Hamilton artist honoured for colourful outlook
As a teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome Yaniv Janson (22) felt isolated. That was until he discovered art. Now, his
colourful outlook on life has earned him recognition for his bright paintings both at home and abroad.
The Hamilton-based artist has been nominated as a finalist in the Artistic Achievement category in the 2014 Attitude
Awards. The national awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of disabled Kiwis.
Diagnosed with Asperger’s as a toddler, Yaniv usually sees the world in black and white terms – but his vibrant
paintings tell a different story.
His most recent exhibition, ‘Beehives Hidden in Trees’, was held at the Waikato Museum during July and August. This
collection of artwork centred on the gradual disappearance of bees, with environmental and social issues often providing
themes for Yaniv’s paintings.
Yaniv first became interested in art at high school, where he developed his signature technique of mixing acrylic paints
and water straight on the canvas.
At age 17 he became the youngest artist to be a finalist in the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Arts Award and the
Wallace Trust Arts Award.
His work has also received significant international attention. He was the first New Zealander to be invited to join the
Paris-based Eg’Art organisation, which works to raise the recognition of artists with disabilities. His paintings have
now been exhibited in Israel, Canada and California.
Yaniv attributes his success to being positive about what he can achieve.
“I always believe I'm going to get what I want. I'm one of those people in the world who always believes they're going
to get what they want. And that's good," he says.
Yaniv’s being a finalist is testament to his positivity. He will find out if he has won the award at a black-tie gala on
World Disability Day, December 3 at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.
There are eight categories in the 2014 Attitude Awards: Sport Performer of the Year, Courage in Sport, Artistic
Achievement, Youth, Spirit of Attitude, the Attitude ACC Employer Award, Making a Difference award and the inaugural
Attitude Junior Award. The overall winner of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award is selected from the category winners and a
People’s Choice winner and a Hall of Fame inductee are also announced on the night.
Attitude Awards Trustee Dan Buckingham, a member of the elite national wheelchair rugby team the Wheel Blacks, says:
“This is the seventh awards and it’s always such an exciting time for everyone at Attitude Pictures because we find out
who the finalists are. We have started travelling the country to film the finalists and even though this is the seventh
year their stories continue to amaze us.”
Dan encourages everyone to visit AttitudeLive.com, an innovative web platform created by Attitude Pictures, in early
November to see the short films of the finalists and to vote for the person most deserving of the coveted ‘People’s
Choice Award.’
The Artistic Achievement award is sponsored by the IHC Foundation. Other sponsors supporting the awards include:
Invacare, Barfoot and Thompson, Westpac, Drake Medox, Ministry of Health, Air New Zealand and Wayne Francis Charitable
Trust.
Chief Executive of ACC Scott Pickering says ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the awards for the seventh year,
including sponsorship of the Attitude ACC Employer Award and the Attitude ACC Supreme Award.
"I'm really looking forward to this year's Attitude Awards, which are a significant event on New Zealand's calendar.
Through celebrating excellence in the disability community and the important contributions made by New Zealanders with
disabilities, the awards have the power to shift perceptions and to enhance lives."
For tickets to the Attitude Awards gala evening on Dec 3 contact Sue Wales-Earl at sue@attitudeawards.org or phone 09
377 6280.
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