The Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) was formed in 1956 to help disabled artists who paint with their mouths or feet due to disabilities earn a living through their artwork. The MFPA reproduces members' paintings into greeting cards, calendars, and other products. One artist profiled, Jana, lost his arms and leg in an accident as a child but went on to win over 80 prizes for his paintings. The MFPA aims to help disabled artists achieve financial security and independence through selling their artwork.
2. The Story of Jana
On 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“ .
3. About MFPA
Formed 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Our Artists…
Mr. N. Ramakrishnan
Mr. Ganesh Kumar
Mr. M. V. Ravindran
8. Our Artists…
Mr. Manjibhai Ramani Ms. Lata M. Landge
Ms. Naidu Elangovan Ms. Sheela Lucknow
9. Our Artists…
Ms. Sunitha Tripannikkara
Mr. K. Narasimhalu
Mr. H. R. Kohli
10. Our Artists…
Mr. Neminath Phalke
Mr. Jayant Shimora
Master. Nadeem Sheikh
13. Recognitions
President of
India, His
Excellency, Dr. A.
P. J. Kalam gives an
award to our
Artist, Mr. H. R. Kohli
Bollywood
actor, Mr. Amitabh
Bachhan being
presented with his
potrait by our
Artist, Mr. M. L.
Ramani
15. 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
