News / EventNew Book Release: May 29
愛在當下 Carpe Amor
李柏毅＆簡靜惠 Leland Lee & Karen Chien
每一個你所處的當下，我要牽著你的手一起走過，
每一件能夠讓你快樂的事，我都要陪著你一起經歷。
Every moment you live in, I will hold your hands and be there with you; every thing makes you happy, I will experience with you.
永不停止的愛與奮鬥
立法院長‧王金平
一九七六年二月一日我宣誓成為增額立法委員，不到幾天就到台北市武昌街十八號，國民黨立法委員黨部開會，隨著去的日子多了，也經常到對面別具風格的「明星咖啡」用餐或參與聚會，誠如簡靜惠女士所言，「明星之所以明星，是因為它承載著時光的故事，以及重量」，而隨著「雨人畫家」李柏毅的回歸「明星」，更見「明星」的傳奇。
做為「明星小公主」，在老天沒有給她最艱難的功課──柏毅之前，可以說是時下新聞廣告所說的「人生是彩色的」，當「自閉症」像竊賊一樣潛入她的人生，也就偷走了簡靜惠女士所汲汲於營造的「完美人生」。
直到現在醫學界都無法知道自閉症真正的成因，當一個母親獲悉自己的兒子是重度自閉症，那麼這個母親，即將面臨不知哪一天再也不能保護那個兒子的恐慌，而在那一天來臨之前，自己每天都要承受山高海深的苦楚，與盼望不到天明的辛酸，就這樣，簡靜惠女士已經過了二十四年半，那可是八千六百多個日子啊！
在簡靜惠女士堅苦卓絕的扶持下，他重度自閉症的兒子李柏毅，在三歲時開始顯露繪畫上的特殊天分，九歲被鑑定為天才畫家，十二歲首次開畫展，直到享譽全球；去年十月十三日更以藝術上的成就，獲選中華民國第五十一屆十大傑出青年，本人在頒授獎座給他的時候，特別感到他的難能可貴，很想知道他之所以有此成就的歷程；日前當我遭遇到從政以來最為困擾的時刻，恰巧皇冠文化集團責任編輯許婷婷小姐，寄給我《愛在當下》的書稿，對我好似當頭棒喝，這一描述柏毅母子奮鬥的過程，正好解答我心中的好奇，這本書出版之後，不但會對台灣社會關心自閉症的人們提供很好的參考價值，同時書中闡述而出的頓悟，更可以予世人體會許多深邃的哲理，對於世道人心的影響，將是難以估計的，至盼譯成多國語文發行，如此，對全世界六千七百多萬自閉症族群必然「簡可以御繁，以靜制動，惠可得人心」，真功德無量矣！
Never-ending love and endeavor
Jin-Pyng Wang, President of Legislative Department
I was sworn in as additional legislator on February 1st, 1976. A few days after, I went to Kuomintang’s (KMT) headquater on No. 18, Wu Chang Street to have a meeting. After visiting there a couple of times , I started to dine or have meetings frequently at Café Astoria, which is unique and characteristic. As Karen says, “ Café Astoria can be Café Astoria is because, with time going by, it carries its stories and its weight.” With the returning of “Rain-man painter” Leland , we can even witness a new legend.
As the little princess of Café Astoria, before God giving her the most challenging task, Leland, her life was exactly like the line that the well-known commercial at the moment delivered, “Life is colorful.” When autism sneaked into her life like a thief, it stole the “perfect life” that Karen had established. Until now, the medical world still hasn’t managed to find out the real cause of austism. When a mother is informed that her son is suffering from a severe autism, this mother is going to face the fear that she can no longer protecct her son one day. Before that day coming, she has to endure a great pain and the poignancy and the daylight is never coming. Karen has thence been living in this way for more than 24 years and 6 months, which is around 8600 days!
With the great support and help from Karen, her son who suffers from a severe autism started to show his talent in painting when he was merely 3-year-old. At the age of 9, he was examined as a genius in painting, then he held his first art exhibition when he was 12 and became famous worldwide. As a result of his achievement in arts, he was chosen as one of the 10 Outstanding Young Persons on October 13th last year. When I presented the trophy to him, I felt exceptionally special for him. I would very much like to know about how he comes this far and what his stories are. Previously, I encountered the most troubling period in my political career, Ms. Ting Hsu, the editor from Crown publisher happenend to send me a copy of Carpe Amor. All of sudden, I came to an understanding, the effort that Leland and Karen had made responded to my curiosity. When this book is published, it certainly can provide a good reference to people who concern about austism here in Taiwan, also people can acquire some profound philosophies. It is beyond estimation to value the impact. In the hope that this book can be translated into different languages, it will therefore become an immense contribution to sixty-seven million people of austism community all over the world. What a merit that she has achieved!
一位偉大的母親
現任美國在台協會處長夫人‧宋沛蓮
她，是一位女強人；他，是一位藝術天才。
我們經常形容為事業奮鬥、獲得社會認同的女性為強人，較少用此名詞來稱讚全心投入照顧兒女的母親。然而簡靜惠（Karen）為她兒子柏毅所做的一切，並非每位母親都做得到。如非堅拔的毅力、持之以恆的意志力及實際行動，長期下來對一個人的精神、體力、容忍力及耐心恐是嚴酷考驗。正如她的自述所言，培養一個自閉症孩童，非以日、月或年為單位，而是用五年或十年為一刻度。人畢竟是皮肉之軀，倘無神的力量在背後支持、倘無堅韌的個性，將禁不起長期的憂心與煎熬，並且可能在尚未獲得肯定掌聲前即放棄。世界上不知有多少自閉症孩童，就這樣被關在家內，足不出戶，直到離開世界的那一天。
Karen在柏毅幼時，猶如一位身置隱蔽叢林的母親，為求找到出路，縱使黑暗的前方只有一點薄弱曙光，她仍奮勇抱著孩子四處摸索嘗試，不懼辛勞，不畏荊棘，永不言放棄。她循序善誘將柏毅從自我封閉世界慢慢導入你我習以為常的社會環境，此絕非易事，但是他們成功了。柏毅在公眾場合的禮儀、貼心舉動，讓我留下深刻好印象。
Karen除了全力照顧柏毅的起居飲食、輔導他的課內外學習、鍛鍊他的體能及開拓他的新視野外，還不斷參與認知自閉症宣導活動，使社會大眾了解自閉症徵狀、學習如何規劃對策，進而以平常心接受自閉症患者，讓自閉症患者享有自己的生存空間。
說到柏毅，他對我總是彬彬有禮。他的畫用色大膽繽紛、洋溢著充沛能量、熱情與真誠，無論是花、心形、腳丫、麋鹿和宇宙等，都活潑生動地詮釋了日常生活中或想像中的事物和景象，帶領看畫者進入一個明亮、歡樂的夢幻境界。
Karen和柏毅，我很榮幸做為你們的朋友。
她，是一位偉大的母親；他，是一位勤奮貼心的兒子。
在上帝的愛和神恩眷顧下，我相信他們的每個明天將充滿無限歡笑與喜悅！
來時路……
A strong mother
Loretta Marut, Spouse of Director of American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)
She is a tough woman and he is an art genius.
We usually describe those feminines who fight for their careers and receive recognition from the society as tough women. We hardly use it as a compliment to those who throw themselves into taking care of children. However, not every mother can do all those things that Karen has done to her son Leland. If there weren’t the persistent willpower, the continuous courage and the real action, in terms of one’s spirit, strength, tolerance and patience, it would be a severe trial in the long term. As she says, raising an autistic child can’t be measured by day, by month or by year, but by every five years or even every ten years. Human beings are made from flesh and blood. If there wasn’t the support from God and an unyielding character, it would be unlikely to take all the worries and torments, she would probably give up before getting applause. We don’t know how many autistic children are locked at home and have never gone out till the day they leave this world.
When Leland was little, Karen was like a mother sheltering in the forest. To find a way out, even if there was a tiny beam of light, she still bravely took her child in her arms and grooped their way. With no fear of sweat, no fear of thorn, they never give up. She guided Leland progressively from his self-enclosed world to the society that we are all so used to. It is certainly not an easy job but they have succeeded. Leland’s etiquette in public and his sweet gestures left me a very good impression.
Apart from taking good care of Leland in his daily life, helping his studies, training his body and broadening his horizons, Karen joins a lot of activities to educate the public, to assist people in having a better understanding of the symptoms of austism and to coach how to plan strategies; people can accordingly come to an easy mind and a normal attitude towards autistics and let them have their own spaces.
Speaking of Leland, he is polite with me all the time. His paintings are full of bold colors, energy, passion and earnestness. With his paintbrush, flowers, hearts, feet, mooses, the universe, those things and scenes in daily life or in the imaginary world are all interpreted in a lively way. I am very honored to be your friends, Karen and Leland.
She is a dedicated mother and he is a diligent and sweet son.
With the blessing and love from God, I am certain that every day for them will be filled with boundless laughter and joy.
導演‧林正盛
記得是二○○七年冬天，當時才剛開始籌劃《一閃一閃亮晶晶》星兒的紀錄片，一個亞斯伯格孩子的媽媽，熱心地介紹我認識柏毅，和柏毅媽媽。
約在明星咖啡廳，去了才知原來柏毅是明星創辦人的外孫。出生成長在洛杉磯的柏毅，是因為媽媽回來接下明星經營擔子，而跟著媽媽回來台北居住下來的。
認識當天，被明星三樓滿牆的柏毅畫作吸引住，一幅幅都色彩鮮豔濃烈，豐富飽滿地流露出一種單純，卻是燦爛的感情。柏毅用色大膽，陽光般豔麗的色彩，強烈對比出藏在他那張木訥面容底裡，那份不知如何說出口的濃烈情感泉湧流動，泉湧流動著如陽光燦爛般的感情狀態。
我完全給吸引住了，當下我就決定要拍攝柏毅這個青年畫家了！
二○○八年五月，柏毅十九歲生日那天，我們開始了柏毅的紀錄片拍攝。整個拍攝過程中，在我心底留下一幅極為美麗的圖像，就是柏毅媽媽總是牽著柏毅的手，那是一種陪伴與引領。引領著他走在台北街道，巴黎街道，洛杉磯街道……引領陪伴他走進羅浮宮看蒙娜麗沙，看耶穌最後的晚餐……走進奧賽美術館探望他熱愛的梵谷……走進他小時候受洗的教會，接受教友們的祝福，走進他的洛杉磯個人畫展，分享他透過一幅幅多采多姿的畫作，心底泉湧流動著的燦爛美好的愛。
每當想到柏毅，和柏毅媽媽，就會在眼前就會浮現一條漫漫長路，蜿蜒綿長曲曲繞繞，路上柏毅媽媽牽著柏毅的手，相扶相持一路前行，走出一條酸酸楚楚，卻又滿滿幸福的漫長人生道路。
引領陪伴著柏毅成長，一路走來的人生漫漫長途，點點滴滴的努力過程，點點滴滴的心底感受，如今都在柏毅媽媽回首來時路的沉澱爬梳下書寫成書。書裡有著許多引領陪伴自閉兒成長的過程，那份集細心、耐心而成的母愛，一點一滴的學習都是艱難而龐大的工程，都是漫長時間的單調而重複的教導，和練習。
這本書當會撫慰許多自閉兒的父母，也分享了許多自閉兒的教養觀念。同時這本書也能讓更多社會大眾瞭解自閉兒的生命狀態。更多的瞭解，將累積更多的善意包容，而讓這些生命特別的孩子，有更多機會在我們生活周遭發光發熱，帶給我們這個世界不同的生命美麗！
這是柏毅媽媽回望來時路，用生命寫下的書，讀來格外令人心疼不捨，格外地令人感動不已。一本流動美好感情的書，推薦給大家。
Cheng-Sheng Lin, Director
I remember that was the winter in 2007 that I just started to make plans for the documentary “ Twinkle twinkle little starts.” A mother of a child with Asperger Syndrome was very eager to introduce me to Leland and his mother.
We had a meeting at Café Astoria, I didn’t know Leland is the grandson of the founder of Café Astoria until I went there. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Leland moved back to Taiwan with his mother when she decided to take over Café Astoria. The day we met, I was so captivated by all those paintings by Leland hanging on the wall of the third floor. Each painting is a riot of bold and vivid colors, which abundantly presents a pure but splendid emotion. Leland uses colors with boldness. Those radiant colors as a shining sun become an extreme contrast to his soft and reticent look. From his art works, we can observe a strong feeling, a strong feeling which he doesn’t know how to say outloud, is gushing out like a fountain.
I was enchanted by Leland. At that moment, I decided to film this young painter.
On Leland’s 19-year-old birthday on May 2008, we started to film the documentary of him. During the whole filming process, I kept an extremely beautiful image in my mind: Leland’s mother holds his hand all the time. She keeps his company and leads him forwards. Guiding him through the streets in Taipei, the boulevards in Paris, the avenues in Los Angeles; accompanying him to see “Mona Lisa” in the Louvre Museum, to see “The Last Supper,” to visit Van Gogh, his favorite painter, in Musée d’Orsay, to receive blessings from other church members in the church that he was baptized, to attend his personal art exhibition in Los Angeles, to share his love that he expresses by the amazing pieces he paints.
Whenever I think of Leland and his mother, an image of a long and winding road comes to my mind. Leland and his mother walk hand in hand and keep each other company, they clear a path which is bittersweet but with an abundance of happiness.
It is a long way to guide Leland as he grows up. When Leland’s mother looked back upon the endeavours, she turned every effort they made, every feeling they had into words in this book. There are a lot of stories about raising an autistic child in this book. Having the maternal love which consists of chariness and patience as well as teaching progressively are both very challenging tasks. It takes repeated instructions and monotonous practices to educate an autistic child. This book will surely comfort parents of autistic children and pass on various concepts of raising them. In the meanwhile, it delivers an public message on the condition of this group. A better comprehension will lead to a better tolerance. These children with an unusual life will thus have more opportunities to shine and bring us a different kind of beautiful life.
Leland’s mother wrote this book when she looked back through her previous path. Written with her life, it tugs at readers’ heartstrings and it is particularly touching. I recommend this book to everyone: a book with a flow of beautiful sentiments.
畫筆下充滿愛的世界
麗嬰房董事‧林柏薇
前陣子很榮幸有機會和李柏毅及他的母親簡靜惠一起在台北的家共進午餐。我搭電梯上樓，當電梯門打開的時候，他們兩人已經等在那兒，伸出手臂歡迎我。
柏毅興奮地帶我參觀他們的家，公寓的每面牆上都用他的作品裝潢，彷彿電梯門一打開，我就被引領進入了一個完全不同的世界：一個滿富活力色彩、相互糾纏的形狀，以及重複描繪著的柏毅的感情世界──
長頸鹿媽媽親密的撫弄著年幼長頸鹿、難以理解的都市景觀、宛如馬諦斯畫筆下的人物，時而跳舞，時而陷入沉思、無所不在的擬人化麋鹿則快樂的觀察著牠周遭的世界，卻也因為懷疑和乏味而困惑著。只要在房內掃視一圈，我就可以看出柏毅強烈的藝術家觀點，以及透過他的眼睛所端詳的世界，根據他自己的說法，這個世界是一個充滿愛、幽默、安全以及驚奇的的地方。
當我在欣賞柏毅的任何一件藝術品的時候──無論是他的繪畫、面具、素描，或是陶藝，讓我印象深刻的，是他在畫這些線條時的踏實。每一筆每一劃似乎都出自於真實的信念，唯有出自於經驗、實作，以及深沉的體會，才能有這樣的意識和自信心。
他的創作中有令人震驚的相互關聯感──麋鹿這樣的角色，怎麼能如此自在的坐在英文字母L上面（來唱歌吧），俄羅斯洋蔥型屋頂，怎麼能神奇地變形進入天空中的星球（聖彼得堡月光），台北一○一怎麼能頻繁地在所有不同的背景中出現，以及動物和人類，有怎麼能擁有相同的容貌與肢體，而且還能無礙地交相互換。
自閉症的表徵之一，是個人的奇異性，他在一個無法完全融入的世界裡的孤獨感。柏毅作品中的美和驚奇，卻完全和這樣的觀念相反──他已經一再地向我們證明，在這個世界上，我們全部都是相互糾纏在一起的。
A world full of love portrayed by the paintbrush
Brenda Lin, Director of Les enphants
It was an honor to have a lunch with Leland and his mother, Karen, at their place in Taipei. When I took the elevator and the door opened, they were both there welcoming me warmly. Leland was very excited to show me around their appartment. Each wall was decorated with his art works as if I entered a completely different world, which was a sentimental world full of dynamic colors and tangled shapes.
A giraffe mother caressing her infant gently, a puzzling view of downtown, some characters dancing and pondering in Henri Matisse’s style, personified mousses observing their surroundings happily but being confused out of doubts and dullness at the same time. With a quick glance of his room, I got his strong views as an artist. Moreover, from the world seen through his eyes, also according to him, this is a world filled with love, humor, safty and surprise.
From a variety of art works, paintings, masks, sketches, and potteries, when I appreciate any of them, what impresses me the most is his practical attidtude upon drawing the lines. Every line, every touch is derived from a true believe. Only experiences, experiments and deep realizations can bring out this kind of awareness and confidence.
In his creations, there is a surprising harmony: how can mousses sit on the letter L so cozily (Come and sing) ? How can onion domes magically transform into planets in the universe (Moonlight in Saint Petersburg) ? How can Taipei 101 repeatedly presents in different backgrounds? How can animals and human beings share the identical appearance and body and then exchage with no difficulty?
One of those autistic traits is the individual uniqueness, which make the patient feel lonely and consequently not able to intergrate into the world. Yet, the beauty and amazement from Leland’s creations are completely the contrast to this kind of concept. He has repeatedly proven to me that we are all tangled together in this world.
畫裡隱現的母愛
台大精神科教授／醫師‧高淑芬
我就是柏毅口中所稱的Dr. Susan。
當柏毅媽媽問我能否為這本書寫序的時候，我毫不猶豫，欣然同意為這本生動感人，令人深思的書寫序。當大眾讚嘆柏毅的鉅作時，常聚焦在他的藝術天分，卻忽略他的特質和背後的故事。這本書描述柏毅的母親靜惠：一個堅強、勇敢、擇善固執、愛心滿滿的媽媽如何創造優質環境協助孩子發揮潛能，如何無條件地愛自己的小孩、並進而愛所有自閉症孩子，我閱讀、我感動，彷彿也跟著經歷了柏毅這二十五年從小到大的成長。
我從柏毅身上學到什麼？我看過他許多的畫，每張都截然不同，每一張都讓人充滿驚喜和創新，每張畫就像這本書說的一樣，都有一個他所想表達的秘密。柏毅媽媽在書中也舉了一些例子，她說從畫中可以看到柏毅透過畫在跟人溝通，只要是了解他的人，就能明白他在告訴你什麼。而我觀察到的不只是他與眾不同的繪畫風格。我曾經親自陪著他畫圖，看見他下筆是這麼堅定，每個顏色都是那麼踏實，讓你感覺他是一個意志堅定、非常清楚自己在做什麼事情的人；他每畫一幅畫，不論畫的大小，一定都是專心一致，把它完成之後才會休息；而且不只在藝術創作，不論是學游泳或彈吉他，他一定今日事今日畢，將事情做到他認為完美為止。從他的執著和他所流露的典型自閉症那種誠實、直接的特質，你不用擔心他會跟你說謊，他會把他的情感和想法直接表達出來，充分展現不同於一般大眾的一個典範。
過去在門診聽過許多不同自閉症孩子成長的故事，拼湊起來可以看到一個共通性：他們都因為先天語言社交溝通能力的障礙和某些固執的行為，造成生活上很多的困難，必須仰賴愛他的父母協助發揮他的長處。這些孩子因為狀況穩定了，往往一個月、三個月或是半年才會回門診看一次，很多都是橫斷面地了解孩子進步的情形；而這本書特別以縱貫面從小到大串連起來，呈現了柏毅成長的過程。相信有很多父母可以從中找到許多陪伴孩子成長的共通軌跡，了解自閉症孩子是如何一步一步地走到今天，是怎麼樣的努力讓他能擁有燦爛的笑容和健康的身體，還有可以盡情揮灑的一片天地。
在七、八年前，柏毅跟著媽媽一起回到台灣的時候，那時相當多人都懷疑，柏毅已經是在美國開過畫展的知名畫家，若回到台灣，是否還能夠保有其國際上的知名度？如今，事實證明他的畫不僅維持了國際級水準，持續到世界各國展覽他的藝術創作，並且隨著年齡的成長，經過特有台灣文化特質的洗禮，他的創作又增添了更豐富的生命力。他不僅將他的畫和熱情帶回台灣，也提升台灣的藝術和自閉症的國際聲譽。我第一次有機會參與他的國際展覽，是二○一二年於巴黎舉行的國際兒童青少年精神醫學會，當時柏毅媽媽覺得這是一個千載難逢的機會，可以讓國際友人知道台灣對自閉症的重視與努力。所以她自己接洽了外交部，用自己的資源配合國際會議展覽柏毅的畫作。展出當天，他的畫受到數十個國家的兒童精神科醫師的讚許，也讓大家知道台灣是有實力培養出這麼傑出的畫家。我首次見識到柏毅把台灣帶到國際上的貢獻與影響力。柏毅和媽媽一直覺得他們非常幸運，經過這麼多努力和支持讓柏毅可以走到今天，但他們也感受到自閉症在台灣的社會、教育、醫療還沒有得到足夠的支持，整個社會大眾對它的了解還是有限，所以他們想要幫助更多台灣自閉症的孩子。藉由她多年努力維繫的相關資源網絡，以及柏毅在美國的知名度，特別在二○一四年三月邀請數位在美國治療自閉症相當有經驗的專家到台灣舉辦國際自閉症研討會，希望一方面讓國外的人了解台灣目前的自閉症教育和臨床現況，也希望促進國內對自閉症的了解。親自參與整個籌劃過程，看到柏毅媽媽的盡心盡力，全力以赴，因為她不僅希望自己的孩子好，更希望所有有自閉症的孩子都得到足夠的照顧和發展──她更表示她的目標是亞洲，因為相對於歐美國家來說，亞洲地區在這方面的認知和資助是不足的，希望能進一步讓整個亞洲能夠有所進步與改善。
二○一三年，柏毅獲得十大傑出青年，記得當我搭飛機出國開會時有個評選委員打電話問我，假如是我，會不會選柏毅當選藝術組十大傑出青年？我只有簡短地回答：柏毅已經是世界級的畫家，單就這點絕對已符合傑出青年的標準，更遑論他必須克服自閉症狀、這些平常人所沒有的困難來達到這世界級的水準，所以毫無疑問他獲頒十大傑出青年絕對是實至名歸。我也非常高興他真的獲得傑出青年獎的肯定，因為他嘗試透過這些畫表達，想要讓世界變得更美好，讓國際人士知道台灣的好。
讀這本書，看到一個母親的堅強。所謂「為母則強」，為了孩子只有努力、善用智慧和長期儲備的資源，讓柏毅不管遇到多大的困難，都能無後顧之憂地發揮他的潛能。我彷彿跟著他走過這個成長過程，並從這裡瞭解到，他們是這麼的努力，包括我的個案、我的病人，和他們的家屬也都這麼努力，做為醫生的我，又怎麼能不努力呢？
Maternal love looming in the paintings
Dr. Susan Gau, Professor of Department of Psychiatry at National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital
I am the Dr. Susan that Leland refers to.
I didn’t hesitate at all and accepted gladly when Lelans’s mother asked me if I could write a preface for this book. People tend to forget about his traits and his stories behind the masterpieces when all their attentions lie on his art talent. This book portrays Leland’s mother, a stong, fearless, tough, loving mother, about how she creates a high-quality environment for her child to develop his talent and how she learns to love all the autistic children. Upon reading, I was really touched as if I experienced the 25-year growth of Leland.
What did I learn from Leland? I have seen many of his paintings. Each one is so different, so full of surprises and innovations, and just like this book suggests, there is always a secrect behind each painting that he wants to tell. Leland’s mother gives some examples in the book as well that you can notice that Leland communicates with people by his paintings. Anyone who knows him would understand what he is trying to tell you. From what I have observed, there is not only his distinguished painting style. I was there once in person when he painted. I saw how firm he was with the paintbrush and every color was so sturdy. It gives you an impression that he is a person that is very earnest and he knows what he is doing. Each of his paintings, regardless of the size, is painted with 100% concentration. He wouldn’t take a break until he gets it done. Besides, he shows this attitude not only on painting but also on swimming and on playing guitar. He never puts till tomorrow what should be done today and does everything till he sees it as a perfection. For his persistence, his honesty of typical austism, and the straightforward trait, you don’t have to be worried about if he lies to you, he shows his emotions and ideas directly which totally demonstrates a good example which is different from everyone else.
I have heard various stories about autistic children at clinic and I can see one thing in common: they all encounter some difficulties due to innate language and social obstacles and some stubborn behaviors. They have to rely on their parents to discover what they are good at. When these children become stable, they come back to clinic every one, three or six months, I learn their progress horizontally. However, this book narrates the story of Leland vertically right from his childhood. I am sure that a lot of parents can find some common tracks of raising children. Parents can understand how austic children come this far and how they have dazzling smiles, healthy bodies as well as playgrounds where they can freely develop their interests.
Given Leland was already a well-known artist who had personal exhibitions in the U.S, many people wondered if he could keep his fame when he and his mother moved back to Taiwan around seven or eight years ago. Today, it proves that he keeps not only his international level but also continues to have exhibitions in different countires all over the world. With his growth and a better perception of Taiwanese culture, there is even more energy in his creations. He brings not only his painting and his passion back to Taiwan, he also enhances the international reputaion of art and autism in Taiwan. The first time that I attended Leland’s international exhibition was at the convention of International association for child and adolescent in Paris in 2012. At that time, Leland’s mother thought that was a chance of a lifetime to show people from every corner of the world how Taiwan values and makes efforts for autism. She contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs all by herself, using every resourses she had to cooperate with the International convention and to display Leland’s paintings. His paintings were highly praised by dozens of child and adolescent psychiatrists on the day of exhibition; as a result, people learned that Taiwan is capable of cultivating such a great artist. It was the first time that I witnessed his contribution and influence of helping Taiwan to become visible internationally. Leland and his mother have been feeling very lucky that they have been through a long way. In the meanwhile, they notice that austism hasn’t received sufficient support in Taiwan, for example, in the society, in the educational and medical system, and the public also has a limited knowledge of austism. This makes them want to help more autistic children in Taiwan. With all those efforts she has made to connect with relevant resources on the Internet as well as the popularity of Leland in the U.S. , she invited several experienced experts in treating autism to participate in an International seminar in Taiwan in March 2014, in hopes of delivering the condition of autism education and nowaday clinical status to people outside Taiwan, also facilitating the domestic acquaintance of autism. Taking part in the whole process personally, she hopes every single autistic child can get sufficient care and treatment as much as her child. Given Asia, comparing to the U.S. and those European countries, has a relative shortage of knowledge and aids regarding this realm, she indicates that her target is Asia and expects there will be significant progress and improvement in the near future.
Leland was awarded as one of the 10 Outstanding Young Persons in 2013. I remebered that there was a judge calling me and asking whether I would chose Leland if I was him. I replied with a brief answer, “Leland is already a world-class painter. Simply speaking from this aspect, he would certainly be qualified for the titile of “Outstanding Young Person,” let alone he has to conquer those autistic symptons. He surely deserves the prize.” I am truly happy that he received this award. Through his paintings, he tries to make this world become a better one, hoping people from all over the world get to know about Taiwan.
I see a strong mother in this book. As the saying goes, being a mother makes you strong, she spares no effort to use her intelligence and make good use of all the resources, so that no matter how big the difficulty Leland encounters, he is able to expand his potentiality with no worries. I read this book as if I accompanied him through each of his period of growth and I get to realize how hard they are trying, including my patients and their families. As a doctor, how can I not work hard?
調色盤上的母愛
作家‧黃春明
柏毅是自閉症，他成了畫家，二○一三年榮獲臺灣十大傑出青年。
表面上看起來就這麼簡單，然而其成長，從出生一直到他的畫作受到國際上的肯定，所經過的過程，他自己，還有家人他們，不知道流了多少的眼淚；尤其是柏毅的媽媽靜惠，在那一段很長的日子，有多少個夜晚，自己一個人一想到兒子白天的種種遭遇，還有些不近情理的人，不但沒能同情她，還怪她怎麼會生出一個自閉症的小孩來。但是在這種環境的壓力，柏毅較為難於教養的壓力之下，靜惠不但沒被壓垮，她耐心的照顧柏毅長大的同時，發現孩子具有美術方面的潛力，接著就往美術創作培養他成為一位畫家。這樣的事說來簡單，有多少人做得到？要不是靜惠有那種為孩子肯犧牲一切的母愛，柏毅有再大的潛力，也是很難造就的。
我八十歲了，是過去武昌街明星咖啡的常客，那時我經常看到靜惠，像芭比娃娃的小女孩，穿得整整齊齊，乾乾淨淨，顯得很文靜。沒想到時間過得這麼快，芭比娃娃已經是兩個小孩的媽媽，老么柏毅雖是自閉症，在靜惠恪盡母愛，使柏毅用美術的創作作品，做我們一般沒有自閉症的人都做不到的，跟世界各種不同語言的人溝通。
在母親節的前夕，靜惠要我為她的書寫幾個字，我更有感覺，從她的形象在在證明母親的偉大。在柏毅的調色板上，除了顏料就是媽媽的眼淚。
Maternal love on the palette
Chun-Ming Huang, Writer
Leland suffers from autism but he has become a painter, and then he was awarded as one of the 10 Outstanding Young Persons in 2013.
Everything seems simply easy. Nevertheless, we have no idea how many tears Leland his family have shed on the path that they have walked through right from his birth till his paintings are recognized internationally; espeically Leland’s mother, Karen, she bore the poignancy herself for a long time, every night she thought of what happened to her son in the daytime, people with no empathy even blamed her for having a autistic child. Under this enormous pressure and the fact that it’s more complicated to educate Leland, Karen didn’t get beat down, she discovered his talent in painting upon taking good care of him, she cultivated him towards becoming a painter thereafter. This might sounds easy, but how many people can do it? Even if Leland has big potential, it would be unlikly to have this success if there was no maternal love from Karen that she is willing to sacrifice for her son.
I’m eighty years old now and I used to be a frequent customer to Café Astoria on Wu Chang Street. Back then, Karen was like a quiet Barbie doll, dressing in a neat and tidy manner. As time goes by, the Barbie doll has become a mother with two children. Despite the fact that Leland suffers from autism, with the endeavors from Karen, Leland gets to achieve what others cannot do, to communicate with people in this world that speak different languages with his paintings.
Karen asked me to write a few words for her book right before Mothers’ day which makes me feel even more affected. Her image presents what a great mother is. Apart from the pigments on Leland’s palette, there are also the tears from his mother.
令人驚奇的禮物
十大傑出女青／國家文藝獎得主‧郭小莊
七、八年前第一次見到靜惠，她從容優雅的氣質留給我深刻的印象，最近再相遇，身邊多了位溫文帥氣的大男孩，這一對母子，吸引人的不僅是出色的神韻舉止，背後的故事更是令人感佩。
兒子柏毅是位年輕的畫家，他患有自閉症。
他的母親靜惠出身知名明星西點咖啡的小女兒。
柏毅的降臨，打亂了靜惠一向認為理所當然的「完美人生」，她辭去了工作，帶著柏毅向自閉症摸索前進，除了求教專家學者外，更引導柏毅走出自我封閉的「殼」，去看世界、觸摸萬物，付出的心力遠遠超過教導照顧正常孩子的千百倍。如今成就柏毅為國際知名的年輕畫家，雖非刻意而為，卻是個令人驚奇的禮物。
的確，在母親眼中，每個子女都是上帝派來的小天使，他們身上都有上帝為他們成長所做的安排。柏毅有不可思議的作畫潛能，隱藏在撲朔迷離的自閉外衣下，身為母親的靜惠，靠著她所信的上帝，用無比的愛和毅力解開了它，讓柏毅也因著上帝所賜的恩賜，得以盡情揮灑。
藝術家的養成是一趟艱辛的過程，我深有體會，而一個具有藝術天賦的孩子，剛好患有自閉症，如何開啟他心靈的那把鎖，更是一大難題。
靜惠將二十五年來的心路歷程，和對自閉兒的認知，藉由本書分享，讓大家從他們母子的身上，見證了蒙福的人，必獲恩賜。
A surprising gift
Xiao-Chuang Kuo, Winner of National Award for Arts, Winner of 10 Outstanding Female Young Persons
The first time that I met Karen was around seven or eight years ago, I was very impressed by her elegance and calm attitude. When we came across again, there was also a gentle and handsome big boy beside her. What makes these two mother and son charming is not just their appearance but also the story behind it.
Leland is a young painter and suffers from autism.
His mother, Karen, is the young daughter from the well-known Café Astoria.
The birth of Leland disarranged the “perfect life” of Karen which she had taken it for granted. She quitted her job and groped the way in autism with Leland. Apart from consulting experts and scholars, she led Leland to walk out from the self-enclosed “shell” , to see the world and to experience everything. The effort she has made is thousands of times than educating a normal child. Today, Leland has turned out to be a world-renowned young painter; even though it is not done on purpose, it is still a surprising gift.
Indeed, from a mother’s perspective, every child is a little angel sent by God, there must be a destiny that God has made for him. Under Leland’s puzzling look of autism, he has an incredible potential in painting. Karen, as a mother, unties the puzzle with unparalleled love and persistence and Leland gets to paint freely with thte grace from God.
I understand that cultivating an artist is a long and challenging process; a child with art talent happens to be autistic makes the challenge even bigger to unlock the lock of his mind.
Karen shares her 25-year experience and her recognition of autism in this book and readers can testimony that people who are blessed receive the grace.
一位母親的愛與智慧
國際策展人／實踐大學媒體傳達設計學系教授‧陸蓉之
認識Karen是因為我遇見了一位藝術小天才Leland，後來才明白小天才是個自閉症的孩子。Leland活在他自己的世界裡，他會跟自己說話，不斷畫畫，然後一直唱歌，一首接一首地唱著。Leland的每一天，都和昨天一樣，明天也和今天一樣，他對時間的流逝不知不覺，完全沒感覺。所以，媽媽Karen要為他安排所有現實人生的點點滴滴，重複提醒他每一件要做的事。像小公主一般長大的Karen，從此不能再計較什麼是快還是慢，什麼是重要還是不重要。她望著唱歌的兒子說：誰說自閉症的孩子可憐？你看，其實他是快樂的小王子，完全沒煩惱。就這樣，公主Karen，因為忘記時間而永遠美麗，因為對兒子無條件的愛而充滿智慧。愛在當下，是他們母子倆無間斷的生命約定，不需密碼的互聯網，二十四小時連線。
The love and intelligence from a mother
Victoria Yung-Chih Lu, International curator, Professor at Department of Communications Design of Shih Chien University
The reason why I know Karen is because I met a little art genius, Leland, but I realized that this little genius is an autistic child afterwards. Leland lives in his world, he talks to himself, he paints constantly, he keeps singing one song after another. For him, everyday is like yesterday, tomorrow will be like today, he doesn’t feel time passing by; as a result, Karen has to arrange everything for him and reminds him repeatedly what he has to do. Karen, who grew up like a princess, can no longer argue about being fast or slow or about what is important. Looking at her son singing, she says, “Who says autistic children are pitiful? Look at him! He is a happy little prince who has no worries at all!” Just like that, princess Karen is being beautiful all the time because of forgetting the time and being wise because of her unconditional love for her son. Carpe amor is their perpetual agreement of life; a network doesn’t require a password and stays connected 24 hours.
愛的力量
富邦文教基金會董事‧陳藹玲
進入聖心女中唸初一的那一年，認識了簡靜惠。「如果世上有白雪公主的話，那就是她了！」第一次看見她時我心裡想。真的，十四歲的她，活脫脫是童話中的公主，唇紅齒白、粉嫩皮膚、高 身材、態度大方、總是神清氣爽，當時還不知道「明星咖啡」有多大意義，光是Karen本人就夠較人眼睛一亮了！
只可惜年少時沒有深交。再見面時，她已經是兩個大孩子的媽媽了。她和柏毅剛回台灣不久。因緣把我們又牽在一起！為了辦理自閉症國際年會，還有隨後的相關活動，我們展開了年輕時擦身而過的友誼。我看到的Karen，雖然不再是十四歲的白雪公主，卻蛻變而為擁有圓融的智慧、堅毅的心性，更美麗成熟的女性！
我相信生養柏毅，絕對是讓她轉變的最大力量。
人說：為母則強。道理簡單，但只有經過許多挑戰和「精采」經歷的媽媽們，才能體會這句話真正的力量。在這本書裡，我們見證了Karen 、柏毅及家人們重要生命歷程，感受了愛的力量。相信讀者一定可以從中汲取適合個人的啟發。在這樣的亂世中，我們特別需要如此堅強而又溫暖的分享。
Power of love
Ai Ling Chen, Chairman of Fubon Cultural and Educational Foundation
I made my acquaintance with Karen when I entered Sacred Heart Girls’ High School and studied my 7th grade. The moment I saw her, it occurred to me that if Snow White was real, it had to be her. At the age of 14, she was genuinely like a princess coming out from a fairytale, having pearl white teeth, a youthful bloom of skin, a tall and fit figure, and looking fresh all the time. During that time, I didn’t realize what “ Café Astoria” really standed for, because my attention completely lied on Karen.
We didn’t get to know each other that much in our youth. When we met again, she already beacame a mother with two big kids. She just moved back to Taiwan with Leland and serendipity brought us together again. To organize an International Austism Conference and some relative activities later on, we started to develop our close friendship that we had missed earlier. The same Karen I see nowadays is no longer the 14-year-old princess but a beautiful and mature woman with incredible intelligence and strong personality.
I am convinced that raising Leland is certainly the most powerful strength that supports her making such an alteration .
As they say, being a mother makes you strong. It sounds easy but only those mothers who have gone through countless challenges and “splendid” experiences can truly understand what it means. In this book, we witness the significant process in life of Karen, Leland and their family and we feel the power of love. I believe that readers can get some personal inspirations from it. In this turbulent period of time, we particularly need a strong and warm sharing like this.
人生不完美Anytime以愛圍繞
蔡依珊
靜惠（Karen）請我為她的著作寫序，我深感榮幸。字裡行間透露出身為一個自閉症患者的母親，多年來內心喜怒哀樂的故事，深深地觸動了我的心，讓我不知如何下筆。認識靜惠多年，我看見她堅強面對外界質疑的眼光，我看見她總是帶著笑容面對柏毅，我看見她努力做一個勇敢的媽媽，想來總會讓我忍不住心中悸動。
人生，永遠不會完美。
自閉症，它並不可怕，卻也不是自己可以決定的人生選項。縱使與眾不同，我仍然相信，患有自閉症的孩子，仍是父母眼中最美麗的瑰寶、最珍貴的禮物。靜惠曾經說過，在這條她跟柏毅共同奮鬥的道路上，她曾經覺得孤獨。我卻認為，其實他們在這個過程中，獲得了比其他父母、子女，更豐富、更滿溢的愛，充實了他們的生命，也為他們的人生，增添更多繽紛的色彩。
正因為如此，自閉症的孩子們，更不能被剝奪應該有的學習權利。我真的非常敬佩靜惠的毅力與決心，不畏艱難地想去發掘柏毅潛在的能力。靜惠的努力，也提醒了我們，不要侷限可能潛藏在孩子身體裡，那些蠢蠢欲動、蓄勢待發的能量。無論是特殊或一般的孩子，他們都需要被激發、被鼓勵，需要來自父母、家人、朋友們滿滿的愛。
因為靜惠，我認識柏毅。因為柏毅，我認識他的畫。
從彩色到黑白，從平面到立體，柏毅的畫時而大膽、時而活潑；時而簡單，時而精采。透過畫作，他的情緒、想法、文字、味道、甚至微笑與淚水，都展露無遺。
用畫來記錄自己的人生經驗，這就是柏毅。
單純而美好。
「Anytime」是我認識柏毅以來，他總會掛在嘴邊的一句話，對他來說，應該是認為，每一天都要活在當下，活得精采。一個不簡單的孩子，教會我們最簡單的道理。
感謝靜惠，讓我深刻n體會：
無論孩子健康與否，父母對子女的愛，Anytime。
無論孩子健康與否，父母盼子女快樂成長，Anytime。
無論孩子健康與否，父母心存對上天的感謝，Anytime。
人生是一場不斷學習的課程，永遠不會停止，我們都要學習彼此理解、包容，父母跟子女之間，亦復如此。
Life isn’t perfect but it’s surrounded by love anytime
I-Shan Tsai
I am truly honored to write a preface for Karen’s book. Every word tells the story of joy and tears from a mother of an autistic child; it deeply touches me that I don’t even know where to begin with. Knowing Karen for years, I see her standing firmly when people look at them with doubt, I see her always looking at Leland with smile, I see her trying to be a brave mother, these all affect me upon thinking of them.
Life will never be perfect.
Autism is not horrible but is either an option that we can choose. Even though they are different, I am still convinced that they are the most beautiful and precious gift for their parents. Karen once said, on the path that she and Leland struggle together, she once felt lonely. However, I think they actually obtain an even more abundant love than any other parents and children during this process. This challenge enriches their life and brings it more vibrant colors.
Autistic children shouldn’t be exploited from their learning rights. I really admire Karen’s persistence and determination. She tried so hard to dig Leland’s potential. Karen’s effort also reminds us that we shouldn’t limit the strong potential from children. No matter special or normal children, they all need to be inspired, to be encouraged, and it requires ample love from parents, families and friends.
Because of Karen, I get to know Leland; because of Leland, I became acquainted with his paintings.
From colors to black and white, from two dimentions to three dimentions, those paintings by Leland are sometimes bold, sometimes lively, sometimes simple, sometimes splendid. Through painting, he expresses fully his emotions, his thoughts, his words, his scents, even his smiles and tears.
Using paintings to record his own life, this is Leland: simple and wonderful.
“Anytime” is the word that Leland has been saying it constantly since I knew him. As far as he is concerned, you have to seize the moment and live life to the fullest. A distincive child teaches us the simplest truth.
Thanks to Karen, I have some realizations.
No matter the child is healthy or not, the love from parents is anytime.
No matter the child is healthy or not, the hope from parents that they want their chid to be happy is anytime.
No matter the child is healthy or not, the gratitude for God from parents is anytime.
Life is an endless course which will never ends; we all need to learn to understand and tolerate each other.
It is the same between parents and children.
創作就是生命
高雄市立美術館館長‧謝佩霓
一段時間，就會聽到Leland母親簡靜惠女士的告知，Leland又有新作品了。
Leland從七歲開始學畫，開啟了他的創作生涯，他喜歡跟隨母親到全世界各地去旅行，喜歡參觀博物館、美術館，遊歷後的視覺經驗，各地的人文景觀與特色建築，往往快速地轉化為他創作的素材。
如今的Leland是明星咖啡館最忠實的員工，一有上工，一個人可以抵上三個，將亮黃色的明星的紙盒從平面展開成立體，每一步驟，一絲不苟，迅速、確實、聚精會神，不一下子，就會成為一個獨特的「景觀」，在簡單的工作展現了藝術家專注的特質，當然也是明星的招牌。明星咖啡是他生活工作的所在。
簡單的生活，單純的心靈，讓他不管在哪一個角色上，永遠都是那樣的心無旁騖、專注而忠實，在創作更是如此，每一件作品彷如早已印於腦中，只是經由手作再現於畫布之中，繁複細膩的線條鋪陳，一層層的空間調度，井然有序的色彩安排，創作反映了他的生命。
閱讀Leland的作品很簡單也很難，簡單的是需要把自己暴露在他的作品之前，專注而單純的回應他的創作狀態；難的是現代人的緊張、繁忙、紛亂與焦躁，在當下要專注，又要單純，談何容易！
高雄市立美術館作為台灣重要的美術館之一，長年關注著這塊土地年輕藝術家的創作與發展，我們很高興看到一位甫獲中華民國十大青年的年輕藝術家，正篤定、專注、單純地往著藝術之路邁進，也正在撰寫一段不一樣的台灣美術史頁。
Life is a creation
Beatrice Pei-Ni Hsieh, Director of Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts
Every once in a while I hear from Karen that Leland has new creations. Leland starts his journey in painting at the age of seven. He likes to travel with his mother and visit museums, galleries all over the world. He quickly turns those visual experiences, views and unique architectures from place to place into his creation materials.
Leland has beome the most loyal employee at Café Astoria. When he works, the energy he has would make you have an illusion that there were three people. Folding the yellow boxes of Café Astoria from flat to stereoscopic form, every step is so fast and accurate. In no time, it has become a special “scene.” He shows his concentration as an artist on a simple task. Café Astoria is where his life and work locate.
Leading a simple life and having a pure mind make him able to focus all the time. When he is painting, he is equally concentrating and faithful as if every piece has been carved in his head and all he has to do is reconstruct it by his paintbrush on the canvas. Fine and convoluted lines one after another, layers of space, a good arrangement of colors, you can tell that his creations reflect his life.
To understand Leland’s works can be easy but also very hard at the same time. What makes it easy is you just simply have to expose yourself to his paintings and respond his creations in a concentrating and simple way. On the other hand, given the tension, chaos, anxiety of modern people, it is far from easy to focus on the present and being simple simultaneously.
As one of the most important art museums in Taiwan, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts has been focusing on young artists from this land for a long period of time. We are delighted to see a young artist, who just won the title as 10 Outstanding Young Persons, is marching steadily and attentively towards the path of arts. He is also writing a different page of art history of Taiwan.