Supporting artists with disabilities through a new business venture

Three weeks ago, my girlfriend, Amanda, and I embarked on a unique journey by co-founding Rebirth Ensemble (RE), an art-making business with a distinct purpose. This partnership is deeply rooted in our shared passion for visual art, which has been a source of joy but also a progressively tricky challenge due to her visual impairment and my mobility challenges.

Our disabilities have significantly influenced our paths. We’re not just survivors, creators, and dreamers, but also individuals who have learned to adapt and find new ways to express ourselves. RE is our beacon of hope, a platform to reignite our artistic pursuits sustainably.

Since our relationship began last year, Amanda and I have frequently discussed exploring our visual art gifts again. This desire is deeply personal, as visual art was our first love — a way to express ourselves long before we met at a performing arts workshop run by ART:DIS, a disability arts center here in Singapore.

For Amanda, art was a cherished pastime. I had a semblance of a visual arts career when I was younger, painting alongside my late brother, Isaac, who, like me, had Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We found solace in creating art together, even using our works to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore).

But as our conditions progressed, it became more challenging for us to hold a paintbrush. Losing the ability felt like losing a central part of my identity. But although we eventually had to put aside our dreams of pursuing visual art full time, the desire to return never left me.

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Unlocking the potential of artists with disabilities

While Duchenne has taken much, it has also taught me resilience and creativity in finding new ways to reinvent myself. At the start of October, Amanda and I met with a friend and fellow disability advocate who runs a social media startup to improve the representation of disabled people. Before that, I shared with him our collective dream to revive our artistic pursuits with the newfound support of each other and to harness our creativity to make art that challenges perceptions of what artists with disabilities can do and achieve together.

Inspired by our shared vision, he invited us to set up an art studio at his company’s incubator office. The timing couldn’t have been better, as Amanda and I were at a crossroads, unsure if pursuing this would be worthwhile. But our friend’s enthusiasm encouraged us to take this leap of faith, and we plucked up the courage to pitch our idea to the office. They loved our vision, and we secured a workspace we’ll move into in December.

Rebirth Ensemble means precisely what its name suggests: a rebirth. It is a second chance for Amanda and me to build a future in the visual arts. Amanda will be my arms and legs on this journey, and I will be her eyes and vision. Together, we are more than the sum of our parts. The word “ensemble” signifies our identity as collaborators — art lovers aspiring to make a positive change in mainstream art and drive disability inclusion.

RE is more than a business. It is a platform with a mission to unlock the potential of artists with disabilities and create works that enrich the creative arts landscape. We aim to make art transcending generations — art that’s not just seen but experienced. We envision creating pieces that can be touched, felt, heard, and immersed in, making them accessible to a broader audience. Our business model is designed to support our mission, with a portion of our income set aside to support artists with disabilities and advocate for social inclusion.

After our discussion, my friend suggested making calligraphy accessible to blind audiences like Amanda, perhaps using 3D printers to bring textured letters to life. This reminded us that art isn’t just a visual medium. It’s about storytelling, connection, and experience. We want RE to be an avenue for exploring such possibilities. In addition to paintings, we hope to create designer wearables and keepsakes, pushing the boundary of how art is experienced.

While Duchenne is a constant companion in my life, it is not the end of my story. Instead, it is the driving force behind everything I do. It fuels my commitment to creating art that speaks to the human condition. As we move into our new office, we know this journey is just the beginning.

There will be challenges, and success won’t happen overnight. We need to work hard, and our limitations will slow us down. But RE’s spirit is to keep rising above those difficulties and believe in our ability to create a legacy through our art.

Note: Muscular Dystrophy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.