Shalom's Biography

Shalom Lim loves life! Diagnosed with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, this highly-motivated P5 pupil at Changkat Primary School, sings, swims, paints, plays the piano, goes horseriding and is especially adept at Maths and all kinds of computer games. He is also a keen soccer fan as well as a little poet-in-the-making!

In March 2002 when he was only in Primary One, he presented a poem at the Inaugural Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore Charity Dinner, entitled “Reaching Out” which he co-wrote with his mother and which, the Guest of Honour, Dr S. Balaji highly commended. The next year in July 2003, Shalom was the 50m Freestyle gold medallist at the National Swimming Championships organised by the Singapore Disability Sports Council.

Shalom’s interest in art was discovered rather incidentally. It was in April 2002 that a professional art teacher, Mr. Ng Geok Seng of B Inspire had been engaged to tutor Shalom’s older brother, Isaac who has high-functioning autism. Shalom has just started school then and his parents did not wish to burden him unnecessarily with extra art classes. But when Shalom saw how much his older brother was enjoying his sessions with the art teacher, he insisted that he should also be given an opportunity to learn. His parents eventually gave in and Shalom attended his first private art lesson with Mr. Ng four months later in August 2002.

Since then, Shalom has made great strides and his paintings have won in competitions, been printed into cards and many of his works are collected by artlovers both in Singapore and abroad.

In April 2004, Shalom’s “Gifts from the Heart” was one of 10 winning entries in an art competition organized by the Disabled Peoples’ Association (DPA). In July 2004, he was awarded the merit prize by VSA Singapore for “Spring is Coming”. Two of his paintings were also selected by VSA for their greeting card project with the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) and for which he was paid royalties.

In January 2005, Shalom took his artworks to Valuair and helped to raise $3000 for the building of a ramp at Changkat Primary School through the sale of his paintings. This story was carried by The New Paper (TNP) on 26 April 2005. In August 2005, he received the Young Talent award for Art from Teach Me Services, under the Asian Womens’ Welfare Association (AWWA).

On 29 January 2006, the Sunday Times carried a full-page feature on Shalom and his older brother, Isaac. The article highlighted their artistic talent and generated much interest and support from the public for their art. Currently, Shalom has just submitted a painting commissioned by Teach Me Services as a

gift for President Nathan who will be officiating at the opening of the AWWA Access Building on 18 July 2006. Shalom has also been appointed to present this painting to our President. What an honour!

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Isaac's Biography

Isaac Lim is a handsome and charming young artist who turned 15 in August this year. Although he suffers from both muscular dystrophy and autism, he does not bow to his circumstances. He is a fulfilled person and a champion!

Isaac has always shown a keen interest in art. Even as a pre-schooler, drawing, colouring and painting activities would keep him absorbed for hours. He also has a predilection for strong and vibrant colours. Isaac was 10 years old when he was first introduced to the world of art through the Very Special Arts’ (VSA) Barrier-Free Art Programme in December 2001. Formal art lessons began the next year in 2002 with Mr. Ng Geok Seng from B Inspire, a pioneer team of artists accredited by the National Arts Council and the Ministry of Education working with VSA Singapore, and who are dedicated to cultivate and to promote the artistic ability of children with special needs.

It has been 4 years since Isaac first started lessons in April 2002. His progress has been remarkable.

In August 2002, Isaac’s entry for an art competition, with the Disabled Peoples’ Association (DPA), entitled “Atypical Christmas Tree” was one of 10 top winners.

The following year in 2003, he was awarded the merit prize for “Senses” at the inaugural art competition organized by VSA Singapore.

In January 2004, Isaac won First Prize at the Balestier Special School art competition with a composition entitled “Applause”. This was later selected by Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore to be made into a giftcard to help in the school’s fundraising effort.

In April 2004, Isaac’s “Tapestry of Joy” won him a $200 cash prize at the DPA art competition.

In September 2005, he clinched the First Prize in the Youth category of the 3rd VSA Art Competition for Children and Youths with Special Needs. The theme was based on a poem entitled “The Seedling” by Laurence Dunbar. Isaac’s winning artpiece was entitled “Seed of Peace”. This artwork is currently on loan to the Prime Minister’s Office upon the request of Mdm Ho Ching, the Prime Minister’s wife.

In October 2005, Credit Suisse paid Isaac an honorarium for the use of the artwork “Bloom” in their corporate planner which he later donated to Very Special Arts Singapore as a token of his support for the organization.

On 29 January 2006, Isaac was featured together with his younger brother in the Sunday Times (ST. 29.1.06 /A Life Less Ordinary :The Art of Survival) for their artistic ability. This article caught the attention of ThreeSixZero Production House who wanted Isaac on a documentary entitled, ‘My Special Journey’ for the hope he would hold out to others through his artistic achievements. That episode was telecast on 31 May 2006 over Channel ‘U’.

In October 2006, VSA Singapore wrote requesting for permission to use an image of Isaac’s artwork, “Seed Of Peace” in Very Special Cards 2006, a fundraising event for the organisation for which the artist was paid a royalty.

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