Beijing bookstore gives autistic artist chance to showcase his talent after taking a chance and giving him a painting job
- Kang was diagnosed with autism at 5 and never had a proper education until he discovered his talent at a special art school
- Now, aged 23, he has flourished as an artist painting bookmarks and posters for a Beijing bookstore, with work exhibited around the world
Customers of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP) bookstore in Beijing would unlikely have given a second thought to the beautifully designed bookmarks they received with a coffee purchase, not knowing that they are the work of an autistic artist who has struggled for years until he found his calling as a painter.
Kang Rui, 23, has worked at the FLTRP bookstore since 2018 as a painter of bookmarks and posters.
Although Kang, who has a form of autism, initially unsettled some customers with his awkward mannerisms and impaired speech, they quickly became entranced by the beauty of his natural talent as an artist leading to him becoming a popular draw in his own right at the store.
Fu Shuai, manager of the bookstore, said he saw Kang’s work at a national children’s artwork competition and thought the bright colours and vivid figures could add warmth to his store.
“A bookstore is a window on civilisation. A civilised society should provide opportunities for the disadvantaged,” Fu told Xinhua.
“Hand-painted posters are a great fit for offline promotion of our bookstore, and Kang Rui is gifted in poster design,” Fu said. He also believes Kan Rui’s works also offers people a way to better understand autism community.
Diagnosed at 5, Kang has been painting since he was 12-years-old when he was enrolled in an art school for special needs children. His work includes landscapes, still life, cartoon figures and self-portraits and to date has been displayed in schools and during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games as well as galleries around the world.