Aminata Bockarie, a female painter, has on Monday March 8, 2021 displayed her artworks for public viewing at the auditorium of the Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts.
Bockarie aims to motivate and inspire women and girls in the Sierra Leone through her work.
She pleaded to the Government of Sierra Leone to empower women and girls in Arts, saying “whatever men can do, I believe women could do also.
She also does carving, edits movies and directs photography. She said, “When you challenge yourself and break the limit, you can do anything. There is no job that was specified for men.”
Bockarie explained that she started painting when she was a kid, adding that, her father, now deceased, realized that she was gifted in paintings.
She explained that painting is the means through which she describes her feelings. “I love painting, and whenever I work I am so happy. It gives me joy and courage.”
Bockarie promises to organize art programs to take painting as an art to schools, and create a platform where children would have an open discussion about painting.
She added that when she was a child she made lots of mistakes as he practiced, but her mistakes never dissuaded her from striving for excellence.
“I failed so many times in painting, but I never allowed my failures to overcome me. I used my failures as the power house to where I am today.”
She said that talents with practice and perseverance count in any work of life.
Bockarie said that Art contributes to the development of a nation’s economy, showcases its cultural heritage to the world and attracts Tourists.
She advised parents to encourage their kids to develop the talent which they have in arts. She stated that her elder sister was always ready to see that her dream of becoming a painter materializes.
“Art usually attracts Tourists. It creates employment for people who are involved in it. So I encourage the government to support arts in Sierra Leone by supporting the artists with art materials and open more institutions where Sierra Leoneans could study arts. By so doing the rate of unemployment would decrease,” she concluded.
By Ibrahim S.Bangura
12/03/2021. ISSUE NO: 8019