Painting by 5 month old creates buzz at art exhibition

A painting by a five-month-old boy was one of the attractions at the Children Art Exhibition that held in Kano at the weekend.  The painting by Joshua Agha held many art lovers spell-bound as it  was one of the creative works by 23 children that were trained for a month by AFROCENTRIX Art Gallery in […]

A painting by a five-month-old boy was one of the attractions at the Children Art Exhibition that held in Kano at the weekend. 
The painting by Joshua Agha held many art lovers spell-bound as it  was one of the creative works by 23 children that were trained for a month by AFROCENTRIX Art Gallery in its month-long Creative Workshop for Kids. The workshop focused on painting, picture colouring, paper craft and story -telling.
Agha’s painting was one of the works of the children at the exhibition that captured attention of parents and others who were present. Other creative works and art drawings by children between the ages of three, five, six, eight and 14 were also on display at the art event.
Mr. Tony Agha, father of young Joshua, who is  also the Art Director, Afrocentrix, said, “It was dream come true for me. Long ago, I decided that one of the things I was going to do is for a child to discover his or herself early in life. We always think children don’t know anything but that is not true because they can hear us. That was why I decided to feature my five-month-old child in this art exhibition.  I decided he would do painting even if it meant capturing his palm on a piece of paper. This is a way of giving him the opportunity to express himself in terms of art even before he is of school age. I don’t think it is too early to start at all.”
Many of the parents were so excited at the children’s display of talents in art works and painting. Malam Aminu Abubakar, whose child, Mahmud, participated in the exhibition, told our correspondent that he was amazed by the talents exhibited by the children.
“It is amazing. This is the first time a children art exhibition is taking place in Kano. It really needs to be encouraged because it will be so benefitting to the children,” he said.
Agha noted that this was the first time a children art exhibition would be held in Kano. He said his organization came up with the idea because they realized children have many potential that are yet to be tapped.
“There is a passion to get the children investigated and tap the potentials that are deposited in them, bring it to the fore and refine it so that they can use it to better their world.”
 The art director said training them and discovering their artistic gift and talents is very important noting that they don’t have to be adults before they could start enjoying their God given talents.
“Some of them could create pictures, art works and even colours. They know what they want.  If you ask them to use blue they say no I want orange and green colours. By the time they put them together you will be amazed by the result. Their talents are amazing. Considering their ages you wonder whether they could put one and two together but when you give them the colours and brush in an enabling environment with the right inspirations and encouragement they could perform wonders. Their potentials are great and limitless.”
 Explaining the challenges he faced while working with the children, Mr. Agha said, “Sometimes you will need to cajole them. Sometime they are crying and would want to be with their mum. But maybe because of the vision God has planted in me and the gift to work with children I did not give up on them. I think I have learnt a lot working with the children”