by NewsFour
Clement Yang, a talented 20-year-old artist from Taiwan, who has an intellectual disability, has proudly exhibited his remarkable artwork at the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) in Dublin as part of the Connecting Artists 2023 programme.
Clement lives in Ballsbridge and attends college at the National Learning Network in Stillorgan, and is one of ten artists carefully selected from across the country. Clement was diagnosed with Dyspraxia at the age of eight. He has a deep passion for drawing and painting which comes across in his work.
Speaking at the event, Clement said: “My influences are diverse and include Greek/Spanish painter El Greco, French painter Bernard Buffet, and Irish abstract artist Sean Scully. I draw inspiration from my own life experiences and Taiwanese culture, focusing my recent works on native Irish animals. I produce at least five pen-and-ink drawings daily and I complete an acrylic or oil painting on average every week.”
The national exhibition, which took place from Sunday 16th July to Tuesday 18th of July, was a culmination of the 10-week online programme designed by Miriam Spollen, the founder of Connections Arts Centre (CAC), an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to connecting the disability community through the arts. Miriam’s inspiring vision includes supporting up to 50 artists and hosting three national exhibitions, with plans to expand the programme in Europe and develop a junior programme.
In Ireland one in five people (22%) live with a disability, and CAC aims to change the perception and visibility of people with disabilities by providing innovative learning environments and inclusive creative spaces. The exhibition’s success has paved the way for further showcases, with the exhibit set to be featured at the University of Atypical in Belfast from Friday, 28th of July until Friday, 25th of August.
Broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan joined the artists and their families at the event. Expressing her support she said: “It is an absolute joy and a privilege to be here today. It’s great to meet all the artists and to see their stunning art pieces in this fantastic space.”
Connections Arts Centre continues to support artists through the Connecting Artist Collective, offering monthly online meetings and opportunities to showcase and sell their work. The organisation actively seeks partnerships with like-minded organisations to promote inclusivity and empower artists with intellectual disabilities.
If you or your organisation are interested contact miriam@connectionsartscentre.ie
