Promoting and supporting local art and autism: The more you give the more you can get |22 November 2021

A souvenir photograph after the handover

As the Seychelles NATION newspaper reported on Saturday November 13, for the first time ever, a young autistic apprentice artist, Patrick Alexis, has held an exhibition of his artwork at the Carrefour Des Arts, right next to the National Library building in town.

His paintings will be on display until December 3.

Patrick is being assisted by his older cousin, Robert Alexis, an accomplished artist, who specialises as an abstract painter and a sculptor. Robert has been guiding him on abstract painting. As artists, they are using acrylic paint and wax crayons.

Comments on the autistic artwork from the general public have been warm, encouraging and positive. People recognise that some autistic people are able to express themselves better with colours via visual art while others will have other completely different abilities or attributes. That is why this condition of autism is diverse and it varies from each person’s individual experience.

A number of viewers of the exhibition have expressed their views and bought Patrick’s paintings for their own private collection and satisfaction. One promoter, collector and supporter of local art is Gafoor Yakub, chairman & chief executive of paint manufacturing company Penlac. He has decided to buy a few of Patrick’s paintings and donated them to the Autism Support Centre at North East Point at a small informal ceremony on Saturday November 20 in the presence of some committee members, namely Lyne Lavigne (deputy Chair), Marie-Annette Ernesta, Myrna Hoareau Michel.

Asked why he did this, Mr Yakub said: “This is a win-win situation because it benefits both parties. The young artist is given a boost, with encouragement to build up his self-confidence by me investing in his art paintings while the Autism Support Centre is provided with my assistance in the form of bright and colourful paintings to liven up and “cheer up” the walls of the recently renovated rooms and corridors of the centre.”

Mr Yakub added:  “There is an old saying which reads ‘the more you give, the more you can get’. I simply see it this way: If the act of giving to others has no strings attached, then the act of giving is truly an act of kindness because you are not expecting anything in return. That is in fact true in life and in business. For instance, you know customers like to receive, and when they receive, they often return the favour by spending their money with your business. It’s called the ‘Law of Reciprocity’. One great American speaker puts it so nicely, ‘You will get all you want in life if you help other people get what they want’.”

As a promoter and collector of local art, Mr Yakub is calling on others to come forward and do the same.

Factual notes:

The term ‘autism’ comes from the Greek word, autos which means ‘self’; autism literally means “alone”. Autism is characterised by a broad range of conditions relating to challenges in social and communication skills, speech and non-verbal interactions as well as repetitive behaviours.

There is no cure for autism but with the right support all autistic people should be able to live the life they choose.

Compiled by Patrick Joubert