BY LEULSEGED WORKU
There is always power within art to convey a message. There is a saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In this regard, children are experts at expressing their thoughts through pictures better than words. Whenever there is internal conflict within their mind, children prefer to express their feelings either through their cries or their paintings.
The early humankind had used his hands to make tools not only to hunt his prey but also to protect himself from external attack. In the later ages, when the brain capacity of the primitive man developed, those hands that had been used to make weapons for the sake of survival also started drawing paintings in the cave.
Be it for religious purposes or for the sake of art, man had been using pictures for millennia. The archaeological findings in ancient Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece and Rome are good indications for this.Due to this, and of course additional reasons, painting and mankind have strong attachments.
This is an era where art and human beings have become more and more attached. Thanks to technology, the previous way of painting style has now changed and become easier for art lovers. Because of digital technologies, people have now become more and more interested in art. This is especially true for children who are experts in expressing their feelings through painting.
Sources related to child psychology are indicating that children’s paintings have received much attention on the part of teachers and educators. There is a common stand among child psychologists that the kind of colour children use or type of drawing they paint can give precise information about young artists and their internal feeling. Those children who live under unstable systems use their art as a means to express peace.
Their dire desireabout family, political stability and peace can be reflected through their art works. In the same token, those children who are living under peaceful conditions draw paintings that reflect their internal peace, attachment with family members and classmates.
Lately, this journalist had a chance to interview young artists at Ambo University, Laureate Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin Research Centre. Bontu Angasi, is a 14 years old artist in Ambo Town. In her painting, Bontu tried to draw pictures and depict her feelings about peace. Her painting portrays a hand that holds a gun to shoot a white bird, which is a sign of peace.
According to Bontu, we are found in an era where every human kind is disrupting the peace and stability of the planet. This is either in a conventional form of war or through carbon emission. The world is made to meet the interest of humankind. However, due to their inordinate selfishness and greediness,people are destroying the planet by fighting each other all the time.
The wars took place in Syria, Yemen, Libya among others good examples of this. Everyone speaks about peace but every hand is working to destroy the aspired peace. Children are becoming victims of protracted war and conflict. Women also encounter problems including rape and other forms of violence. In this regard, we should stop for a moment and think about the value of peace and the cost we incurred on ourselves because of all the war we had been through. This world is destroying its peace by its own hands. It is committing a suicide. Its people are exposed to hunger, displacements and non-stop war.
When asked where the idea to paint her drawing came from, Bontu said that the life we are leading is the source of the idea. The whole world is going through war and conflict. For this reason, as member of this planet earth, my friends and I have expressed our feelings through art.
According to Bontu, people forcibly displaced; mothers lost their beloved children because of unjust war. To this end, everyone should take action to bring sustainable peace. “We are fighting because of religion, ethnic issues and others. We are sacrificing our lives for cases that can be resolved easily. Peace is not something to be compromised. The price of peace is priceless. Leaders and politicians should promote peace and dialogue at the expense of war and conflict.”
The other artist whom this writer met at Ambo University is Aron Shimeles. Like that of Bontu, Aron has expressed his desire for peace through art. In his painting,Aron has tried to show the values of tolerance by drawing a painting that portrays hands holding each other and various religious institutions are attached to those hands.
According to Aron, religious intolerance is one reason behind conflicts in Ethiopia. Respecting the value and interest of others should be the core value of every religion. However, by violating this core value, people are fighting each other and sacrificing their lives. To this end, we should nurture the old culture of respecting and loving each other. Aron said, religious leaders should take the lead in guiding their followers towards peaceful coexistence.
The other young painter preferred to be anonymous. In his painting he has expressed his feelings about peace and stability. There is a pair of soldier’s boots which represents a vase. Within the boot there are blooming rose flowers. When asked what the boots and the roses represent, the young artist said, “Let`s say ‘No’ to war and plant peace. The flower represents a bright future where we see hope and stability. The soldier`s boots represent peace that could only be achieved by dialogue not with war.
Indeed, as it was indicated by those young artists the price of peace is priceless. However, by neglecting this fact man is paying unnecessary prices. Innocent people are dying because of man`s rigidness and failure to respect the values of others. In this regard, working for common good is the only direction Ethiopia has to stick to. The future generation needs a stable environment which is free from conflict. Working for peace through dialogue is the only way which can bring the peace that we, Ethiopians, aspire to have.
The Ethiopian Herald June 23/2022
