Alaya Cholprasertsuk, who designs gorgeous batik, understands the importance of calming the spirit in challenging times. As Mother’s Day approaches, she says, “as the mother of a teenager with special needs, I find it necessary to control the state of mind to feel relaxed and avoid conflicts.” Her son, Kann, is a vibrant teenage boy who loves soccer and Muay Thai. He also has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Alaya has made it her job to bring him into the fold. From an early age, Kann was exposed to his parents’ love of craft, and has developed his own budding artistic skills.
Alaya’s hope is that through batik, Kann will discover his own unique aesthetic sensibilities and learn to support himself, like his parents, through art. |
