Yi's Voice

Triumph Yi Chen, age 13, 2026 Acrylic on Canvas, 24x18 in Triumph Yi Chen I am a survivor I am a fighter I am a phoenix I am winning this battle I am thriving I am growing I am a champion I limped I crawled I cried I am here standing high and tall I am here dancing with all my might I am here  laughing and on top of a hill I am here

My Heart in Pain Yi Chen, age 13, 2026 Acrylic on Canvas, 18x24 in My heart in pain I am a 13-year old boy with autism. I can't talk but I love art. It's my first ever art lesson and I have been enjoying the process. I tried to express my complex and strong emotions. They're raw and sensitive, like my heart.  I was in an art critique this afternoon. It was my first art class and first art piece reviewed by professional artists on zoom. My work was so well done that it got lots of compliments from the artists and other students. I was so so excited and happy and proud of myself. I am an artist and I finally found my way to express myself in a way that’s beautiful and powerful!

I was very nervous today in the Van Gogh exhibition. It was very crowded. I don’t like it when there are too many people. It is too much for me to be there. I wish I could stay and enjoy the paintings. I wish I could control myself better. It is just too much. I am upset that I couldn’t myself to enjoy the art. I am sorry that you had to leave early. I know that you wanted to stay longer. I thank you for being patient with me. I love you. 

I am in New Jersey this week to visit my friends for the first time. I have been having such a wonderful time. It is wonderful to be here with my friends. Yesterday we went to The Met, which is a really big museum with amazing collections that are truly astonishing. It was overwhelming for me at the beginning. I sat down in the room with many paintings by Van GoGh. I could feel his emotions in his paintings. It was too much for me to handle. I love him. I love him. I want to be with him in his studio in France. I love him so much. The rest of the museum is also really nice. I had such a wonderful time in The Met. I would love to go again tomorrow.  I am so proud of myself for being able to control my emotions.

I went to National Gallery today. I was very nervous at the beginning. I would almost cry. It was so beautiful! It is too much. It is hard for me to manage my emotions. I am so happy that I did it. I am proud of myself. It is my first time in a museum without a tantrum. I want to be able to do this more. I am so happy. I want to cry. I want to smile. 

I was reading books about artists. They are Picasso, Paul Klee, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Out of the four, I like Paul Klee the most. His paintings are very different. I like them very much. It reminds me of the trip to Paris. I think I saw his paintings in one of the museums. It is really cool. I want to go there again. I am so excited about art.