图书介绍 | 自由如初的力量Book Introduction | The Power of the Innate Freedom

书名：自由如初的力量

作者：董婉婷

出版发行：加拿大枫叶出版社

标准书号：IBSN978-0-9809291-7-1

Title: The Power of the Innate Freedom

Author: Dong Wan Ting

Published by: Canada Maple Press

Standard Book No.: IBSN978-0-9809291-7-1

一个从未经过专业训练的孩子,怀着对绘画炽热的爱, 以画笔触动心灵,真诚地表达与呈现,一种无所畏惧的自由!

Wan Ting was born with a passion for painting. Despite never having received any professional training, her untamed paintbrush conveys her innate love for art and records her fearless exploration of the world.

★大手轻抚胸前，脖颈温柔，优雅地侧脸向前。其上，一只鸟儿保持着相同姿势伸向前方，褪去肌肉和羽毛的它，赤裸着骨骼，瞪着没有眼珠的眼睛，仰首张口……

★坟墓上，一个伸着长喙的黑色侧影悄然静坐。身侧，黄蝙蝠升腾而起，飞向更远的酒红大月……

★呐喊的人不见面目。他的心肺清晰异常，不见眉眼的所在，头脑幻生出无数圈圈

仅从不多的画面例举，我们很难相信这册画集出自一名非专业的中学女生之手。这位从小便开始画画的女孩儿并没有接受专门的绘画训练，她幸运地躲过了很多父母对孩子过早展开的强迫式专业训练。在她的笔头，我们看得到绘画中的自由无拘，以及她对世界的新鲜感受的多样尝试。画画对于董婉婷来说，不仅是表达自我的爱好所在，也是她认识世界的重要方式。

内容介绍：

《自闭症特教老师手记》一书开篇便写道：“他们并不是天才，也不是外星来的孩子，他们和我们一样，都是地球人而且是弱化版”。这个世界上，弱者踽踽独行，苦不堪言。若强者能伸出手来，给弱者以臂援，那样美好的场景，便是这本画册里所希望唤醒的。

有段时间，媒体上每隔几个月就会有自闭症患者画展的消息，也会不时推出某个天才的自闭症画家。但等作者真的接近这一群体后，才发现媒体的引导，事实上给普通民众一个错误的信息，民众会认为，自闭症患者中常会出现天才。但这显然是一种偏颇的认识，真正的自闭症患者中，世俗意义上的天才极为罕见。

挣扎，不止对于那些身处冷眼中的父母家人们，自闭孩童自身的痛楚少有人知，未来的生活更是出乎想象。随着接触越多，作者越能放下自身那些似乎与生俱来的骄傲。她俯身，真切地希望以能够用画笔去搏战偏见——社会上对自闭症浪漫化的描述与传播还在继续。何时才能够平等以待？这时，绘画不仅是自我的派遣，还成为高声呼唤的温柔刀剑。

无论是对于自闭症儿童，还是对于作者来说，绘画从来就不是单纯的爱好。它非止一种技能训练，更是精神释放的家园所在。在那里，自由并无所畏惧。愿自闭症患者不但能自由安详地活在自己的世界中，也能打破壁垒，来到更大的世界。愿他们心中的星星能和我们的星星组成同一个星系。

Compared to fancy words such as “artistry” or “creativity”, I personally much prefer“painting”. For me, painting is expression on a personal level, a perfect subtle channel for me to reach out to the world and objectify my inner thoughts and feelings, and individual interpretations and perspective. Through my brushes, all the forests and lakes I have seen, interactions and relationships I have experienced and even the vibrant colors I have glimpsed in fleeting moments, all become my own.

My passion for painting is how I was introduced to the special behavioral trait – autism. A couple of years ago, media outlets and galleries began to showcase works from children with autism. As I became more familiar with this group, I realized that the majority of media coverage regarding autism and autistic painters gave the general public an inaccurate message. They give the impression that autistic children are more likely to be artistic geniuses. However, this is obviously a misleading interpretation. These children are prone to isolation and tend to be socially awkward. The message should be to encourage empathy and support for this group.

The book The Journal for the Educators of Autistic Patients contains this opening prolog, “They are neither geniuses nor aliens. They are just like us. They are of this world, but only more disadvantaged and inauspicious.” I hope this catalog will inspire more people to extend helping hands to autistic children so that we can all enjoy this beautiful world together as equals.

One day, I yearn to see those with autism not only flourish in their own surroundings, but also stepping through the barrier and become part of everyone’s world. This way we will converge their shining stars with our own into a galaxy of peace and acceptance.

作者介绍：

董婉婷，2002 年生。2017 年被纳入“北京青年科学家培养课题——翱翔计划”；2017 年 10 月参加“China Thinks Big 创新研究挑战赛”，开始深入参与自闭症患者的康复活动。2018 年 1 月在美国威斯敏斯特中学以交换生身份学习；2018 年起在故宫博物院进行志愿者服务；2018 年 7 月在美国哥伦比亚大学进行社会学习；2018 年起利用课余时间参与志愿北京的活动，指导憨福儿（智力障碍者）进行手工精细训练，帮助憨福儿就业并融入社会。2019 年 1 月，发起成立“星星日记社”，组织社团成员定期参加志愿活动；2019 年 6 月跟随美国卡内基梅隆大学教授进行关于行为经济学中 information avoidance 项目研究；2019 年 8 月，发起策划自闭症儿童专业艺术展览——“自由如初的力量”，开启自闭症儿童与艺术家的对话，并将展览义卖筹集的资金用于自闭症儿童的康复。

DONG Wan Ting, born in 2002, is proficient in solo singing, piano, flute, ocarina, gymnastics, table tennis, traditional Chinese calligraphy, and most of all, the art of painting. Wan Ting is also keenly interested and devoted to psychology and neuroscience studies.

In 2017, Wan Ting qualified for the “Young Scientist Development Course – Soaring Project”, and in October of the same year participated in the China “Thinks Big” campaign, beginning her journey in volunteer aid for those suffering with autism.

In January 2018, Wan Ting studied as an exchange student at the Westminster High School in Simsbury, Connecticut. In July 2018, she was involved in a social study program at Columbia University. Since the year, she has served as a volunteer at the Palace Museum in Beijing and also utilized her leisure time to volunteer with Beijing Social Services, participating in the re-assimilation of mentally stunted children through handcraft workshops.

In January 2019, Wan Ting founded the Star Diary Society in Beijing 101 Middle School which organized various volunteer activities on a regular basis. In June, she participated in the Information Avoidance Research Program conducted by Carnegie Mellon University. In August, she launched her own art exhibition titled “The Power of the Innate Freedom” featuring her original artistic collection, opening a channel for autistic children to connect with artists. All proceeds were donated to support the rehabilitation of children with autism.

The Power of the Innate Freedom objectifies and expresses Wan Ting’s dedication and deep understanding of autism. All profits and proceeds of this catalogue will also be donated to autistic children.