Kelvin Li, a Sarawak native, was diagnosed with autism at the age of five when his family was overseas for business matters. Though he lacked linguistic abilities during his early childhood, it didn’t limit his vibrant world of imagination.
Following his kindergarten years, Kelvin didn’t embark on the typical path of formal schooling and spent most of his time at home, where his mother Madam Lim noticed his interest in art at the tender age of nine.
Drawings of animals in oil and acrylic paintings
He then returned to Kuching and learnt how to paint with ten other children, where most of his drawings revolved around the underwater world. In the words Madam Lim:
We couldn’t let him just stay at home and draw randomly.
When Kelvin turned 10, he was mentored by an art teacher, Madam Wong Chiew Ee who encouraged him to express himself freely in his drawings and guided him in refining his techniques, especially in watercolor and oil painting.
Thanks to Madam Wong’s efforts, Kelvin’s creativity and skill continued to flourish as he spent many hours scouring encyclopedias and studying the anatomy of animals.
Schooling journey
Madam Lim recalls the difficulty she faced in getting Kelvin enrolled in schools due to his autism, where most were jittery in accepting a student with such a condition.
After multiple rejections, two schools named SJK Bintawa and Chung Hua Middle School No.3 opened their doors to him, something which Madam Lim is immensely grateful for.
“While most times he would be rigid and isolated due to his autism, Kelvin’s high school life was quite pleasant. He particularly enjoyed studying Chinese history and continued to hone his artistic skills,” she said.
Going beyond the canvas
However, little did Madam Lim or Kelvin realise that his paintings would eventually open a door to greater opportunities and the creation of the brand by Kelvin Li.
According to Madam Lim, it all began when two of Kelvin’s paintings were featured on several eco-friendly bags in China and to their astonishment, 5,000 units of the bags were sold.
Inspired by this success, Madam Lim collaborated with a manufacturer in China and featured Kelvin animal-themed paintings on umbrellas, which proved to be wildly popular and more than 1,500 units were sold and shipped worldwide.
Parents’ unwavering support and help is key
When asked what was the secret to Kelvin’s global success with his paintings, Madam Lim attributed it to the discovery and cultivation of his talent that was borne out of from come through parents’ guidance and persistence.
“My husband and I bought him picture books, took him to art exhibitions, promoted his artwork on different platforms, and organised exhibitions in hopes that his art career would take off.
“It’s important that parents provide the necessary resources for their children in nurturing their interests into potential careers, especially for those with special needs,” she said.
Despite Kelvin’s growing success, the road to achieving it hasn’t been easy for Madam Lim, where she gave up her full-time job to raise her son.
I was a career-oriented woman who was determined in my pursuits, but I gave it all up to help my son. If we didn’t have him, we would have taken a different path.
“In the past, we wished for blessings only for ourselves. But now, we wish blessings upon others too.”
She also shared that though it was a tough road in understanding and embracing Kelvin’s unique journey, she was still able to hang on till the end.
“Perseverance is what brings hope. When you strive, you start to see the good. The biggest challenge in raising a child with autism is dealing with emotional issues and understanding their inherent social difficulties.
“Children with autism aren’t ill as most assume them to be. They simply have different needs. If we want autistic children to live their lives with dignity, society needs to be more understanding and accepting of their condition,” she added.
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