Credit: Prisca Liang
When Prisca Liang suffered a stroke due to a brain haemorrhage in 2020, the world as she knew it ended. The musician could no longer do what she does best – playing the piano and singing.
The stroke had left her with partial paralysis, stiffness, and disability in her right hand.
Yet four years after the ordeal, she started taking art courses and rediscovered her joy in living and creating once again.
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Artfully defying stroke
Credit: Prisca Liang
Doing art has helped build Prisca’s fine motor skills.
It was her way of defying her physical limitations, with three of her works even ended up being showcased at an art exhibition launched by Brahm Centre and the Goldbell Group earlier this year in June.
The three-day exhibition featured more than 100 works of art done by the centre’s course participants, and exhibited at Goldbell Towers on Scotts Road. Other than Prisca’s pieces, the works of the friend who first introduced art to her, Tay Chiew Geok, were also on display.
It was a proud moment for these ladies. “I was surprised to see my Chinese brush painting displayed at the main lobby,” exclaimed 66-year-old Chiew Geok, “especially since I had only started painting about a year and a half ago.”
Credit: Tay Chiew Geok
She goes on to recall that the Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, Dinesh Vasu Dash, had flipped through her art file.
Chiew Geok’s art journey began in January 2024 after she quit her demanding job as a Mathematics teacher at a tuition centre. While she had enjoyed doodling as a child, the mother of four had not had formal art lessons.
Now with time on her hands, Chiew Geok started scouting for classes, but found many of them too expensive until she chanced upon the art courses offered by Brahm Centre.
After factoring in SkillsFuture credits and discounts from the National Silver Academy, she only had to fork out between $56 to $64 for a course, inclusive of quality art materials.
In July last year, on her way to art class at Brahm Centre, she bumped into Prisca, a fellow church member, on the bus. Chiew Geok’s enthusiasm for art sparked Prisca’s curiosity, leading to her enrolling in a course.
From musician to artist
Credit: Prisca Liang
Despite being a beginner, Prisca managed to see three of her acrylic paintings she had donated to three different charity events being sold.
Equally gratifying is the appreciation she has received from family members for her art, with some even requesting for specific subjects. While flattering, it can be a constraint, she admits, recalling her mother’s request for a picture of a toddler running across a field.
Looking at Prisca, a cheerful lady who oozes positive energy, it would be hard to tell that she is actually a stroke survivor. But the illness has definitely taken its toll. She is unable to sketch or do any kind of fine line processing.
"I hope to be able to draw fine details someday."
Fortunately, this still leaves her with a variety of art forms to execute. She does watercolour, Nagomi pastel, ink painting, and acrylic. She is also able to do calligraphy, as writing the Chinese characters is second nature to the Taiwan native.
Acrylic painting is her favoured medium as the larger canvas allows the use of bold strokes. She also uses both hands to paint so that she can rehabilitate her weaker hand.
"I even used to go to the palliative wards to play the harp for the dying. All that was taken away from me. However, a less than five minute conversation has made a difference. I thank God for it."
Bonding over art
Credit: Tay Chiew Geok
Going for art classes has strengthened the bond between Prisca and Chiew Geok. Both have also volunteered together at St Andrew’s Community Hospital where they guided patients to create “simple paintings”. Prisca also visits patients in their homes to carry out art therapy.
"In half an hour, we can do a simple piece together. Art has become a bridge that allows me to connect with others."
While Chiew Geok experiments with different styles such as Nagomi pastel art and watercolour for the sheer joy of creating, for Prisca, her art has a purpose.
But hearing Chiew Geok speak about keeping some of her “nice pieces” for herself has Prisca reconsidering if she too should do the same.
Both feel that having an open mind makes a difference. As Chiew Geok discloses, she had spoken to other friends about art in the past but none of them showed an interest in it.
Growing up, some may have had bad experiences with art teachers in school, she acknowledges.
"If, as a stroke survivor, I had decided to hide at home, I would not know what I was capable of doing."
"No art is ugly."
