Emerging Voices

A presentation by Art + Being in collaboration with HugeArt

Art + Being presents Emerging Voices, a curated presentation of artworks by neurodivergent children and young artists, developed through sustained artistic practice and mentorship.

About the Program

Led by HugeArt, the presentation approaches each work with seriousness and care — attending to material, colour, gesture, and presence. While the artists are young, the emphasis remains firmly on the work itself, allowing it to be encountered without sentimentality or explanatory framing.

As a supporting gallery, Art + Being situates Emerging Voices within a contemporary art context, extending its ongoing commitment to thoughtful, ethical, and artist-led practices that honour authorship at every stage of life.

Event flyer for an art exhibition titled 'Emerging Voices' featuring colorful abstract paintings created by neurodivergent children and young artists. The exhibition is opening on Saturday, February 7th, with dates available on February 7-8 and February 13-14, from 11AM to 6PM at Art + Being, 22 Persiaran Beringin, Damansara Heights, KL 50490.

Register here >>

The word 'HUGE' in purple followed by the word 'art' with each letter filled with colorful patterns.
A minimalist drawing of a ballerina, a leaf, and a ball, arranged horizontally.
Six colorful abstract drawings featuring numerous cartoonish characters, plants, and whimsical scenes. Each section has a unique background color with sketchy line art.

Aryan Mathi

13 years old

  • Aryan Mathi is an autistic artist whose love for imaginative creatures fuels his bold and expressive doodles. Diagnosed at 3.5 years old, he has always viewed the world through a creative lens. His early interests included construction trucks, insects, sea creatures, and dinosaurs but one passion has remained constant: Ultraman and Kaijus. Since discovering John Kenn Mortensen’s Sticky Monsters at age 8, Aryan has filled his sketchbooks with quirky, intricate creatures that reflect his playful humour and attention to detail.

    Artist Statement
    “My doodles are my world. They show how I see and imagine life, one creature at a time.”

    Achievements
    Aryan’s artworks were showcased at the Voices Through Colors exhibition at Manja, where two of his pieces were sold.

Child standing next to a dinosaur statue in an indoor amusement park or arcade, with arcade games in the background.
A collage of six colorful abstract and childlike paintings, including circles, geometric shapes, patterns, and a horse drawing, all with vibrant and playful colors.

Alrick Mark

8 years old

  • Alrick Mark is a cheerful and expressive young artist with a deep love for colour. Diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and listed under autism on his OKU card, he finds joy and comfort in creating art almost every day. He spends many hours at home drawing and painting, using art as a way to express himself freely. Guided by his dedicated art teacher, Alrick’s skills have grown beautifully, reflecting his vibrant creative spirit.

    Artist Statement
    “Art makes me happy. I love colours and creating every day.”

    Achievements
    Alrick has proudly sold three artworks in total at CIMB Artober and the Manja Art Exhibition remarkable milestones that celebrate his passion and talent.

A young boy standing in front of a colorful painting, smiling at the camera.
A digital screenshot of a corrupted or glitched image, divided into four sections, with pixelation and color distortions, including a stylized dragon or lion figure, and a line drawing of a horse against a colorful background.

Emanuel Kumaren

11 years old

  • Emanuel Kumaren discovered his love for drawing at a young age, using art to express his imagination and emotions. Fascinated by space, one of his earliest works was a vibrant Solar System painting—a theme he continues to enjoy exploring. To date, Emanuel has created nearly 100 artworks and is well recognised in school for his talent, earning a certificate for being top in art.

    Artist Statement
    “I create art to share my imagination and feelings. Every artwork is a part of my story.”

    Achievements
    Emanuel held his first art exhibition and generously donated all proceeds to an NGO supporting children with autism. He also sold one of his heritage-themed artworks at CIMB Artober to Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah, a renowned architect and former minister marking a proud milestone in his artistic journey.

A young boy with short dark hair smiling with arms crossed, standing outdoors against a cityscape background in black and white.
Five colorful paintings of animals and a vase of flowers arranged in a collage.

Harshini Viknesvaran

14 years old

  • Harshini Viknesvaran is a confident young teenager on the autism spectrum with a strong passion for handmade crafts and clay art. What began as a challenging journey for her parents has blossomed into a story of independence, creativity, and self-expression. Alongside her love for art, Harshini is also deeply connected to music and performance, where she has earned standing ovations for her courage and engaging presence, including at the Rockstarz Performing Arts showcase.

    Artist Statement
    “Creating with my hands helps me express myself and feel confident in who I am.”

    Achievements
    Harshini’s artworks were sold at the Manja Art Exhibition, and one of her pieces was selected by CIMB. She now spends most of her creative time working with clay and handcrafted pieces, where her imagination and confidence continue to grow.

A smiling woman with curly hair jumping in a park with trees and a bench in the background.
Three artworks: a white lily flower painting, a digital art of a boy and girl in traditional Japanese clothing with colorful background, and a girl in pink dress with a white horse on a vibrant red background.

Inara Yasmin binti Johan Mohriz

18 years old

  • Inara Yasmin is an autistic artist with a vivid imagination and a heart full of rhythm. A passionate doodler and painter, she brings anime characters to life in her own expressive style—blending emotion, colour, and gentle storytelling. Her sketchbooks overflow with dynamic lines and characters that reflect her inner world.

    Achievements
    Inara’s Volkswagen artwork was successfully sold during the Voices Through Colors exhibition at Manja Restaurant in August 2025. She is now preparing to enrol in college, where she plans to explore anime art even further.

A woman sitting by a river with forested hills in the background, wearing a beanie, glasses, a puffer jacket, and jeans.
Abstract painting of a yellow giraffe with a green outline against a red and orange background.

Jhanani Thilageswaran

13 years old

  • Jhanani Thilageswaran is a young artist whose work speaks through colour, movement, and instinct. A fast learner, she is gradually exploring new techniques under the guidance of her art teacher. This marks her first-ever artwork created for an art exhibition, presented by HUGEart supported by Art+Being.

    Her abstract pieces are bold and expressive, created intuitively with confident strokes and fearless use of colour. Through her art, Jhanani communicates beyond words—inviting viewers to feel emotion, presence, and storytelling through visual form.

Young girl with shoulder-length dark hair smiling, wearing a striped shirt and overalls, holding a small object in her right hand, standing outdoors near a white wall, with a birthday cake on a table in front of her.
A collage of four colorful, childlike paintings. The top left features a guitar with swirling lines and leaves in a whimsical style. The top middle is a pattern of multicolored hearts on a black background. The bottom left shows a yellow horse against a red sun and background with a floral pattern. The bottom right depicts a house with a thatched roof, trees, and a blue sky with clouds.

Marisa Rania

15 years old

  • Marisa Rania is a 15-year-old autistic artist whose passion for art fuels her creative expression. She enjoys painting with acrylics, drawing with markers, and creating digital art on her iPad where she feels free to share how she sees and feels about the world.

    Artist Statement
    “Art is more than a hobby it is her voice, a meaningful way to communicate her thoughts, emotions, and unique perspective.”

    Achievements
    In 2024, Marisa participated in her first art exhibition, where her painting was successfully sold. She later achieved a major milestone when The Spectrum by E.S.A transformed her artwork into merchandise, now available at www.thespectrum.my. She continued to grow as an artist through additional exhibitions, and her work has been selected for CIMB Artober 2025.

Young woman wearing a hijab and patterned shirt, making a peace sign with her right hand, standing indoors.
Collection of small colorful toy figurines including animals, musical instruments, sea creatures, cartoon characters, and a diorama of a miniature landscape with trees, water, and animals.

Muhammad Emran Zidane
bin Mohamad Zaid

10 years old

  • Zidane Zaid is a young clay artist with a remarkable sense of touch and an eye for detail. He enjoys creating simple yet meaningful forms inspired by nature, animals, musical instruments, cartoons, and everyday objects. Clay allows Zidane to explore texture and shape in a hands-on, calming way that suits his sensory strengths. His sculptures often reflect gentleness and quiet beauty, offering a glimpse into a world where patience, focus, and creativity come together.

    Artist Statement
    “Every sculpture I make tells a story - silent, gentle, and full of meaning.”

    Achievements
    Zidane has showcased his work at CIMB Artober 2025 and the Voices Through Colors exhibition at Manja, where several of his artworks were sold. He is also participating in the Majlis Sambutan Hari OKU Sedunia 2025 at Dewan Bankuet, Parlimen Malaysia, celebrating the abilities and creativity of the special needs community.

A boy standing against a brick wall, smiling, wearing a short-sleeved patterned shirt and light-colored pants.
Colorful digital illustrations featuring imaginative scenes, including a whimsical tree with various creatures in the top left, a vibrant abstract landscape in the top right, a playful ocean scene with a boat and sea creatures in the bottom left, and a girl with a large hat in a fantastical cityscape with animals in the bottom right.

Nur Nafeesah Al Hawra’
bin Suhaimi

10 years old

  • Al Hawra’ is a neurodivergent artist from Shah Alam, Selangor. Living with dyslexia and ADHD, she views the world through a unique, imaginative lens. Instead of expressing herself through long conversations, she lets her art speak—bright, bold, and full of meaning. Drawn to colours from a young age, she often spends her free time colouring and creating. As a kinesthetic learner, drawing helps her calm and centre herself after daily activities. Her whimsical buildings, playful scenes, and joyful palettes reflect how she experiences life—light, vibrant, and full of happy thoughts.

    Artist Statement
    “Embracing everyday joys with ease, channelling them into vibrant creations that soothe her spirit and brighten others’ hearts.”

    Achievements
    Her artwork was selected among many neurodivergent submissions for Caring Pharmacy’s special edition 2026 calendar, and she previously showcased her creations at the Voices Through Colors exhibition at Manja Restaurant.

Black and white photo of a young girl wearing traditional clothing, standing among large tropical leaves.
Collection of colorful paintings featuring cats. The first painting shows a friendly orange tabby cat lying on vibrant pink and green floral fabric under a blue sky with swirling clouds. The second painting depicts a silhouette of an orange cat sitting against a dark background with decorative patterns. The third painting presents a blue patterned cat sitting on a gold background. The fourth painting portrays three black cats sitting on a patterned pink rug in a brightly decorated room with a vase of flowers and a framed picture. The fifth painting features a gold silhouette of a cat against a vivid patterned background.

Puteri Nur Alya Azmel

21 years old

  • Puteri Nur Alya is an artist whose vibrant creativity and cheerful spirit shine through every piece she creates. She began her art journey just before the pandemic, discovering a deep passion for painting as a way to express her unique perspective and capture beauty with warmth and positivity.

    Inspired by nature and her beloved cat, Alya brings life to her canvases with vivid colours and heartfelt detail. Painting has become a powerful form of self-expression for her, offering comfort and a meaningful way to share her experiences. After returning to art last year, Alya’s portfolio has grown beautifully featuring charming cat pieces, travel-inspired scenes, and other subjects close to her heart.

    Her cat painting was sold during the Voices Through Colours exhibition at Manja Restaurant, and her “cat with batik” concept caught the attention of Mr. Izzy, the key figure behind CIMB Artober. He has selected her to exhibit her artwork at the CIMB Artober event this coming September 2025. Alya’s journey is a true reflection of resilience, passion, and the transformative power of creativity.

Smiling woman with glasses and curly hair, wearing a floral top, in front of a wall with papers or posters.
Four children's paintings: a landscape with a lake, hills, and a sun; a night scene with a crescent moon and mountains; a colorful flower bouquet with pink, purple, and blue flowers; a scene with animals and trees showing an elephant, koala, and cat in a green landscape.

Prithiyaayini Ganesan

12 years old

  • Prithi is a young autistic artist from Ipoh, Perak. She began drawing at the age of five, filling books with illustrations of her favourite interests. Recognising her passion, her family encouraged her by introducing canvas painting using simple colour codes—where her talent first began to shine.

    At ten, she started formal art classes under Ms. Siveneswari, who introduced her to acrylic paints. This became a turning point, helping her grow from simple comic-style drawings into more expressive and detailed acrylic artworks. Her journey has been shaped by steady progress, creativity, and determination.

    Artist Statement
    “Every stroke I make is part of my journey—learning, growing, and expressing who I am through art.”

    Achievements
    From early sketches to confident acrylic paintings, Prithi continues to develop her skills as she explores new techniques and styles.

A young girl standing outdoors near a garden with flowers, making a peace sign with her right hand.
A black-and-white drawing of a bird perched on a branch, surrounded by leaves and pine needles, with a dark green background with gold accents; beside it, a line drawing of a traditional Asian pagoda on a maroon background with clouds.

Shilyia Wong Shun Hyun

11 years old

  • Shilyia Wong has been attending art classes since the age of four and has developed a strong skill in pencil sketching under the guidance of her art teacher.

    Diagnosed with mild autism, she expresses herself quietly and confidently through her drawings. This marks Shilyia’s first-ever art exhibition, a meaningful milestone in her artistic journey.

A woman in a black dress walking through a hallway with lockers and a reflective floor.
Two colorful children's drawings, one featuring numerous Easter-themed characters on a black background, and the other depicting cartoon animals flying among clouds and trees on a blue background.

Sree Durga Sivabalan

10 years old

  • Sree Durga a young autistic artist with a remarkable ability to express emotions, dreams, and experiences through bold colours and meaningful visuals. Her artwork reflects her inner world — full of imagination, sensitivity, and creative depth.

    She began painting as a way to communicate and soon discovered a natural gift for storytelling through art. Today, her work has touched audiences both in Malaysia and internationally.

    Achievements

    • 2nd Runner-Up in The Colors of Our World competition (2023)

    • Winner of NASOM & Straits City Festive Greeting Card Contest (2024)

    • Artwork showcased at the World Forum in Canada (2024)

    • Artwork presented to His Majesty The Crown Prince of Selangor

    • Special painting presented to Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister at KL Autism Fun Run 2025

    • Mitsubishi Public Affairs Committee Excellence Award 2024/2025

    • Cat artwork presented internationally at the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu

    • Artwork selected and sold at CIMB Artober 2025.

A young person with short, dark hair smiling, wearing a white shirt with text.
Top row features colorful abstract artwork with playful designs, cityscape, and dreamlike scenes. Bottom row displays two round decorative plates with gold accents; the left depicts a yellow horse, pink flowers, and a tree against a red background, and the right shows a yellow horse, a woman, and various objects also on a red background.

Zayn Al ‘Abideen

13 years old

  • Zayn is a 13-year-old neurodivergent artist from Shah Alam, Selangor. An autistic high-functioning child with ADHD, he has been sketching since age three, turning any surface even a front door into a canvas. Adding colour is his favourite part, bringing his imagination to life.

    Artist Statement
    “I don’t want to be normal... being normal is boring. My creations bring me peace and reflect how I experience life.”

    Achievements
    Zayn sold four pieces at CIMB Artober, including two acquired by the Queen of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. He now collaborates with his sister, AlHawra, and Caring Pharmacy to promote their 2026 calendar.

Person wearing a beanie and glasses holding a shirt with the word 'NORMAL' printed on it.

PROGRAM

Emerging Voices

DATE & TIME

7 FEB 2026 (SAT) - Official Opening

7 - 8th FEB - from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

13 - 14th FEB - from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

VENUE

Art + Being, Kuala Lumpur

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST