By Sainabou Sambou
Abdourahman Bah is a creative artist who specialises in drawing, painting, handmade crafts, string art and recycling waste materials into artistic treasures.
In this exclusive interview, the young artist narrated his journey in the creative arts realm. He began by revealing that his love for arts started since he was in the primary school. “In 2016 I met a friend who was doing painting at the Monkey Park and got inspired by his work. In 2018 I joined him and worked with him for two years”. He said during the Covid-19 pandemic he worked by himself at home doing string art business.
Explaining how the string art venture came about, Mr Bah stated that while at home during the pandemic he was browsing the internet and saw the works of certain artists and got inspired by their beautiful work. “Then I made the Gambian flag and posted it online. A lot of people gave positive feedback, and that motivated me a lot”.
Highlighting the equipment he uses for recycling waste materials, Mr. Bah said he uses empty potato sacks, cardboards and empty tin milk pot to transform them into African round huts, and uses plastics to transform them into brooms.
Citing the challenges, the string artist said he does not have the right equipment to do his work, adding that some of the equipment is not available at the market; that he improvises a lot of the time. “The most painful of all is the religious challenge; as Muslims, we are told that doing portrait is ‘haram’. So sometimes if I want to do portrait and think of what is said to us I give up” he lamented. The other challenge, he said is finance.
Mr. Bah explained that he sells his products online. He said promoting his work online has given him the opportunity to attend international festivals and fora. “I was lucky to be part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
He called on Gambians to partner, support and recognise the creative artists and accord them the same support they render to musicians.