Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Seek Support

By MELATI MOHD ARIFF This is the final part from yesterday's feature titled "Painting Using Mouth and Feet". KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- "As long as there is response, there is hope. Eventually people will support the handicapped artists. We are never discouraged because no matter how big or small the response is it is still a platform for us to do better." So says Susan Woon, the manager for Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Sdn Bhd (MFPA), a branch of the global Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (AMFPA). The MFPA organises yearly programmes to mail and sell greeting cards just before Christmas, the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya to the public. Woon says only one to two per cent of the recipients respond and make payments for the festive cards that they receive. Good response for the MFPA's new cards campaign generally comes from regulars, she tells Bernama. Despite the poor response, Woon says the MFPA would continue with the promotion as it is part of its awareness campaign to allow the public to get to know the artists and their work. "We need to create awareness, without which our artists will not be in a good position. We also believe the trend of sending out cards will make a comeback when people realise there is a meaning and message attached to the habit," she says. ROOTS AMFPA has its roots in Liechtenstein, Switzerland. It was founded by a group of Swiss and German artists, all of whom painted without the use of their hands. The artists made use of the association to promote and sell their paintings. Woon says the founder of AMFPA, Professor A.E. Stegmann, who himself was a mouth painter, lost the use of his arms and hands due to spinal poliomyelitis. In school, Stegmann's teacher became aware of his potential as an artist. As a young man, he reproduced his efforts onto greeting cards. "When he was able to sell the cards and make a living out of it, Stegmann realised that he had business acumen and started thinking about other handicapped people and those who can help them. "So that was how Stegmann started to spread his goodwill. He went around Europe, going to centres and homes, meeting fellow handicapped people and encouraging them to paint. "He found there were some people able to paint with their mouth and feet. Hence, The association was incorporated with a group of German and Swiss artists.” "They also managed it as they did not want to be exploited," Woon elaborates, adding that Stegmann, who was an excellent portrait artist, died in 1984 at the age of 72. Marlyse Tovae, a foot painter, replaced Stegmann, holding the association president's post from 1985 to 2001. The current AMFPA president is Eros Bonamini, a foot painter from Italy. Woon says the AMFPA now has branches in 60 countries with about 800 mouth and foot painting artists under its wings. MALAYSIAN STORY Woon has been with MFPA since its inception in 1974. She was first approached by her mother's friend who was in charge of the AMFPA’s branch in Singapore. She says she was waiting for her SPM (Malaysian Certificate of Education) results at the time. "When MFPA was formed, its sole purpose was to assist the local mouth and foot artists in collaboration with its headquarters for the promotion of their artistic works," she explains. Asked how she feels about her job, Woon says: "It is such a wonderful job! You cannot ask for anything more, especially considering that the artists approach us. They do not have any means to make a living on their own. "When I tell them they have been admitted into the association, immediately you can see the glow on their face.” "I also just love to see them getting all the attention that has been denied to them before. Nothing else is more important than making them happy and ensure that they are well looked after," Woon tells the writer. FIRST ARTIST MFPA's first artist was Yip Hei Kuan, a polio victim, who joined in 1975 and died in 1981. "When she found out about us, she wanted to join to express her natural talent and proved her worth. "She was in her early 20s when she joined us. She became a much happier person as she was encouraged to paint without any restrictions. "We also encouraged her to go out and meet people and also to enjoy nature in order to get inspiration and ideas. For an artist, this helps a lot. She also found out she could earn her own living and be independent," says Woon. OTHER ARTISTS She also has a fond remembrance of another MFPA artist, a mouth painter, Foo Woo Leong who died in 1991. "Foo joined us in 1988. He was from Ipoh, Perak. He was a very talented disabled artist and was awarded the outstanding handicapped person award in 1988," says Woon. Another such artist was Ng Ah Kwai from Penang. Kwai was awarded the best male handicapped employee award in 1995. He was chosen to paint and present a potrait of Dr Mahathir Mohamed, the-then Prime Minister of Malaysia, at the Achievement of People with Disabilities function in 1996. Among his other achievements was the Vocational Award from the Rotary Club of Kelana Jaya for his dedication to arts in 1999 and second place for his art piece entitled 'Arowana' at the Royal Queensland Show in Australia in 1996. He was also chosen to present his painting titled 'The Parrot' to the King in 2000. Currently, MFPA has 10 artists under its wings. BE A MEMBER Anyone who has lost the use of their hands and paints using their mouth or feet has the potential to be a member of the association. Woon says the individual can write to the association for an interview. "If they cannot come to us, we will go and see them to make sure they can really paint as they claim. They also have to supply us with a certificate from a doctor confirming their disability, a short biography about themselves and a photograph showing them at work. "All the documents would then be sent to the headquarters together with our recommendations," Woon says. -- BERNAMA