Artists

Aliah Binti Talib

From birth, Aliah Binti Talib suffered from a disease called "Amolia", i. e. congenital deformities of her upper limbs and dwarfism. At an early age, when she was only about 9, she began to draw and paint using her right foot. At first, she strove to improve her skills on her own. Later, she attended a well-known art school in Kajang. Under the guidance of art teacher Mustafa Bin Yahya, she was taught to paint with the foot and received lessons for two years. The foot painting artist particularly likes to paint floral themes, abstract motifs, still lives and does batik pieces.

Chong Keow

Since her birth, Chong Keow-Leong's hands are misshapen, so she cannot fulfil any tasks with them. For this reason, she started to draw and paint with her mouth at a very early age. As an autodidact, she successfully developed great painting skills. In the course of all these years, she developed her technique and expressiveness to such an extent that she is a professional artist's equal in every way. At the age of 25, Chong Keow-Leong was granted a stipend by the association. She was given the opportunity to intensify her work. In the spring 2001, she was accepted as an associated member of the VDMFK.

Jerome Yap Hock Chai

Jerome Yap Hock Chai was born on March 13, 1979. He is of Chinese descent and his religion is Christianity. He was taken care by a foster family in Terengganu before being sent to Taman Sinar Harapan, Kuala Kubu Bahni, a welfare home for the handicapped and mentally retarded children. His foster mother's name is Teo Siok Kheng and his foster father is Yeo Teck Ching. Jerome has four other foster siblings. He is a cheerful and friendly person. He was granted a stipend by the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists in September 1999.

Mat Jamil

Mat Jamil Bin Ramli was born with deformed hands on 22 March 1984 in Terengganu. At the age of 7, he taught himself to paint. He paints a great variety of motifs with his feet, using a wide range of painting techniques. Mat Jamil Bin Ramli has participated in many art competitions, exhibitions and activities. He is a former Paralympic athlete and represented the state of Terengganu in 2005. He lives in Melaka with his wife and daughter. Mat Jamil Bin Ramli has been a VDMFK scholarship holder since 2006.

Mohd Khairuddin

Mohd Khairuddin Bin Che Rani was born without arms on 25 January 1989 in Kelantan (Malaysia). Already as a child, he began to carry out the activities of daily living with his feet. Later he also began to paint and draw using his feet. Currently, he is studying art and batik painting at the training and rehabilitation centre in Bangi (PLPP - Pusat Latihan Perindustrian & Pemulihan). Mohd Khairuddin Bin Che Rani has participated in several exhibitions such as the "Market Place for Creative Art" show on the occasion of the "6th World Islamic Economic Forum" at the Kuala Lumpur Conference Centre in May 2011.

Muhammad Amir Arshad

Lum Kam Kwai (also known as Muhammad Amir Arshad) was born on 16 March 1961 in Maran, Pahang. He has been suffering from cerebral paralysis since birth. Both arms and legs are totally paralyzed. He is unable to eat with his feet, but can take up a brush with his left foot and paint. He has lived in a home for disabled people since 1984; there he learned to paint, supported by an art teacher. His hobbies are painting, listening to the radio and watching television.

Ng Ah Kwai

Ng Ah Kwai was born without arms, and at the age of 16, he began to teach himself to draw and paint with his right foot. In 1983, he was given a scholarship by the VDMFK which gave him the opportunity to deal more intensively with painting. His works include not only contemporary painting, but he is also strongly interested in Chinese art. He has had many great successes, the highlight being in 1996 when he was given the honour of presenting the Prime Minister of his country with a portrait he had painted himself. In 2001, he also presented the Deputy Prime Minister with a portrait painted with his foot.

Siti Aishah

Siti Aishah Bt. Yaakob was born in Guar Chempedak, Kedah, on 4 February 1975. She was born with deformed and shortened limbs. Ever since her early childhood, she has been used to performing everyday tasks with her feet. She also uses them for writing and drawing. Painting and writing are the most important things in her life. The artist prefers to paint popular motifs of her native country.