Children with autism often have hidden artistic talents that can be uncovered with the right approach.

Anugrah Fadly stood between the paintings exhibited during the “Bianglala Seribu Imajinasi” (Ferris Wheel of a Thousand Imaginations), an art exhibition by Yayasan Autisma Indonesia (Indonesia Autism Foundation, YAI) in Bentara Budaya Jakarta on Apr. 8 with a big smile. 

One of his paintings, a 100 x 70-centimeter acrylic on canvas titled “Pendidikan Robot” (Robot Education, 2023), portrays a giant droid standing amid colorful houses. 

According to the artist, the robot represents the Zoom app many depended on during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Zoom replaced the role of teachers during the pandemic,” the artist, nicknamed Uga, said during an interview with The Jakarta Post. 

“And Uga painted it in just two hours,” Samodro, the artist’s father, who was standing beside him, said. 

Anugrah is indeed very talented. The artist paints beautiful clay, wood, stone and metal sculptures. And despite his autism, the 25-year-old has just graduated from the Indonesia Institute of Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta with flying colors. 

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