Artworks by a man living with disability feature in Victoria gallery

ABC NEWS (Australia)

For years, a western Victorian art gallery has been quietly collecting drawings a local resident left with the front desk. The sketches form part of an exhibition, that until now has been kept quiet from everyone including the artist himself.

Transcript

00:00Johan and Hamish Elsman have a nice little routine.

00:07Every couple of days they hop in the car for the half hour drive from Marino to Hamilton.

00:12First stop is the art gallery.

00:14Hello Hamish.

00:17Hamish plays the piano for a bit.

00:19Before heading into the library next door to draw a picture he donates to the gallery.

00:23It's a simple ritual that's proven transformative.

00:26He just developed this touch.

00:30And that translated into actually being able to express himself accurately.

00:36Express himself in a way that we could all understand.

00:39Hamish lives with autism and schizoaffective disorder.

00:42Conversations that come easily to most had seemed impossibly distant.

00:47But art and music unlocked his voice.

00:50Oh yeah, I definitely feel better about myself.

00:52Also playing with others in mind hoping that I can do something that will strum up some heart chords.

00:58So that's really important to me.

01:00So yes.

01:01The gallery held onto more than 250 of Hamish's sketches over the years.

01:05Turning them into a surprise exhibition called Hello Hamish.

01:09An apt celebration of their secret artist in residence.

01:13We wanted him to be able to see all these works that he has donated to us over the years.

01:19It's a complete surprise when people have sort of gone,

01:22Oh, it's Hamish.

01:24Oh, let me have a look.

01:25Oh, these are incredible.

01:26It's as much a celebration of Hamish's growth as his art.

01:30What these people have done, they've given him a place in society.

01:35They have acknowledged this man is making a valuable contribution to the society in this way.

01:42So he gave them his heart, they gave him a place in the world.

01:47He gave them the opportunity to enjoy the possibility of having more friends.

01:49So that's a good thing.

01:51Yes.

01:52It's something Johan doesn't take for granted.

01:54This may sound a little bit weird, but getting to the point where I'd be happy to leave now.

02:00He's got a place.

02:02Somewhere to not just survive, but thrive.

02:05That's a huge thing.

02:20How much?

02:22How much is this?

02:28How much is this?

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