Download - Mfpa Presentation
Association of
Mouth and Foot Painting Artists
self-help, not charity is our motto
The Story of JanaOn the evening of 4 March 2000, the then eight-year old K. Janarthanan Kesavan(popularly known as Jana) played with his friends on the terrace of his home in Chennai and accidentally touched a high-voltage electric cable with an iron bar. The severe electric shock injured almost his entire body and as a consequence, his right arm had to be amputated at the shoulder, his left arm at the elbow and his left leg at the knee.
Young Jana was devastated but did not give up! Supported by his parents, friends and doctors Jana learnt to write and paint with his mouth. He was soon participating in drawing contests and much to the surprise of everybody, he won prizes several times. Jana is a today a member of Indian MFPA Association and to date has won over 80 prizes in events at the district and state level. He is also the only physically disabled boy who, in 2004 and 2005, received two national awards from the Indian President, His Excellency, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for “Best Creative Child “ and the "Balshree Award“ .
About MFPAFormed in 1956, the MFPA is an international, for-profit association wholly owned and run by disabled artists to help them meet their financial needs. Members paint with brushes held in their mouth or foot as a result of a disability sustained at birth or through an accident or illness that prohibits them from using their hands.
The association reproduces its artists’ original paintings as unique greeting cards, calendars and a wide range of other products, which brings vital, financial security to its artists.
History The roots of the MFPA go back to 1956, when Erich
Stegmann, a polio-stricken mouth painter, gathered a small
band of disabled artists from eight European countries. Their
ultimate goal was to make their living through their artistic
efforts, and to obtain a sense of work security that until then
had eluded them.
Coupling his creative abilities with business
acumen, Stegmann established the MFPA as a co-operative
organisation that reproduces its artists work mainly in the
form of cards, calendars and books.
From the small group he gathered for the inaugural meeting
of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, the
group has now grown to represent nearly 700
members, from 74 countries around the world.
One of the main themes of Stegmann’s credo was that the
MFPA must never be regarded as a charity simply because its
members are disabled. To him, the word “charity” was as
abhorrent as the word “pity.” The Association maintains that
it is not a charity and does not qualify for charitable
assistance.
Objectives
Make contact with artists who have lost the
use of their hands through birth
defect, accident or illness, and now paint
with their mouths or feet.
Offer moral and financial assistance to the
disabled that are interested in becoming
students, and offer students
financial, practical and creative support to
become fully developed artists and
members of the Association.
Tend to the interests of the artists by
facilitating the sale of their work, primarily in
the form of reproductions as greeting
cards, calendars, etc.
Publish material that communicates and
supports the purpose of the organisation.
Assist disabled artists in the attainment of
self-respect, creative fulfillment and
financial security.
Benefits to the Artists Artists are the sole benefactors of the
Association’s financial objectives. Student members receive a scholarship to help improve their standard of painting by providing funds for materials, tuition, etc. This provides them with the means to become an associate or full member of the Association. As a student improves, the scholarship is increased.
Membership means that they will receive a monthly income for life regardless of whether increasing disability makes it impossible for them to continue providing artwork that the Association can market.
This arrangement removes a great fear from the disabled artist – the possibility of losing one’s ability to paint through deteriorating health.
Our Artists…
Mr. N. Ramakrishnan
Mr. M. V. Ravindran
Mr. Ganesh Kumar
Our Artists…
Mr. Manjibhai Ramani Ms. Lata M. Landge
Ms. Naidu Elangovan Ms. Sheela Lucknow
Our Artists…
Ms. Sunitha Tripannikkara
Mr. H. R. KohliMr. K. Narasimhalu
Our Artists…
Mr. Neminath Phalke
Master. Nadeem Sheikh
Mr. Jayant Shimora
Our Paintings…
Our Paintings…
Recognitions
President of India, His Excellency, Dr. A. P. J. Kalam gives an award to our Artist, Mr. H. R. Kohli
Bollywoodactor, Mr. AmitabhBachhan being presented with his potrait by our Artist, Mr. M. L. Ramani
Our Products…
Greeting Cards, Calendars, Book Marks, Gift Tags, Paintings & T-Shirts
Handicapped in body, but not in spirit
“Physically able or disabled, we are all the same from the inside. All of us have similar aspirations, but what makes us different is the way we live our life”. H.R.
Kohli – Mouth Painter
“By buying our products, you help us to be self-reliant and live a life free from charity, with the self-esteem that comes from earning one’s own livelihood”. L.M. Landge – Foot Painter.
“Through its marketing the Association makes it possible for me to earn my living with my paint brush”. Trevor Wells –
Mouth Painter