Spotlight On YAFies: Karen Pow

Karen Pow
Artist

What led you to create artwork with people with disabilities?
Some years ago I met an occupational therapist who provided rehabilitation care services at the Haven of Hope Christian Service for people with brain or spinal injuries due to previous incidents and conditions such as stroke, brain damage and multiple sclerosis. A lot of the patients suffered from spasms or muscle contractions that affected the function of their limbs, their physical and mental health, and their ability to live alone. At the time, the centre held a therapy group that used art creation to help participants improve their muscle strength and ability to do everyday activities, and I was invited to work with them.

​I also got to know another occupational therapist who invited me to create ceramic work with participants at the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired.

What types of artwork did you create with the participants?
We create acrylic paintings, sketches and ceramic work.

Did anything unexpected happen during the creative process?
​An experience I had with the participants at the Haven of Hope Christian Service. Some of them had never painted before or tried to finish a painting. But as they put aside negative thoughts like “I don’t know how to draw” and “I can’t draw because of my physical condition”, they began to create unimaginably lovely work. Once they realised that their talent wasn’t hindered by their physical issues, they became totally immersed and created powerful, visually attractive artworks. 

What has been your most unforgettable experience?
Doing wheel throwing with participants at the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired. As they slowly pulled up the walls of their pots and felt the changes in the ceramic work with their own hands, their faces lit up. I can still recall how happy they were.

How has working with people with disabilities changed you?
The experience has made me more humble.

What advice do you have for artists working with people with disabilities for the first time?
The most important thing is to be patient, to put yourself in their shoes, and use strategies or tools to help them. It’s really good if you can get to know each participant’s background and situation before working with them so you can prepare how to respond and encourage them in an appropriate way.

What do you do when you lack creative inspiration?
Read and listen to music.

Who is your favourite artist?
​Pina Bausch, the provocative and unconventional German choreographer. She encouraged her actors and dancers to unearth their inner selves through controversial rehearsal techniques, and believed that exploration and experience are essential for unlocking potential. I like her idea that you shouldn’t let the environment dictate what you become and that you should keep trying different things.