For Arts' Sake

Lilac For ' Arts Sake Bani Muhammad Iyad doesn’t think his disability should restrict him from exploring his love for the performing arts. Story by Azam Hakim Bin Suratmin Photos by Bani Muhammad Iyad y day, Bani Muhammad Iyad works as an teachers. “The other teachers only treated me nicely administrative assistant. Much like most because of my condition.” Iyad explains that he has young adults, the 23-year-old enjoys finding Asperger Syndrome and he’s been diagnosed at a very Bcreative outlets to express himself outside of his young age. He was between the age of two to three years work hours. This may be through various platforms, old when his parents found out. And though it may be such as posting his performances on YouTube, local rated as fairly mild on the Autism Spectrum, he’s found performances in poetry and theatre, and is engaged it difficult to interact socially and communicate with as an emcee for community events. The difference is others all his life. that Iyad struggles with autism. He said: “I had to go through therapy for my motor Iyad recounts that it was only during his polytechnic skills and speech. And that’s when the speech and years when his mother explained his condition to him drama classes came in.” Iyad added: “I took those as she did not want to belittle her son with the facts at classes to help boost my confidence in my speech.” an early age in his life. He said, “To be frank, I thought From there, he starts to take an interest in speaking I’ve been living my life like a normal human being, like out a lot more. Re-enacting cartoons, movies, and TV everyone else. I may not look like I have one(autism) shows made his learning all the more interesting. “One and that’s because it’s an invisible disability.” of the symptoms I have is to do things on repeat, even repeating words. So, since I’ve loved doing that from an However, he started to realise how it all made sense early age, I thought maybe I could be an actor,” Iyad after looking back at it. “Once, a relief teacher made said. His journey continued. Temasek Polytechnic was me sit in front of my class on the floor instead of where he got more involved both in school as well as sitting at my desk with the others,” he shared. He outside of school. “I would say that was the time when recalls now too the special treatment he got from his I got to understand reality better, knowing how hard — 44 — it can be to act in Singapore and overseas, going through audition calls, having to portray characters well and maintaining a good reputation for myself.” “The minute I entered poly, I felt reborn. In the sense that I could be happier, I understood what I really wanted to do and what life is like living as an adult,” said Iyad. It was there when he joined the Theatre CCA during his second year in 2015. Iyad began to build up his network where he could connect with people also treats it as a form of therapy for whenever he through theatre, music and spoken word. “I really gets stressed at work. He can pen down his thoughts want to do music, I can sing, but not as well as the and turn it into a poem, a text or translate it into the Singapore Idol winners, like Sezairi, Hady Mirza characters in plays to channel his stress. He does this all and Taufik Batisah,” Iyad jokingly said. also with simple meditation. It was in 2018 when he wanted to improve his spoken “Like one time, in a Malay musical held at SIM word talent. He decided to join the youth wing of (Singapore Institute of Management), I played a Darul Arqam also known as the Muslim Converts character who is not only flamboyant but also sassy,” Association of Singapore, under the Youths of Darul he shared. “So yeah, that’s where my sass comes from, Arqam (YODA). Over time, his interest matured into the stress I face,” explained Iyad. He is fortunate to a hobby out of love and passion. “It sparks joy in me have friends and families around to support him in the having to work with things he does. awesome people, expressing myself In the meantime, he has been posting regularly on his in many ways and YouTube channel, Iyad’s Small World, as well as on having people I care his Instagram page, @banimiyad, to help showcase his about watching my previous works and vlogs. He aims to grow his network performances,” Iyad as well as learning more about performing arts. He said. hopes that all youths and even those with autism as can learn to be more confident. He said, “Try everything Most of his work and don’t avoid failure because failure is better than not focuses on the trying the things you want to do.” theme of mental health and identity, where he can openly express his Malay heritage and personal thoughts. He adds that humility keeps him grounded. “Even though it’s my interest, it doesn’t mean I plan to make it my career because it’s not really possible to live life as an actor wholeheartedly. So, I have to find balance in myself in order to maintain my happiness,” Iyad said. Iyad elaborated that the performing arts platform not only allows him to express his emotions, he — 45 — .

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