WHEN A DOWN BECOMES A STAR : Aspiring painter with a love of pink grass gets own art show

WHEN A DOWN BECOMES A STAR : Aspiring painter with a love of pink grass gets own art show.

Story by ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

For Viriya or "Nong Vee" Tangpornpakkul, a 12-year-old girl with Down Syndrome, the present she was given for Children's Day this year is an exceptional one she has never had before - an art exhibition of her own.

Her exhibition, "When a Down becomes a star," the first of its kind for children with mental retardation in Thailand, features 43 paintings she made herself during the nearly two years she has taken courses at the Art Laemkom School in Bangkok.

"We picked Nong Vee's works because they are proof that children with Down Syndrome can do many things just like other children," said art teacher Sajja Jantim, or "Khru Laem" to his students.

Viriya's mother, Rungthong Tangpornpakkul, took the girl to the school at the suggestion of a friend, who also has a child with Down Syndrome, also referred to as Down's Syndrome.

"I used to think of sending her to an art school, then gave up the idea because we couldn't afford the fees. But the teacher here offered to teach my daughter for free. It's a rare opportunity which we just can't turn down," said Ms Rungthong.

She recalled when Nong Vee was born.

"When the doctor told my husband and I that our baby had Down Syndrome, we wondered if she would be able to help herself. I cried and cried," said Mr Rungthong.

With her husband's encouragement, she found the strength to overcome her sadness. Luckily Nong Vee's condition was not severe. She could perform simple tasks, such as eating and getting dressed. She understands simple sentences, and can respond.

"That's another reason we picked her: she can communicate with others," said Mr Sajja.

Nong Vee studies at Art Laemkom school every Saturday. She spends up to three hours on each painting.

On the day she spoke to the Bangkok Post, she had started a new painting. Nong Vee is a determined artist, who holds her colour pencils firmly while sketching images, and colouring them.

'Those are clouds and birds in the sky. Here's my house, the front lawn and an orange tree. And this is me," she said, pointing to drawing of herself.

Pink is her favourite colour, which turns up in many places in her paintings, even the front lawn.

"I love pink because it's beautiful,"said Nong Vee.

Manthana Saowakul, another art teacher, said Nong Vee's artistic skills have developed well. At first, she just put everything together in her paintings, as if every item was floating in the air.

After a while, she learned to arrange them, for example, drawing a line to separate the sky from the ground. Now she understands the importance of composition in a picture.

"Children with Down Syndrome are slow. We need to repeat things again and again until they can remember. But once they get it, they can do the work just as well as any other child," said Ms Manthana.

Nong Vee's mother said the girl became calmer and more concentrated after learning art. Her school teacher said she was good at drawing human shapes. She was also proud that Nong Vee now has an exhibition of her own.

"Thinking back to the beginning and looking at what she could do today, it's so overwhelming that I want to cry," said her mother.

Nong Vee's exhibition is open to the public from today until Feb 11, at the Children's Discovery Museum near Chatuchak park.

Bangkok Post
Saturday January 13, 2007