Creating such artwork is no easy task – especially so for 12-year-old Branden, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a chronic terminal neuromuscular genetic disease that has left him paralysed and neurodivergent.
This, however, has not restricted his creativity. Branden has been painting since age two, with his works previously exhibited in local group exhibitions.
This month, he is holding his first-ever solo show: “BB_Lime Art Exhibition – What’s in Branden’s Mind (& Heart)”, held at Temu House in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Branden’s parents, Edmund Lim and Yap Sook Yee, told FMT that their son first picked up art as a method of play and physical therapy.
“Spinal muscular atrophy is a progressive disease, which means you have to continue using your hands and arms,” Yap explained. “So I gave Branden brushes, poster colours and art blocks, and he started to do his thing.
“We posted his artwork on Facebook, and many friends commented on how much they liked his paintings, asked us if we could buy them and so on. We thought this was wonderful.”
“BB_Lime” is one of Branden’s online usernames – a fitting name for first exhibition, given the major role of gaming in his life.
Many of his works in the show, which date from 2015 to now, are inspired by his favourite characters and game worlds.
“Games are a form of escapism for him. In his game world, he can be who he wants to be. He can be equal to everyone else,” Yap shared.
Over the Raya weekend when the exhibition was launched, the boy himself appeared to be in high spirits, moving swiftly around the venue in his motorised wheelchair to meet guests.
Asked how he felt, he exclaimed matter-of-factly: “I feel okay!”
The 40-plus artworks on display give audiences a compelling glimpse into the thoughts, emotions, dreams and fears of a promising young artist who does not allow himself to be limited by adversity.
Bright and whimsical, they are inspired by everything from Branden’s favourite foods to his beloved cat Nikko.
Many of his works, such as “It’s All My Fault”, “After World” and “Magic Train”, are poignant, honest expressions of a particular feeling or time in his life.
“How I Feel” is a series of portraits depicting his emotions, inspired by the emojis of his online games. They range from “Rage” and “Quiet Tears” to “Shock” and “Best Day Ever”.
“4 Seasons World”, on the other hand, stems from his desire to someday see snow. “Volcano”, created during a time of frequent hospitalisation, conveys frustration.
Branden spends an average of two hours a week creating his acrylic paintings, which are mostly done with his fingers or a brush. Some works are done through splashing or pouring techniques.
Depending on his mood or inspiration, an artwork can take hours or weeks to complete.
One meaningful painting is “Minecraft 2.0”, inspired by the game of the same name. According to Yap, this was the first work created by Branden after undergoing “significant treatment” in 2020, and this second chance at life has allowed him to further develop his creativity.
Another highlight is Branden’s “PizzaMan” series, which showcases a group of whimsical and colorful characters. These include fun-loving clown Badut and Ellie 2.0, a courageous fighter based on the eponymous character from the game “The Last Of Us”.
Branden started this series after being introduced to the works of John Burgerman, a renowned New York City-based artist known for his humorous drawings and illustrations. This inspired the boy to dive deeper into the world of art and create “PizzaMen”, inspired by icons such as Van Gogh and Yayoi Kusama.
As for the future, Yap and Edmund said they would continue supporting Branden’s creative endeavours as long as he enjoyed doing them. The supportive parents also hope their son’s art will be known internationally someday.
“May his artwork serve as a reminder that everyone has a purpose, a voice, and something valuable to contribute to the world,” Edmund added.
“We hope this exhibition will help people to value Branden as a part of society, and that his continued artistic development can break barriers for people like him.”
‘BB_Lime Art Exhibition – What’s in Branden’s Mind (& Heart)’ resumes this weekend, April 29 & 30, from 10am to 5pm.
Temu House
49, Jalan 16/9e, Seksyen 16,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Learn more about Branden Lim via his website, and visit the venue’s Facebook and Instagram profiles.