00:00Johan and Hamish Elsman have a nice little routine.
00:06Every couple of days they hop in the car for the half hour drive from Merino to Hamilton.
00:11First stop is the art gallery.
00:16Hamish plays the piano for a bit before heading into the library next door to draw a picture
00:21he donates to the gallery.
00:22It's a simple ritual that's proven transformative.
00:26He just developed this touch and that translated into actually being able to express himself
00:35accurately, express himself in a way that we could all understand.
00:39Hamish lives with autism and schizoaffective disorder.
00:43Conversations that come easily to most had seemed impossibly distant, but art and music
00:48unlocked his voice.
00:49Oh yeah, I definitely feel better about myself.
00:52So playing with others in mind, hoping that I can do something that will strum up some
00:56heart chords.
00:57So that's really important to me, so yes.
01:00The gallery held onto more than 250 of Hamish's sketches over the years, turning them into
01:05a surprise exhibition called Hello Hamish, an apt celebration of their secret artist in
01:11residence.
01:13We wanted him to be able to see all these works that he has donated to us over the years.
01:18It's a complete surprise when people have sort of gone, oh it's Hamish, oh let me have
01:24a look, oh 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
01:40way.
01:41So he gave them his heart, they gave him a place in the world.
01:46I enjoy the possibility of having more friends, so that's a good thing, yes.
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,
02:01he's got a place.
02:02Somewhere to not just survive, but thrive.
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