciated.
Andien viewed the works of students from the Widyatama Art Therapy Center
The exhibition was attended by 14 students from ATC Widyatama, including Dwi Andini Maaruf, Faiz Muhammad, Ghany Aziz, Mulyo Rahardjo, Abiyan Zahran, Adryan Adi, Angkasa Nasrulah Emir, Nazario P, Ariq Rabanni, Hilary Sasabilla, Ahmad Taufan, Akbar Alliya, M Ichsan Nabil, and Naufal Radiansyah.
A total of 62 works were exhibited, divided into three categories: original works, works using reference photos as objects of art, and re-make, cycling, inspiring, and duplicating works.
Lenovo, one of the leading technology brands, showed its support for the exhibition by providing 3 Lenovo laptops for the ATC Widyatama students to design the covers.
These works will later be auctioned off, with all proceeds donated to the development of ATC Widyatama. “Technology should help and facilitate humans, including children with special needs. Lenovo is happy to be a facilitator so that children with special needs can continue to create and improve their work,” said Diantika, Consumer Marketing Lead, Lenovo Indonesia.
The exhibition also sold various merchandise based on the works of ATC Widyatama students, such as sweatshirts, enamel, mini notebooks, tote bags, and others. This merchandise can be purchased directly at the exhibition or on Bukalapak.
Ari K. Wibowo, Associate Vice President of Brand Bukalapak, said, “Bukalapak has a vision to develop Indonesia by empowering SMEs throughout Indonesia. We are delighted to embrace friends with special needs in developing their creativity and utilizing technological advances such as Bukalapak to market their best works. This is a special feature of the Indonesian nation. Despite our diversity, with a spirit of perseverance and solidarity, we are able to work together to make Indonesia even better. Friends with special needs can still channel their creativity and their work can be enjoyed by the wider community.”
Ari K. Wibowo also added that Bukalapak is known for its seller communities in various regions. Friends with special needs can certainly also be nurtured in the Bukalapak community so that they too can become part of a reliable seller community.
The Warna-Warna Exhibition will take place from August 29th to September 9th, 2018. Not only is it an exhibition to showcase the works of ATC Widyatama students, but there will also be a talk show on September 1st, 2018, with parents to share information that the ecosystem for children with special needs in Indonesia is adequate. This includes schools, public facilities, and the workplace. Children with special needs have their own colors that beautify the world.
In addition, a dialogue with the Human Resource and Brand Marketing team will also be held on September 5, 2018. This dialogue aims to discuss job opportunities for children with disabilities. They may have deficiencies in one ability, but they are gifted with other abilities that can be seen if we are willing to look for them.
The Colors Exhibition is intended not only to be seen, but also to feel the creative process of the students of ATC Widyatama. Feeling not only out of compassion, but also feeling how they view an object. Different and special expressions. Seeing that they, with our guidance, can become complete human beings who are entitled to equal opportunities.
