An Indian artist suffering from muscular atrophy has remarkably pushed back against the disease — and a time-lapse video showing him at work is proof aplenty of his awesome talent.
The video is now doing the rounds on social media.
Unable to paint with his hands, Pulikkathody Jesfer, 31, from the state of Kerala in southern India, uses his mouth to paint lifelike portraits, including that of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai like no other.
The work, he said, is his way of expressing gratitude to the encouragement, though indirect, he received from the Dubai Ruler.
In April, Shaikh Mohammad launched a national policy for empowering people with special needs. In making the announcement, he declared that people belonging to this segment will no longer be called people with special needs, but rather “the determined ones”.
Born on January 2, 1985, in Kerala, India, Jesfer painted using his hands as a boy, but had to quit school due to his condition.
'Determined ones'
Now, he browses through the web on a tablet PC, click links and type — using his nose.
Though he never visited the UAE himself, he says the 15-sq-qft foot portrait is a tribute to Shaikh Mohammad for his support towards the “determined ones” like him.
On July 2, Shaikh Mohammad, issued Law No 13 of 2017 changing the name of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of People of Determination.
Muscular atrophy
Muscular atrophy, a condition that has afflicted Jesfer since childhood, limits his physical movement and rendered him wheelchair bound for years.
Touched by the Dubai Ruler’s gesture, Jesfer has dedicated his time painting a portrait of Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Hamdan as an act of gratitude.
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Jesfer used to a paint with his hands as a child, but as the disease progressed, he lost control over his limbs. He fought back.
He tried painting using his mouth and, despite his initial troubles, this video shows his amazing gift.
A member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists of the World (AMFPA), Jesfer has exhibited his work at the Calicut Lalithakala Academy Art Gallery in 2005 and 2007.
Dream
Moved by the life story of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a world-renowned space scientist and former president of India, Jesfer painted the leader’s portrait and had presented it to him personally.
Now, his dream is to give the painting to the Dubai Ruler himself as a gift — should he get the chance to visit the city one day.
Jesfer had won numerous awards for his artistic works.
