Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
In life, parents are responsible for teaching their children to be independent. But what if your child is born with a learning disability that impacts their life from childhood to adulthood?
Every Malaysian parent of children with learning disabilities knows the struggle: Will they be able to find a job? Will they marry and have children of their own? Will they live a fulfilling life?
For Joyce Moi, mother of a daughter with epilepsy, this was a question that led to the inception of the Janet Lee Gallery.
Janet Lee: An artist with a unique perspective of the world
Janet Lee was born in 1989 in Kuala Lumpur. Since childhood, Janet suffered from epilepsy, which posed significant challenges to her day-to-day activities. At any moment, she could suffer a seizure, fall down and hurt herself. She could not do certain activities that people take for granted: Holding knives and scissors, playing sports, or driving.
It was only when Janet was properly diagnosed by a specialist in Australia where the true nature of her disability was revealed: Her brain processes visual stimuli differently from others, which gave her art a unique approach that many art teachers in Malaysia couldn’t fathom.
Joyce had enrolled Janet in art classes during her schooling years, but the rigidity of painting within the lines and learning proper perspective stifled her natural creativity. At home, she started experimenting with form and colour, and it was after she was introduced to a mentor who recognised her ability as a colourist that her paintings started taking on a life of their own.
She started taking painting seriously when she was 20, and by the age of 33, Janet had become a fully-fledged artist who had her artwork showcased in galleries in South Korea, US, Singapore, and the Philippines. Her exhibitions, in particular her solo showcases in 2018 and 2022 were lauded as “powerful narratives of dreams realised against all odds.”
She has since received numerous awards from institutions that have recognised her talent: The Young Inspiring Woman Award in 2021, the NFT Superstars Award in April 2022 and the Highly Commendable Award from the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) in 2023.
On 7 November 2020, Janet Lee Gallery was opened. It was envisioned to serve 3 purposes: Firstly, to create a sense of ownership and achievement for Janet, to help her see that her talent could also be a way to earn a living. Secondly, it was envisioned to be a space for parents with neuro-diverse kids to be inspired through hearing Janet’s story and challenges.
Thirdly, as it was opened during the pandemic, many members of the public were dealing with loss of their jobs and income. It was Joyce’s hope that seeing Janet’s breakthrough will inspire them and challenge them to move forward in their own life journey without regret.
In memory of Janet Lee, who passed away at age 33
Image: The Janet Lee Gallery is located in Cheras, KL.
Tragically, Janet passed away to ovarian cancer in 2023 before the gallery’s 3rd anniversary. The loss propelled her family to turn the Janet Lee Gallery into a platform for other artists like her. As Joyce explains: “After Janet passed away, the gallery evolved into a space to offer consolation and motivation to parents who are experiencing a similar journey.”
“This platform milestone was something that we chartered in our roadmap with plans to launch it during her 3rd anniversary. We went ahead with the plans as we believe in spirit and in soul she would have wanted her plans to proceed,” Joyce added.
“This gallery is now a platform to support similar talented artists, using Janet’s legacy as their guiding light. It’s my sincere hope that art and ‘Art beyond the Canvas’ will touch lives, open doors, and pave the way for a community of differently-abled artists who can stand tall on their own merit.”
The Gallery now hosts four young artists who are differently-abled (neuro-diverse): Ng Yi Shen, Shana Lim, Alicia Lee, and Thong Kah Wei. Neuro-diverse is the new medical term to describe children whose brains are “wired differently” – otherwise, upfront they seem and look like any other normal person.
(From left: Ng Yi Shen, Shana Lim, Alicia Lee, and Thong Kah Wei.)
Ng Yi Shen
Born in Penang, Malaysia, Ng Yi Shen is an emerging artist whose journey is a testament to self-discovery and unwavering determination. Despite facing developmental challenges like autism and slow learning, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with honours. His art has been exhibited in Europe and Asia. Influenced by a profound love for animals and Disney animations, his work skillfully merges human expressions with the unique traits of animal life. His artistic odyssey is a remarkable story of triumph over adversity.
Shana Lim
Shana Lim, born in Malaysia with Down syndrome, embodies resilience. She learned alongside typical peers, fostering optimism and confidence. Music was her passion, and dancing became her stage. Surprisingly, her artistic talent emerged later despite early wall scribbles. At 17, Phillip Wong discovered her potential, propelling her onto the art path. In October 2021, she exhibited for the first time, birthing Shana Contemporary Art. She actively participates in exhibitions, inching closer to her dream of a creative journey, with Taiwan as her next canvas.
Alicia Lee
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Alicia Lee has a learning disability that affects her ability to understand complex concepts. Despite this, it has never affected her keen interest in art. Alicia’s work is ambiguous in meaning yet visually striking with a multitude of characters. She enjoys using ink on acrylic to create her fantasy worlds on canvas, and occasionally may stick to only one pen until the piece is complete. “I hope that my paintings will inspire people to never lose their child-like wonder.”
Thong Kah Wei
Thong Kah Wei was born in Malaysia and lives with autism. His passion lies in painting, with a special fascination for robots, drawn to their strength and unique aesthetics. He expresses his art on canvas bags, T-shirts, and small pouches, and he welcomes your support. “If you share my love for robots, I’d be thrilled to connect and share this passion with you,” he shares.
The hidden challenges of people with a learning disability
Neurodivergent people face a unique set of challenges that most people do not understand. Studies show that they find it difficult to learn certain key skills that most people pick up by a certain age.
For example, they often have trouble reading social cues. This leads to problems with socialization with other children, and can lead to cases of bullying, social isolation, lack of a support community. In the long term, if these are not addressed, they represent barriers towards finding gainful employment.
According to Alicia’s mother, Ivy, “When she was three years old until 7, I had been bringing her to various government hospitals to get a diagnosis on her situation. But the doctors couldn’t find any conclusive results, despite carrying out many tests. This resulted in Alicia having a phobia of going to hospital until now.”
Alicia’s learning disability makes it difficult for her to understand logic and concepts, especially in mathematics, but she shows talent in art.
“I went to school until PMR. Then my mother took me out and sent me to various interest classes to explore my interests,” Alicia shared over a zoom call.
Although she has a learning disability and anxiety, Alicia is friendly and sociable. “I made lots of friends at GMBB mall, from the best buddy program, art classes, and some other activities. They always encourage me and provide me proper guidance when I have any doubts,” she shared, smiling happily.
Contrary to popular belief, neurodivergent people are not necessarily less intelligent than neurotypical people. Often, the issue is a lack of understanding from the medical community of their brain chemistry and functions.
Child psychologists can conduct specific tests to ascertain the true nature of a child’s learning disability. For example, some may struggle with converting their atypical thought processes into everyday speech. As such, the issue is not one of innate intelligence, but of not having the right communication skills.
That being said, there is much more work to be done for broader society to accept and understand neurodivergent individuals. There is a tacit assumption amongst Malaysians that people living with this condition are a burden to society.
But thanks to the legacy of Janet Lee, this is a perception that the Janet Lee Gallery is confident about changing.
The legacy of Janet Lee
“As a parent of such an amazing soul, I just want other parents to know they’re not in this alone,” Moi emphasised.
Under the banner of “The Janet Lee Legacy,” Joyce has two big goals: Empower through Mentorship and Offer Sustained Support.
The first goal is to empower these individuals so they can confidently and sustainably unleash their artistic skills. The second goal is to nurture and champion emerging talents by recognizing that every journey is unique.
“With Empower through Mentorship, our aim is to help out parents of neurodiverse artistic talents. We’ll be sharing the lessons, insights, and experiences we’ve picked up from our journey with Janet,” Moi explained.
“Whether it’s technical tips or business smarts, the ‘Janet Lee Legacy’ is here to guide budding talents in their artistic careers,” Moi stated.
Ivy shared, “I feel grateful to Joyce for providing such a meaningful platform for our talented artists to showcase their creative works and carve out their own path. Her guidance and mentorship is really invaluable to us.”
In the spirit of Janet’s generosity, her artworks and premium #artbeyondthecanvas gifts are now up for sale. Half of the proceeds from these sales will go to good causes, ensuring her passion will keep on uplifting and benefiting communities.
“Join us in this transformative journey where art becomes a beacon of hope, inclusivity and empowerment, keeping alive Janet Lee’s legacy,” Moi concluded the introduction to the gallery.
If you would like to visit the Janet Lee Gallery, you can find them at:
Janet Lee Gallery 20-1-4, Jalan 2/101C Cheras Business Centre, Cheras.
Contact: 012-3361120
Note: The gallery is open by appointment so please call or WhatsApp to book your slot before coming.
For more info, head to the Janet Lee Gallery Facebook page.
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Read also: The Reality of Raising a Child with Autism in Malaysia
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