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Making strides in visual arts

Evelyn Chisambiro is one of the few female visual artists in the country. Not a famous name yet, but the few years she has been practising, the new comer has surely make her mark. In this interview with our arts editor EDITH GONDWE, Chisambiro talks about her genesis and how her journey in the world of visual arts has been like.

Evelyn Chisambiro Visual artist

Q

: First may you introduce yourself.

A

: I am Evelyn Chisambiro, a visual artist based in Lilongwe.

Q

: When did you discover that you had a gift in art and how did you start practising?

A

: My first encounter with art was in primary school at the age of nine. People talk about destiny helpers, well, I met mine at Blantyre Baptist Primary School. Her name was Bernadette and she had a brother at Chichiri Secondary School. Bernadette’s brother was good at sketching and was teaching her how to draw. Up until that time, I had never had any exposure to art, I would look forward to Berna bringing to school her brother’s drawings and later started trying them out myself. I would go on to continue drawing throughout my primary and secondary school but stopped once I left school.

I am not really sure when exactly I completely stopped, but after I had left secondary school, I searched for a mentor and found an artist who was conducting classes at the museum. I was so excited to hear from him of how the industry worked in Malawi, to my surprise he told me there was no future for it in Malawi.  I was so disappointed, I went on to study accounting and I think I got caught up in studies and just life as a young adult and stopped drawing. But it was always at the back of my mind and I was also scared to go back to it because it had been so long and I didn’t think I still had it in me.

In 2015, I remember feeling like something was missing and every time I would pass by Ziboliboli, I would get the urge to ask artists where they get their art supplies. So, one day I gathered enough courage and asked and that was it. I jumped on a minibus to the market, got art supplies and that marked the beginning of my painting journey. But then I would get stuck in feeling like I wasn’t really progressing much on the journey at the end of that year and stopped again. In 2017, I would pick it up again feeling more confident this time, started experimenting with shades and techniques and that’s what it’s taken. I have been teaching and challenging myself with every painting I’ve done ever since.

Q: Visual art is male dominated. How do you fit in a sector that is generally taken as a man’s field?

A

: You are right about that. I only know three other female visual artists in Malawi. But I really appreciate how accommodating other artists have been in the field. When I was taking part in my first exhibition last year in July, I was nervous. I didn’t know how it would pun out. But the other artists were so welcoming, helped me in arranging my paintings and deciding prices. I was so overwhelmed with their kindness. They even gave me lots of advice and encouragement. This goes to show that there is room for all artists in the field. All one needs to do is be their unique self and bring out their own style in what they do. In addition, I actually think being a female artist is also an advantage given that you have a softer side that comes with being a woman. Those emotions are important in relating to a subject. Already, colours are full of emotion and art is processing all those hues and different shades into telling a story on a canvas others can relate to. I would encourage both girls and boys to pursue anything they feel driven by and to chase their dreams despite what anyone may think or say.

Q

: What inspires your creations?

A

: I am inspired by a lot of things. To start with, some subjects just catch my eye. I think it’s to be reading a story or an emotion through the subject. Another thing is just my own ideas of the sort of world I want to see and how I am relating to current affairs.

Q

: How do you market your creations?

A

: I have only just started selling my paintings mainly through exhibitions. But, I would like to get some of my pieces in galleries and since we are also in a digital world engage in some online marketing.

Q

: I hear you have made some special painting…tell me about this one and what it represents?

A

: Yes, my most recent painting is on Covid-19. I started working on this piece when the pandemic had just started. There was a lot of fear and hopelessness at the time and I was thinking about what it must be like to be a doctor or a nurse working in such a field where you have a duty to fulfil but also your own life to protect. It’s both service and sacrifice. They are the angels God is using in this season and are holding the delicate world in their hands. As bad as it may seem at this particular time, there is hope, because no matter how dark or gloomy it may get times are subject to change and no matter how bad seasons may seem we should never completely lose hope. This is why particularly there is a glimpse of sunlight breaking from the clouds, that’s the hope. n

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