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.
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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.
Autism in China has an incidence of 0.7 per cent, and more than 2 million children under the age of 12 are autistic. The figure is rising by about 200,000 each year.
Many people living with autism struggle to fit into mainstream society and gain employment, but cases like Kang’s serve as a message to others that those with autism have much to contribute to society.
When Kang was diagnosed, his mother quit her job and became her son’s full time carer. She did not have any more children.
Like many autistic children, Kang struggled at ordinary school to fit in and relate to his peers and teachers and was often bullied by others, so he ended up with no formal schooling until he was enrolled in the art course when he was 12.
It was here, at the Beijing Golden Wings Art Rehabilitation Service Center for Disabled Children, that he discovered his gift for art.
When bookstore manager Fu first approached Kang’s mother about the idea of him working there, Kang’s mother was resistant fearing how her son might be treated but Fu assured her that Kang would be protected and allowed to flourish in his work.
A part of his mother’s agreement was that Kang be given his own studio to work in, where his mother could accompany him, and that he be allowed to work from home as he wished.
Fu said he never for a moment felt that Kang’s presence would hurt the business and said his customers were open minded and tolerant people. The job gives Kang the opportunity to interact with people and allows the community to see him and better understand autism, Fu added.
