FOREIGN TALENT: (From left) Helene Ahlberger Le Deunff from Sweden, Nilou de Luca Gabrielli from Italy, Shannon Sulzer from Panama, artist Loh Khee Yew, Myriam Woker from Switzerland, Orlanda Maria de Gomez-Saraiva De Carvalho from Angola and Miek Declercq from Belgium. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

The wife of the Belgian ambassador to Singapore is among a group of 11 wives of diplomats who have come together to exhibit and auction their artworks for charity.

It will be presented by The Coffee Connoisseur at 'The Gallery' in Circular Road tomorrow and on Thursday.

Titled Hidden Talents: Artists In The Diplomatic Life 2007, the event will feature 25 artworks, from mixed media on canvas to pastel on paper.

Seventy per cent of the proceeds will go to Club Rainbow (Singapore), a charity which helps children suffering from chronic illnesses.

'Most of the time, all we do is admire others' artwork. So we thought, why not display our own works and show others what we do, besides being the wives of our husbands?' says Madam Myriam Woker, wife of the ambassador of Switzerland.

This is the second outing for Hidden Talents - the first was staged last year with part of the proceeds going to charity - and there are seven new participants.

Says Madam Declercq: 'When I first heard about the idea, I was like, 'Oh no, what will I do?' But I still tried my best, and I am now very proud of myself.'

This time round, help came from well-known local artist Loh Khee Yew who, over four workshops, showed them basic art techniques and introduced mediums like ink and acrylic.

That was a plus for the women, most of whom are not professionally trained in art. Some, in fact, had never painted before.

Madam Helene Ahlberger Le Deunff, wife of the Swedish ambassador, says: 'We know our artworks are not perfect but they come straight from our hearts.'

Loh says he learnt a great deal from his collaboration with the women.

'Working with them is an inspiration. Hailing from all over the world, their different cultures have merged into something very spectacular,' he says.

emilylek@sph.com.sg