Me – an artist

Ervin Hysa: When I came to England from Kosovo, I was so interested in drama at school that they asked me if I would like to do more of that kind of stuff. And I said, well why not! Since then, drama is in my dreams - that is what I want to do in my future.

Pinar Katranci: I come from Istolin (Bilsak) in Turkey. Although I don’t think about it often, I have had my first encounter with art and can tell you why I am so attracted to it. It is because art takes me from this world and to a new one. In my second play at school, I played the part of a hit-man. You can probably see that no way am I related to one. But thanks to art, that can capture even such a character, I can try to understand a hit-man. This helps me know myself a lot.

Sarah Toal: Hi, I’m Sarah from Northern Ireland. Art has been a big part of my life since the age of four when my grandmother took me to the theatre to see South Pacific. When I saw the brightly coloured costumes and the amazing dances I fell in love. This is when I began my Irish dancing classes and drama which have been a big part of my life ever since, because I love performing. When I perform I feel happy and peaceful, and I like my audiences to experience this also.

lestyn Thomas: I started doing arts in primary school. I saw an audience enjoying themselves. I wanted to do that. Make an audience laugh. Bring some joy into the world. Also, it is incredible fun.

Jade Sympare: Children are born sinless until they enter the corrupting, gringing world full of disruption and grief. I want to share my gifts. And I want to be seen and I want to be heard.

Alison McCabe: I’m from Scotland and I first met the arts when I had to read a story in front of an audience at school. I was really scared, until I looked out over the audience and it gave me courage. I’ve been reading stories ever since.

Shein Shanin Dato Shahril: Hello, I am Shein from Malaysia and I first came into contact with art when I was about two years old. You see my Mum is an artist and we had this stage in the back of our house. I was sitting on a drum with a shawl wrapped around me and the music started to play and I could see my Mum dancing and I was so overwhelmed that I just had to stand up and start dancing and well - I haven’t stopped.

Amir Reza Kouhestani: I am Amir and I am the old man in this debate. I am from Iran and I want to read my story. When I was ten or eleven years old I wanted to be a discoverer of things and places, but then I realised that all things had been discovered before and that nothing remained for me to discover.
And I started to read books, because I wanted to be a famous man. But not children’s books or books for young people. When I was fourteen, the first book that I read was ‘War and Peace’ by Leo Tolstoy and the second one was ‘Crime and Punishment’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky. As you guess, I didn’t understand anything.
I forced myself to write. I started to write smart articles in local newspapers, but nobody read my articles. So I went on and learnt music and painting, but after a couple of weeks, my teacher told me ‘Amir!’ - not to bother to come back. I took courses in cinema directing, but I didn’t succeed, and at the end of all my efforts was left with two unfinished films.
After that I joined a theatre group, but as you can guess, after a year of acting lessons, I left, because I didn’t like it.
Finally, I decided to write a play and told myself that if I didn’t succeed this time, I would throw it all away, and guess what? - my play won second best play in Iran in 2000, and so - here I am.

Jasmin Densu: Hi, my name is Jasmin and I’m from Ghana. What inspired me to get involved with theatre as a young adult? When I was at home with my grandmother in Ghana, me and my cousin always used to play around as doctors and nurses, or boss and secretary - obviously I was the boss! We used to finish up with a song! My grandmother would record us and send the tape to my mother in England telling her to listen to this, and she would say, ‘Hey, I’m proud of you my daughter’, and all that...
And when we did that, I used to say to myself - ‘Jasmin, maybe you want to become a doctor, or maybe a nurse’ - but as I grew up I began to notice that what I was really doing was being different people and interpreting different characters and situations - and then I realised that what I really wanted to become was an actress.

My name is Nehlema Barrie and I am from Sierra Leone. Discontentment, hatred and power thirst are some of the themes that lead to the situations in which we find ourselves in the world today. You can help us change the world by learning to love yourselves and be content before you bring us into the world.
Because we would like to be better people in future.

Anand Kulkami: My name is Anand and I’m from India. I really feel that every child has a right to art. Adults - you do whatever you want - kill, fight, do whatever - but please don’t involve us in that. Every child has something creative in him. Don’t kill the artist in us. We want to express ourselves. Give us a chance. Give us freedom.
Don’t dictate to us. Just guide us. We want to take our own decisions. Every child must be heard patiently. I would like my art to mirror the situation of children so that each child knows his rights and his responsibilities too.
I would like to be able to say that when we grow up, we are not going to be like you.

Rethabile Leanya: I come from Lesotho. Children have a right to life and to grow up under the guidance of both parents. Don’t put children under the life sentences of growing up as orphans thanks to wars influenced by your selfishness and your greed. I am trying to interact with young people from all over the world, to help build relationships, and to avoid conflicts.

Cesar Augustin Silveira: I come from Argentina. I live in a poor neighbourhood. Every day I see young people wasting their time and lives with drugs or alcohol. One day, I found in a Murga - a joyful dance - that art is an excuse to reach people and begin a new friendship. Art is also a chance to raise the quality of life of young people by raising their self esteem, because the biggest challenge is before and after the show - what happens in daily life.
With a group of friends, the excuse of art makes every day a better day.

Dwayne Faissal : I am lucky because I have a Mum who would do anything for me and my brothers. I owe my creativity to my Mum. I wish more people could be like her. Just ask yourself, what is the best way to express yourself? If the answer is some sort of art, and not violence and aggression, then you deserve to be here.

I am Mohammad Beah, an ex-child combatant from Sierra Leone. I have been involved in several wars in my country. I have already participated in several. Therefore, I know the feeling, the stress, the risk and disappointments involved. Therefore, I would like in my life to see children protected, and I think we need governments that are responsible and transparent to stop the ways of war. I want to ask them to protect children from armed conflicts.

Elaine Adorno: To save the planet I made theatre with a company of young people aged seven to fourteen. Through theatre, all of us can send a message of change and hope, especially because the theatre work I do in Brazil is about issues directly related to me. I wish to touch people’s hearts by making them realise that we can change things. For me, art is the best weapon to fight for peace.

www.liftfest.orgAll photographs by Michael Rebehn.
Copyright © Michael Rebehn 2003.