No disability can stop one if the persons with disability has the determination to challenge the hidden potential.
With clear and strong motives in her mind, Syeda Alishba Aminud Din, a 23-year old girl with Down syndrome, has opened an art café in the city.
In her first art exhibition, Alishba has invited differently abled persons, aged persons artists from under privileged areas and kids to participate in the ‘Environmental Art Exhibition’.
“Through the art we can create awareness about our environment,” Alishba commented. “We need to keep our country clean and green and should take care of our environment,” she added.
Three-day exhibition will start from July 7 at the unique café that is first of its kind set up by first Pakistani girl with down syndrome.
She told The Express Tribune that she has received paintings from aged persons living in the old homes and Lyari. “This is what I wanted to say that this place will help everyone to see and exhibit their art,” she added.
Art Café
The purpose of establishing the art café for Alishba is to celebrate the diversity through socially conscious art and painting the world as ‘one’ with art that speaks of “embracing differences, representing uniqueness and creating heartfelt art.”
In the art café, Alishba’s paintings have been displayed which attract visitors to remain calm, ponder over for a while if this differently abled girl can think ‘differently’.
“She inspires me,” Javed Ahmed, a visitor, commented. “I am really astonished and feel proud this brave girl,” he added. “She actually sends a clear message to all the parents to give equal opportunities to their differently abled kids to challenge their hidden power.”
Apart from regular visitors, Alishba invites different organizations to visit her art café.
Number of her friends and families with their children [down syndrome], and elderly persons have visited and spent quality time with Alishba.
“Yes, this is the place where the diversity is not appreciated but celebrated,” Ghulam Mustafa, a father with two young differently abled sons, commented. “I think the government should not only appreciate Alishba and support her but also encourage all the parents to provide such space,” he urged.
About Alishba
Being fond of speaking different languages, she has taught international languages, including English, French, German and Italian. “She worked hard to learn these languages and love to speak them,” said Dr Iffet Sultana, her mother.
“I like to describe myself as an abstract expressionist with a mission,” Alishba said. “I use Acrylic, soft pastels, black and white charcoal and other mediums to render on my canvas the social challenges faced by people, especially females.
“The most recurring theme in my works, is that of an inclusive and accepting society which does not demarcate between “normal” and “special”.
She said that: “no disability can stop you if you have the determination to challenge your potential” and that is why against all odds I draw, busting the myths that females, especially with ‘special’ needs, have no space in society.”
It’s Alishba’s dream that “each one of us would have a change to believe in ourselves so that eventually the world becomes more receptive, more inclusive and more appreciative of our uniqueness as a human race,” Dr Sultana said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2023.
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