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Children express feelings through drawing exhibition

Posted in: News Varieties
Written By: Eman al-Jarady
Article Date: Apr 22, 2008 - 8:05:24 AM
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Pieces of art such as these ones depicting a colorful dining area and creative cartoons allow children to take pride in their talents when displayed.
Children should spend their free time doing beneficial things for themselves before anything else, and then for their country, said Najeeba Haddad, Underwriter of the Fine Arts and Theatre Sector at the Ministry of Culture. An exhibition held at Saba School embraced this concept by displaying over 200 pictures hand-drawn by students from different schools.

“This exhibition proves that the country is still able to progress thanks to the organizer of this exhibition who does all of this as a selfless act. Our youth play a major role in developing countries, particularly in chilren’s issues,” added Haddad. She pointed out that the children who participated in the exhibition were not rich. The most important goal of the show was to put a smile on their faces. 

Haddad said that showing children’s pictures in exhibitions was something good which gives them encouragement. She said that she is happy because she realizes that there are families who prefer to give their children drawing papers and color rather than spending more money on food. She says that these families support their children in being effective members in the community.  

Children try to reflect their feelings in drawings. There is not theater or exhibition for children. Thus, children refer to TV’s characters; for example, they try to express their feelings by drawings. Some of them draw cartoons characters   

“The aim of this exhibition was to make children of north and south Yemen love one another because there should not be discrimination between the two parts of the country as it is known,” said A’ad Nu’man, the organizer of the exhibition. He said that this exhibition, entitled “Sana’a children say hi to Aden children,” will move next onto Aden. He pointed out that there was an exhibition held in Aden, titled “Aden’s children say hi to Sana’a’s children.” Thus, Sana’a’s children want to do the same thing. Nu’man explained that this exhibition illustrates the friendship between all children of Yemen. 

Nu’man said that this exhibition is the result of his own hard work; no one supported him. “I, myself, collect drawings from children and put them in my exhibitions. No one supported or funded me. I did it myself.”   

Participants say that this exhibition is their first chance to show their creativity to people, as well as gain confidence in their art. “This is the first time that I took part in such exhibition for children. This will help me to be more confident, enabling me to participate in other exhibitions. In addition, others will recognize my drawings and that will encourage me to draw beautiful pictures,” said Heba Essam of al-Batol School.  

Essam had seven drawings displayed in this exhibition. She said that she expresses her feelings via these pictures. First, she draws children’s cartoons which she learned to do from a drawing teacher who taught her how to put her innocent feelings on paper and enable others to feel that warmth. “I try to draw natural things using my imagination. For example, I draw bees and try to add or remove things in order to reach the picture I see in my own mind.”

Parents are happy thanks to this exhibition and will surely allow their children to have the chance to take part in other exhibitions in the future. “I used to suggest to school officials exhibitions such as this in order to give our children the opportunity to show their drawings to others and to feel that they have created something great,” said Kherya Yahya, a mother of four creative children. She shared her concern that oftentimes the schools only care about sciences and not about their creative talents like the ability to draw. 

“When a child sees his or her drawings in an exhibition, it encourages them to keep on drawing and to improve their ability. When their pictures are kept in their homes, that might frustrate them,” added Yahya. She said that all of her children draw and have wonderful pictures, but they did not join this exhibition because they did not hear about it. She hopes that future exhibitions will be held for her children to participate in.