Exhibition showcases young artists with disabilities
Visitors look at artwork made by young people with development disabilities.
An exhibition of artwork made by children from across China and youngsters with developmental disabilities opened at Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou over the weekend. The event is intended to raise awareness of people with disabilities and help them find rewarding employment.
The works on view include paintings done in ink-wash and oil, as well as heritage-inspired handicrafts such as embroidery, pottery, dyed fabric and paper-cuts. The artists behind some of these pieces are young people with autism, Down's syndrome, developmental retardation and cerebral palsy.
Children from international schools and Wang Jianzhong, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage of paper cuts, also contribute their works to support the exhibition and the employment of the disabled people.
The exhibition is jointly hosted by Love, Disabilities, Love Fund of Shanghai Adream Foundation, a non-profit organization, and Shanghai Pudong New Area Special Education School.
It runs until September 20.
There are 25 million people with autism, Down's syndrome, developmental retardation and cerebral palsy in China.
When they leave school, many enter dead-end jobs and put serious financial pressure on their families, organizers of the exhibition say.
"I hope these children and young people will have a brighter life after they leave school, and find a decent job which can support them," said Wang Ying, headmaster of Shanghai Pudong New Area Special Education School.
Organizers hope the event will help young people with disabilities find dignified work by showcasing their talents and connecting them with potential employers.
Visitors view paintings on display at Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou.
