Around 20 differently-abled children and adults came together for a joyful and expressive sensory art session, transforming a simple activity into a celebration of creativity and inclusion.
The initiative was organised by local art group The Open Palette as part of its debut exhibition, in collaboration with the Bahrain Autistic Society, bringing together art and community in a meaningful way.
Held at Oasis Mall, the session saw participants aged six to 24 trace and colour their handprints under the guidance of volunteers, with the cut-outs later coming together to form a striking collaborative canvas.
The workshop was led by Dr Zainab Swar, who runs her studio and training centre and is specialised in handling differently-abled children.
The exhibition follows World Autism Awareness Day in April, which was celebrated this year under the theme ‘Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value’, highlighting and affirming the dignity and worth of all autistic people as part of our shared human future.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental condition marked by disruptions in brain signalling that cause people to behave, communicate, interact and learn in atypical ways.
According to a latest report published in the Journal of the Bahrain Medical Society, the prevalence of autism in the kingdom stands at around four in 10,000 children.
“The idea was to create a platform where the young ones could express themselves through art,” The Open Palette co-founder and participating artist Praseetha Ullas told the GDN.
“Everyone was encouraged to express their creativity and imagination. These rising hands symbolise voices reaching out through colour, creativity and expression. Each hand is unique, just like the child behind it, yet together they form a powerful reflection of connection, inclusion and shared humanity,” she added.
The homemaker from Salihiya, who has been living in Bahrain for the last 22 years, said the response from both children and parents was overwhelmingly positive.
“In turn, we felt happy that we could bring smiles to these beautiful faces and create moments we will always cherish,” she said.
Ms Ullas revealed that several artworks have already been sold, with more interest expected in the coming days.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Bahrain Autistics Society.
The exhibition is open to all and will run until May 15, with live art performances set to be staged on the closing day.
Those interested in supporting the cause can follow @bahrain_autistics on Instagram.
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