Yukon exhibit shows how art can be 'the great equalizer'

A Whitehorse art exhibit is showcasing two artists and highlighting the differences and similarities in their abstract works. 

Ernest Chua and Colin Dorward are the artists behind exhibit Without Saying, which is running at the Yukon Art Centre until Aug. 29. 

Chua is a self-taught artist, has autism and is mostly non-verbal. Dorward has a PhD in art, and is neurotypical. Studio co-ordinator Phoebe Gonzales Rohrbacher said the exhibit shows how art can be "the great equalizer."

"So somebody with the highest level of art education and somebody with no formal arts education," Gonzales Rohrbacher said. 

"Their work is having a silent conversation between itself." 

Dorward's work features psychedelic scenes full of colour and details while Chua's pieces uses text, figures and symbols. 

When asked about how he feels having his art in the gallery and representing the autistic community in the process, Chua gave an energetic thumbs up. 

Gonzales Rohrbacher said the studio helps support artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities with access to art space and materials to pursue their craft. 

"It's not instructive, we're not teaching him how to paint. We're not teaching him how to draw. We're not telling him what to do. We're just there to support," she said, adding that Chua is one of the most prolific artists who use those supports. 

Chua and Dorward put the gallery together earlier this year.

Dorward says not knowing the motivation behind Chua's work makes the interpretation feel all the more interesting. 

"I don't know the details of the motive, but it's very clear that it's there," he said.

"So for me it's more of seeing his work, much the same as any painter you admire, you see their work, you may or may not know the painter, but they can nevertheless have a strong influence on your own ideas."