“I Want to Be ARTIST” book cover
Born in Malaysia in 1993, Ping was diagnosed with autism at an early age. His journey is a remarkable one. According to his mother, Sarah SH Lee, Ping was at first “hyperactive…unable to hold a pencil to write or to use a scissor to cut.” Guided by Lee, Ping began a program of tracing and drawing activities to assist in strengthening his motor and imitation skills. At eight years old, Ping had already begun to tap into prodigious talent as his pen transformed from a therapeutic tool to a synergist of thought and emotion. By age fifteen, Ping opened a personal gallery in Malaysia. His work has since been displayed throughout various sites in New York. Agora Gallery’s 2015 exhibit “Out From Down Under & Beyond: Fine Art From Australia & New Zealand” marked an exceptional period in Ping’s career, as his work was chosen not for his condition, but for his exceptional artistic talent.
Ping Lian in his studio
Lee has documented Ping’s work and journey in a book entitled “I Want To Be Artist”: An Autistic Savant’s Voice and a Mother’s Dream Transformed Onto Canvas, released in April 2017. The book serves as an inspiration not only to the autistic community, but also to the art world at large. Ping now resides in Sydney, Australia.
www.pinglian.com
www.Agora-Gallery.com/ArtistPage/Ping_Lian_Yeak.aspx