At this Perlis art studio, painting has become a form of therapy

KANGAR: When Abdul Azim Abdul Halim opened an art studio in Kampung Lembah Biak near here, he envisioned it as a creative space where families could spend time together.

Five years later, his vision has evolved into something more unexpected, drawing everyone from doctors and nurses to university lecturers and civil servants looking for a way to decompress through art.

Located away from the bustle of city life, the “art jamming” studio has also become a welcoming space for children with autism and other special needs, offering them an alternative way to communicate and express themselves through colours and creativity.

Abdul Azim, 39, said the idea for the studio emerged during the Movement Control Order in 2020, after he noticed many people struggling emotionally and searching for activities that could help calm their minds.

“Seeing their stress, I wanted to create a space where people could express themselves through art,” he told Bernama.

The entrepreneur from Bukit Mertajam, Penang moved to Perlis in 2019 to manage an animation project before deciding to pursue his own creative ventures.

Drawing on his experience in the graphics and multimedia industry, Abdul Azim designed the studio around the idea of creative freedom rather than artistic perfection.

“Here, they are free to create without pressure or judgement. Some paint while sharing their experiences. Many have actually been interested in art since childhood but never had the opportunity to pursue it,” Abdul Azim explained.

“We want this space to be welcoming to all levels of society, including special-needs children, because art can become a very effective medium of communication and therapy for them.”

He said many of his regular visitors find the experience unexpectedly emotional. Visitors have occasionally become overwhelmed while painting after keeping their feelings bottled up for long periods.

For Sakinah Abdul Rahman, a 35-year-old civil servant from Changlun, Kedah, the appeal of the studio is simple. “I find painting to be very calming and a good way to relieve work stress,” she said.

Abdul Azim’s initiative has attracted the attention of the state’s economic planning division, which has supported opportunities for him to expand his services, including participation in exhibitions in Kuala Lumpur.

Looking ahead, he hopes to transform the studio into a one-stop centre for art and digital creativity that benefits the wider community.

“Art is not merely about painting. It is also a platform for people to express what they have long kept in their hearts,” he said.