Dr. Edwino Fernando, a taxonomist said the Medinilla theresae plant can only be found and grown in the uplands and cold areas. (PIA NCR)
QUEZON CITY, Oct. 18 (PIA)--The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), in collaboration with the Center for Possibilities Foundation on Thursday launched the "Biodiversity through my eyes—Samantha," An Art and Biodiversity Exhibition for a Cause held at the Enderun Colleges in Taguig City to celebrate the value of nature in art and well-being.
The benefit exhibit features the 40 artworks of Samantha Kaspar, a young artist who was diagnosed with autism at an early age.
Through her paintings, Samantha communicates her appreciation for nature and its beauty.
According to ACB, Samantha uses either watercolor or acrylic on canvas and piña cloth, and her style has piqued the interests of art enthusiasts. She has also been invited to display her artwork at the Fashion Arts Autism Benefit in New York and other various exhibitions in the Philippines and abroad.
Samantha’s painting of the Medinilla theresae, a newly discovered endemic plant species of flowering evergreen shrub that only grows in Mindanao, was unveiled during the exhibit. The rare plant species was named after ACB Executive Director Theresa Mundita Lim, a wildlife advocate and former director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
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| Some of Samantha's works put on display (PIA NCR) |
Dr. Edwino Fernando, a taxonomist during the exhibit explained the process of screening and discovery of the Medinilla theresae in the mountains of Mindanao, Mt. Redondo and Mt. Hamiguitan. This plant can only be found and grown in the uplands and cold areas, he said.
In an interview with PIA NCR, Lim shared how she met Samantha through her mother Michelle Kaspar, her high school classmate. She said she discovered Samantha's talented skills through her paintings posted online by Michelle Kaspar. "The Art exhibition was conceptualized two years ago, which led to the collaboration of ACB and Center for Possibilities Foundation where Samantha is also an Ambassador," she said.
Martin Kaspar, Samantha's father, shared during an interview that his daughter started drawing comic illustrations at a young age, which made them decide to give Samantha a painting lesson that honed her gifted talent.
He added that Samantha painted in a piña dress worn by Lim during a State of the Nation Address event in the Philippines. This has sparked the idea of showcasing Samantha's work featuring biodiversity as well as promoting autism awareness.
Lim said that one of her favorites in Samantha's works was what she wore during President Duterte's SONA in 2018. The piña baro was painted with Philippine Cockatoo and Philippine Eagle, unique species in the Philippines. She noted that "the painting really became a subject of discussion."
Samantha's father emphasized that when you have a child diagnosed with autistism, parents have to find ways where their child excels because, as he pointed out, "even a child with autism is part of society and has a role to play [in it]."
He also shared this advice to parents whose child has autism, “Embrace them, nurture them, give them love, give them purpose of life, give them something to do, not just put them in the closet and hide them.”
Proceeds from the said Art Exhibit will go to the projects of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and Center for Possibilities Foundation.
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity facilitates intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder cooperation on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural treasures.
Created in 2005 by the 10 ASEAN Member States, this is the Region's response to the challenge of biodiversity loss. (PIA NCR)
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