Every artist has a unique journey, a story that weaves through their experiences, influences, and the transformative power of conversation.
Aspiring artist Christiano Simon
For aspiring artist Christiano Simon, the path to creativity was not just about mastering techniques and honing skills, but it was about a profound conversation that ignited a flame of inspiration.
FROM CUTHBERT’S MISSION TO OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AT CSEC
Hailing from St. Cuthbert’s Mission – an Amerindian village on the Mahaica River, this 17-year-old attended the Cummings Lodge Secondary School.
In fact, he wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination last year and was awarded for his outstanding performance in Visual arts.
He also earned a spot on the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) merit list.
THE CONVERSATION
A dialogue between Simon and his teachers sowed the seeds of motivation. This propelled him toward the esteemed Burrowes School of Arts, where his artistic aspirations began flourishing.
My inspiration came from the conversation I had in school with both of my teachers. The words that came from that conversation motivated me to attend the Burrowes School of Arts. It was a conversation that inspired me.
When asked about the driving force behind his creations, this 17-year-old reveals a multifaceted wellspring of inspiration.
I am motivated by other works of artists, locally and internationally, and I am also motivated by feedback given to me on my social media platform. When I post my work and, the support given me, gives me the drives to continue art as I wish to pursue it. Hopefully, I will become a professional artist in the future.
Asked about the projects he is most proud of, Christiano highlights his pride in the School Based Assessment (SBA) that he had to create for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination.
The project I am most proud of because I have many are my CSEC SBA pieces. Those are the first large-scale pieces I did, and I was more of a beginner at that time. I was scared to paint because it was something new to me at a large scale.
As Christiano envisions his future, he sees himself unwaveringly committed to the pursuit of art. His aspirations reach the pinnacle, aiming to study art at the University of Guyana.
Beyond personal success, he harbours a deep desire to become a role model for the younger generation.
In a society where dreams can sometimes take a backseat, Christiano aims to be a guiding light for the youth.
I see myself doing what I love, which is continuing to pursue arts. I believe the young generation nowadays don’t focus on their dreams and aspirations so I would like to be a role model for them to go after their dreams.
To the emerging artists, Christiano extends a heartfelt piece of advice – a call to nurture the gift that resides within them.
I wish to encourage them to focus their dreams and aspirations because it is a gift the artists have, and we should further develop it for the best.
