Interview with Leslie Lumeh, interview by email February 2015:
1. Tell us more about your background and how/when you started creative work?
I am self-taught artist living and working in Monrovia, Liberia. I started drawing at the early age of 7. I studied Architectural Drafting form the Booker Washington Institute in Kakata, Liberia and graduated with a Diploma in 1987. I started living and working as a professional artist/painter since 1993.
2. Describe your studio practice.
I do not paint throughout the/a year, I take a lot of time considering what to paint or what theme to come up with for my next art exhibition, and once those questions are answered in my head, I will then start to paint, mostly at night and in complete silence. When I am very much satisfied with a piece I may be working on, I can play music of either one of my most favorite musicians: Jimmy Cliff and Oumou Sangare. At this stage I can also invite friends - including some of the children within my community - to discuss/critique the piece on the easel.
3. Tell us a bit about your community and country. What are some of your favorite memories?/Influences?/How has this played into your character today?
I am from Liberia, West Africa. My childhood life was spent in the village and this has help me a lot in my artistic career because drawing or painting subjects from rural settings can be very easy for me because I have got a huge memory/bank of rural scenes in this my little head here:) City scenes? Well, I live in a city now and with my knowledge as a drafting student, coupled with the availability of digital cameras everywhere nowadays, I can draw and paint any city scene from aerial to normal and to worm’s eye views.
4. How is your art related to the community and its challenges? How did the outbreak impact your work?
My art work has always been a reflection of my community to very large extent, this is even how I have come to be identify by my country - Liberia - as a Liberian artist. The EVD outbreak has changed my work - at least for the time/duration of the outbreak. Today I am doing Ebola related messages for organization like UNICEF. I am no longer doing creative paintings as before, most of my works are now illustrations based with specific messaging incorporated with a bit of graphic design.
5. What, in your opinion is needed now for your community?
Awareness! Liberia needs lot of information on how to avoid contracting the EVD. There also is a need to improve our health sector.
6. What are your future plans? Hopes for your country?
As a visual artist, my future plans for this country is to open an art institute in Liberia. To date, Liberia has never had a formal school of art till 2010 when I opened the first visual arts academy in Monrovia (the Liberia Visual Arts Academy [LIVARTS]).
7. If there is one thing you would like the international community to know about ebola and/or your country, what would it be?
I would like the international community to seriously work towards eradicating the Ebola virus from the face of the earth.
8. Anything else you would like to share?
As an artist, my hope for Liberia has always been and will continue to be for art and artists to be duly recognized in this country.
1. Tell us more about your background and how/when you started creative work?
I am self-taught artist living and working in Monrovia, Liberia. I started drawing at the early age of 7. I studied Architectural Drafting form the Booker Washington Institute in Kakata, Liberia and graduated with a Diploma in 1987. I started living and working as a professional artist/painter since 1993.
2. Describe your studio practice.
I do not paint throughout the/a year, I take a lot of time considering what to paint or what theme to come up with for my next art exhibition, and once those questions are answered in my head, I will then start to paint, mostly at night and in complete silence. When I am very much satisfied with a piece I may be working on, I can play music of either one of my most favorite musicians: Jimmy Cliff and Oumou Sangare. At this stage I can also invite friends - including some of the children within my community - to discuss/critique the piece on the easel.
3. Tell us a bit about your community and country. What are some of your favorite memories?/Influences?/How has this played into your character today?
I am from Liberia, West Africa. My childhood life was spent in the village and this has help me a lot in my artistic career because drawing or painting subjects from rural settings can be very easy for me because I have got a huge memory/bank of rural scenes in this my little head here:) City scenes? Well, I live in a city now and with my knowledge as a drafting student, coupled with the availability of digital cameras everywhere nowadays, I can draw and paint any city scene from aerial to normal and to worm’s eye views.
4. How is your art related to the community and its challenges? How did the outbreak impact your work?
My art work has always been a reflection of my community to very large extent, this is even how I have come to be identify by my country - Liberia - as a Liberian artist. The EVD outbreak has changed my work - at least for the time/duration of the outbreak. Today I am doing Ebola related messages for organization like UNICEF. I am no longer doing creative paintings as before, most of my works are now illustrations based with specific messaging incorporated with a bit of graphic design.
5. What, in your opinion is needed now for your community?
Awareness! Liberia needs lot of information on how to avoid contracting the EVD. There also is a need to improve our health sector.
6. What are your future plans? Hopes for your country?
As a visual artist, my future plans for this country is to open an art institute in Liberia. To date, Liberia has never had a formal school of art till 2010 when I opened the first visual arts academy in Monrovia (the Liberia Visual Arts Academy [LIVARTS]).
7. If there is one thing you would like the international community to know about ebola and/or your country, what would it be?
I would like the international community to seriously work towards eradicating the Ebola virus from the face of the earth.
8. Anything else you would like to share?
As an artist, my hope for Liberia has always been and will continue to be for art and artists to be duly recognized in this country.
***Please contact Leslie Lumeh at: [email protected] for more information and Art Prices***