Ping Lian Yeak (born 1993) is a Malaysian Australian artist based in Sydney."Ping Lian Yeak, Artist", Psychology Today. He is described as having reached a significant artistic achievement.Mullin, J. (2009). Drawing autism. Brooklyn, NY: Mark Batty Publishers.Ten Eycke, K. (2013). Cognition and Drawing in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (Doctoral dissertation). He was diagnosed with autism at a young age.Berecry, B. (2007) "Gifted artist easels in to local art scene", The Mosman Daily, 7 June 2007."Painting the Mind," ABC Four Corners, Monday 23 April 2007.
Overview Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1993, Pian Lian Yeak was diagnosed with autism at a young age and was gradually trained in visual arts through the use of private instruction. After his family moved to Sydney in 2006, Yeak's work gained notice and began to be featured at various art and educational venues,Malaysian Night showcase is a stroke of genius. The University of Sheffield. 29 February 2012.Pal, V. (2005) "Stroke of Genius" The Star (Malaysia), 03 Feb 2005.Ping Lian Yeak, ArtisSpectrum, The Chelsea Perspective including the Treffert center in the United States,Doll, M., Treffert, D., Fabricius, T. Jedlicka, E. Hazell, V., Geier, T., Mischler, B., Whittington, E. (2021). "Strengths-based model and savantism" in Fung, L. K. and N. Doyle (eds) Neurodiversity: From Phenomenology to Neurobiology and Enhancing Technologies, 39-64. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. Strokes of Genius, Inc and the United Nations building in New York. Yeak's work is described as "colourful and attractive", and he has been described as a prodigious autistic savant.Treffert, D. A. (2007). The autistic artist,“special faculties,” and savant syndrome. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 161(4), 323-323.Clark, T. (2016). Exploring Giftedness and Autism: A Study of a Differentiated Educational Program for Autistic Savants. Routledge.
His art was introduced to the United States at an exhibition at Cooper Union University in Manhattan and the Henry Gregg Gallery in Brooklyn by Dr. Rosa C. Martinez and Dr. Becker in January 2006.Fernandez, J. (2006). "Ping Lian, 12, is autistic and a hit in New York", The Star (Malaysia), 19 January 2006. Coverage of Yeak's artistic contribution as an individual with autism also includes a feature in a documentary aired on the Australian ABC.Artistic autistic ‘stars’ in documentary 13 Sep 2005
Yeak was a finalist in the Australian Government's 2008 National Disability Awards.National Disability Awards finalists announced. Australian Department of Social Services. 11 November 2008. Ping Lian Yeak has been internationally featured in numerous books including:
Knowledge- e6’ by EBS (2011) published in Korea, Ping Lian Yeak included amongst the Real Rain Man (Kim Peek), Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Warren Edward Buffett, etc. Real Reading 3 - Creating an Authentic Reading Experience (2012). English textbook published by PEARSON Longman . The Prodigy's Cousin: The Family Link Between Autism and Extraordinary Talent by J.Ruthsatz and K. Stephens (2016) "I Want To Be Artist": An Autistic Savant's Voice and A Mother's Dream Transformed onto Canvas (2017). . Written by Ping Lian’s mom Sarah SH Lee, edited by Dr. Rosa C. Martinez, forewords by Dr Darold Treffert and art critic John McDonald. Artism: The Art of Autism; by Debra Hosseini (Author), Rosa C. Martinez PH.D. (Editor) 2011 ‘Islands of Genius’ by Dr. Darold Treffert (2010) Clark, T. (2016). Exploring Giftedness and Autism: A study of a differentiated educational program for autistic savants. Routledge. “Adventures in Autism” by Peter A. LaPorta (USA) - featured in one chapter of the book “The Savant Syndrome: Intellectual Impairment, Astonishing Condition” by Osvaldo Cairo Battistutti (Mexico, 2021) The Covid Canvas: Artist Profiles and Interviews of the Pandemic Era by Dr. Rosa C. Martinez (USA 2021)
Ping Lian Yeak was also featured in the documentary “FIERCE LOVE and ART”, (USA) narrated by Temple Grandin.
See also Autistic art Autism rights movement
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