In October, Aaron Yeo mouth-painted a lifelike portrait of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who acknowledged Yeo’s work through a Facebook post: “Aaron’s oil paintings, his every stroke, his determination to overcome immense odds in life, inspire.”
The 45-year-old describes the moment he presented the painting to the president as “being in a dream and one of the most memorable moments of my life”.
Having partnered with Shaping Hearts, an inclusive arts festival that showcases the visual and performing arts of people with special needs, he has been able to share his artwork with a wider audience.
Yeo’s journey as a mouth painter is an inspiring story of overcoming adversity and achieving artistic excellence. A motorcycle accident at the age of 26 left him with a C5 spinal cord injury that left him paralysed from the chest down. He retains limited use of his shoulders, biceps, and wrists.
A former hairstylist, Yeo focused on his recovery by attending rehabilitation sessions and participating in physical activities like swimming and hand cycling to improve his physical capability.
It was a chance meeting at the rehabilitation hospital where he received therapy that led to a turning point in his life. After meeting a fellow spinal cord injury survivor and member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Worldwide, a new passion was born.
“As a result of my accident, I was unable to walk or even hold a pair of scissors. My career as a hairstylist was over, and I felt pretty lost. During that time, I met another former survivor who introduced me to the association as a possible source of income,” he recounts.
Yeo decided to take advantage of this unique artistic opportunity and delved into painting techniques books at the National Library. His interest in mouth painting grew as he browsed through the pages. As a result, he started to practise mouth-painting.
His improvement, however, plateaued over time, so he enrolled at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts to pursue professional training. His family’s enduring support has been instrumental to his success. “My family has always been very supportive of me in whatever I do. In solidarity, my aunt also enrolled in the same course,” he laughs. He pursues fine arts full-time, whereas she pursues it as a hobby.
Creating a masterpiece from a blank canvas continues to fuel Yeo’s passion as he enjoys painting serene landscapes, animals, and capturing the essence of individuals in his portraits.
However, adapting to painting equipment, such as brushes, has been an overwhelming challenge. “As most of the equipment is designed for ordinary people, I had to adapt. For example, there are no instructions on how to use your mouth to paint. Some brushes are too long, while others are too short, so I had to find a way to adjust them. Sometimes, I bite down on the brushes even though this leaves paint or wood chips in my mouth.”
Yeo has been painting for 15 years, and hopes to stage a solo exhibition. His disability has taught him perseverance and resilience, as well as gratitude.
His advice for aspiring artists is to enjoy the process and seek guidance if needed. “Without guidance, you might unknowingly make mistakes. A teacher can assist you in improving your skills.”
Art direction: Ed Harland
Photography: Mun Kong
Photography assistant: Melvin Lee
Makeup: Keith Bryant Lee using Estee Lauder
Hair: Crystal Loh using Goldwell
