Year of Birth:
1939

Disability:
Quadraplegia

Medium:
Acrylic

Johnny Ang credits Australian mouth painter, Erich Krell with introducing him to the world of art and the possibilities that came with it. Art has given Johnny a visual means of expressing the beauty, emotions and feelings of his life experiences. One of Johnny's bugbears about being a mouth painter is that people should buy his paintings because of their merit. "We need encouragement, not pity. We need understanding and opportunity, not prejudice and charity," says Johnny.

After more than 40 years of working in journalism and social work, Johnny switched to painting in 1989 and now boasts a respectable body of work. A self-taught artist, Johnny paints intricate drawings depicting things of beauty, mainly landscapes, seascapes, and the natural surroundings based on the five Chinese elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Johnny spends more than 40 hours perfecting each and every piece of work, painstakingly layering the paint and harmonising the colors to give his art pieces a rich vibrant hue.

Johnny hopes his commitment to his passion for creative expression will keep him going and striving for the best results. Johnny's resilience and determination comes through in the way he addresses matters close to his heart. His eloquence and persistence has won him many admirers and awards, including the first International Victory Award from the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington DC, which recognises and honours "an individual who best exemplifies exceptional depth of inner strength, tenacity of purpose, integrity of effort and courage to confront and live a physical or mental disability or illness".