Nolite te bastardes carobrundorum = don't let the bastards keep you down.
And autistic savant Stephen Wiltshire certainly hasn't. He has overcome autism, a disability known for its crippling effects and become one of the best - if not the best - cityscape artist of our time. More than that, he can smile and chat to his admirers. His work is incredible; mind-boggling; flawless; accurate.
Some have dubbed Wiltshire a 'human camera' for his ability to recollect buildings and recreate them perfectly on paper. He has drawn panoramas of London, Rome, Hong Kong and Frankfurt on massive canvases in short periods of time after viewing the cities for only a few minutes from helicopter.
His cityscapes have, for me at least, redefined urban landscapes as beautiful, interesting, fascinating places. Through Wiltshire's eyes I can see cities as a place of comfort, safety and never-changing security. Experts believe that Wiltshire's obvious love for city scenes has been a product of his autism: he feels security in never-altering buildings and I can see why.
Wiltshire struggled with speech as a child, as do many autistics. It wasn't until he discovered art that his vocabulary began to grow and Stephen became liberated. His talent as a child was astonishing and led to fame, unimaginable for most mentally disabled people. It also led to his being declared a 'savant', similar to the Rain Man Kim Peek. When Wiltshire drew this drawing of the Kremlin (on a visit to Russia), he was only a child:
His drawings are startlingly accurate and his talent reminds me of a young Picasso.
Such prodigious talent at such a young age and with such difficulties? Stephen Wiltshire can only improve from here.
And autistic savant Stephen Wiltshire certainly hasn't. He has overcome autism, a disability known for its crippling effects and become one of the best - if not the best - cityscape artist of our time. More than that, he can smile and chat to his admirers. His work is incredible; mind-boggling; flawless; accurate.
Some have dubbed Wiltshire a 'human camera' for his ability to recollect buildings and recreate them perfectly on paper. He has drawn panoramas of London, Rome, Hong Kong and Frankfurt on massive canvases in short periods of time after viewing the cities for only a few minutes from helicopter.
His cityscapes have, for me at least, redefined urban landscapes as beautiful, interesting, fascinating places. Through Wiltshire's eyes I can see cities as a place of comfort, safety and never-changing security. Experts believe that Wiltshire's obvious love for city scenes has been a product of his autism: he feels security in never-altering buildings and I can see why.
Wiltshire struggled with speech as a child, as do many autistics. It wasn't until he discovered art that his vocabulary began to grow and Stephen became liberated. His talent as a child was astonishing and led to fame, unimaginable for most mentally disabled people. It also led to his being declared a 'savant', similar to the Rain Man Kim Peek. When Wiltshire drew this drawing of the Kremlin (on a visit to Russia), he was only a child:
His drawings are startlingly accurate and his talent reminds me of a young Picasso.
Such prodigious talent at such a young age and with such difficulties? Stephen Wiltshire can only improve from here.
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