Art is Mute?

The acrylic canvas painting is captured in different shades of blue. In the foreground, a young schoolboy, stands before the viewer, however, he shyly prevents his gaze.
The portrait is based on myself as a child. I struggled with communication throughout my childhood, finding it hard to adapt due to having selective mutism. Therefore, I was placed in special education. It wasn't until I turned 17, that I began to find my voice. I then went on to pursue my love for art, which eventually led me to study at the UCA in Canterbury.
The whiteboard serves as one of his few means of speaking. My quote raises the question of whether mutes and artwork can speak without the use of verbal words. They can, through alternative forms of expression. The artwork shows the struggles of adapting to a world that often fails to understand them. Yet, amidst the struggle, there is hope. No one remains voiceless forever. A disability or disadvantage should never hinder one's pursuit of dreams and aspirations.