British artist proves to be quick on the draw
Diagnosed with autism at the age of three, Stephen Wiltshire amazed a crowd at Telford Plaza in Kowloon Bay yesterday by drawing the skyline of the Victoria Harbour from memory.
Mr Wiltshire drew a panorama of the harbour from Causeway Bay to Centre in detail pithing half an hour on part of a one-metre by 10-metre canvas. Except for stopping occasionally for photos, the 31-year-old, who is known for his photographic memory, did the drawing swiftly as if he had done it many times before. It was only his first visit to Hong Kong and the drawing followed a one-hour helicopter rise over the harbour yesterday morning.
'He looked very focused in the helicopter. I thought he had some special ability and now his drawing shows he is really a genius,' said Chan Ka-ming, chief shopping centre manager of the event sponsor MTR Corporation, who accompanied Mr Wiltshire on the trip. Mr Wiltshire said Hong Kong's scenery was 'very beautiful' and it was easy to draw. 'I like that one best,' he said, pointing to the IFC tower. 'It is the tallest, like those high skyscrapers in New York.'
He drew Hong Kong Exhibitions and Convention Centre, HSBC Tower and Bank of China Tower in great detail in minutes. 'It is incredible that he can do this from memory. Amazing!' said one of the onlookers.
Since he started drawing cityscapes at the age of 12, Mr Wiltshire has completed four albums of drawings. Some of his drawings have sold for as much as £45,000 at charity auctions for people with autism. He has done giant cityscapes of London, Tokyo and the Vatican. Mr Wiltshire will onto his drawings until Saturday at Telford Plaza, Kowloon Bay, and on December 19 and 20 at Maritime Square, Tsing YI.