"An Exhibition Without Borders": 9 artists with development disabilities soar beyond limits

Over in Türkiye.

A special exhibition is taking place by a group of South Korean artists whose works of art prove that developmental disabilities do not hinder creative ability.

Our Choi Soo-hyung has their story.

A hot air balloon floats gently on a small canvas, showing the beauty of Cappadocia, Türkiye.

Flowers, recreated with Korean colors and lines, also catch the eye.

All of these works are made using tape.

Artist Park Tae-hyun visited Türkiye in 2017, and ever since, he has dreamed of going back to hold an exhibition there.

"He rode a hot air balloon and sailed on a cruise ship in Türkiye, which left a strong impression. After returning to Korea, he made many related artworks and has always dreamed of exhibiting them."

Since June 16, a special exhibition has been held at the Korean Cultural Center in Ankara, Türkiye, featuring work from Art Brut Korea by nine artists with developmental disabilities, including Park and Jeong Do-woon.

More than 40 pieces of art grab the attention of visitors with their bold colors and unique perspectives.

"I thought many Korean residents would come, but many locals visited instead. They listened carefully to the stories behind each artwork, asked questions, and showed their respect. Our artists felt very happy, and I was truly proud."

"We thought it would be meaningful to share Korean culture through pure and unique perspectives. By introducing artworks about Türkiye seen through Korean eyes, we also hoped to highlight the strong friendship between Korea and Türkiye."

Over the past 10 years of their artistic journey, the artists' disabilities have become a driving force for their art, not a limitation.

"People with developmental disabilities often have sensitive hearing or vision, giving them a unique view of the world. With strong intuition and focus, it feels like the picture is already complete in their mind, and they simply transfer it onto the canvas."

There were many doubts and stereotypes about how people with developmental disabilities could create such artwork.

"One tough prejudice is people doubting that artists with developmental disabilities truly created the artwork themselves. It's a hurtful misunderstanding."

From planning the exhibition to setting up the artwork, the parents do everything except create the pieces themselves.

But the parents of Art Brut Korea say they want the world to recognize these works as those of true artists.

"An Exhibition Without Borders" in Türkiye runs until July 25.

Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.