SINGAPORE — Showing off his Chinese ink painting skills at Orchard Gateway on Friday (July 7), visually-impaired artist Wesley Seah is proof that one’s disabilities is no barrier to acquiring new skills.
The 49-year-old is participating in a two-day charity bazaar at Orchard Gateway to show the public what persons with disabilities are capable of.
Diagnosed with advanced-stage glaucoma in 2002, the former high-flying banking consultant is now completely blind in his right eye and only partially sighted in his left. But he did not let it drag him down.
“Don’t stereotype persons with disabilities… (and to persons with disabilities), don’t let the disability be an excuse not to pursue what (you) want,” said Mr Seah, who is one of nine beneficiaries supported by the TODAY Enable Fund, set up to bolster the aspirations of those with special needs.
Making his first sale in support of the fund on Friday – a scroll depicting bamboo and a Chinese character that denotes prosperity – he told TODAY: “The feeling is good. I did not expect to (make a sale) so fast.”
At the bazaar, which will run until Saturday, passers-by at the mall got a chance to find out more about the help that the various charities are giving and to do their bit to help.
For customer relations manager Yvonne Tan, 40, who works at the nearby Singtel headquarters, the TODAY Enable Fund was her charity of choice. She said: “I feel for people with special needs.”
The TODAY Enable Fund is one of four charities supported by the mass cycling event OCBC Cycle this year, and a participant at the two-day bazaar to raise funds.
Mr Seah will be there on Saturday as well, alongside Mediacorp artistes Richie Koh and Michelle Wong who will be lending their star power at 1pm.
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