Sweet and carefree, Janice Yap appears just like most other 10-year-olds. But how many pre-teens can lay claim to having her own art exhibition?

Janice was the artist behind the artworks displayed in the ‘Dinomite Kindness Exhibition’, held at the S.Bin Art Plus Gallery in MICA Building from 5 to 14 Nov.

The art exhibition at the S.Bin Art Plus Gallery

The CHIJ Our Lady of Good Council student showed talent from an early age: She started to colour using crayons when she was merely eight months old. By the time she was two-and-a-half years, she began formal art lessons.

“We recognised that Janice has a talent in art when she was three, so we decided to make art a focus of her life,” said James Yap, Janice’s father. 

Despite her school work, Janice makes it a point to fix Monday as her art day. While other children spend their time playing and relaxing, she sets aside four hours to brainstorm, sketch, draw and paint.

Janice admitted, “Sometimes, the brainstorming takes a long time. It is the most difficult part of painting.”  But once the idea flows, Janice said she can paint for up to eight hours non-stop!

And the plucky little girl’s drawings are not mindless doodles. Her drawings have won acclaim and Janice was even recognised at the prestigious UOB Painting of the Year award.

Janice’s painting: Dinomite School Of Kindness

Now Janice has taken her passion and talent in art a step further, using her drawings to raise awareness of kindness. The result was the ‘Dinomite Kindness Exhibition’, co-organised by the Singapore Kindness Movement. Proceeds from the sales of Janice’s artworks, which ranged from $100 to $2,000, went to SKM’s ‘Kindness Seed Fund’ to help students start kindness initiatives in their schools.

Dinosaurs was the theme for the exhibition. When asked why she chose this, Janice replied thoughtfully: “Dinosaurs have always been very special and interesting to me. I’m amazed and enchanted by their uniqueness, variety and size!”

“To me, dinosaurs are living, working, learning, sharing, helping and having feelings like us. Through my paintings, I want to keep them "alive". I also wish that acts of kindness and graciousness will be treasured and kept "alive" by all,” she added.

By Maximilian Ho Wei Kiat