Khosh Jam along with some other artists and illustrators and some other Kanoon members stepped into a number of schools and children and adolescents centers and volunteered to make paintings on the walls for kids to experience happiness and joy more and more every day. Here is the interview.
Mohammad Hossein Dizaji
How did the idea of painting a school building come to you? What actually happened that made you think about it?
My thesis project for BA in the Faculty of Fine Arts was “Collaborative Painting with Children and Adolescents”. Based on that and after observing the adolescents’ interest and children’s enthusiasm at Rostam Abad Library in Rudbar, I decided to make the members’ wish come true.
With the help and cooperation of three illustrator friends of mine, Sahar Haghgoo, Shirin Sheikhi and Laleh Ziaie, and with the presence of Rostam Aabad Library members we started wall paintings at three schools.
How was the first step of the project taken? How come you used Kanoon members for this purpose?
On the first step, I consulted my illustrator friends. I used a charity to cover the cost of the paint and tools I needed to make it happen. Kanoon members’ presence was the very first reason for the idea to get formed. In fact, some Kanoon adolescents’ wish caused me to follow the idea in a serious way to have it implemented.
These members participated in all five projects performed in Gilan (five schools).
How many Kanoon members did you invite? Were those adolescents familiar with the concept of painting?
In the first performance of mural painting, six Kanoon members participated. Some kids had never experienced paint and brush until then. They were trained during the project and played an important role.
In next projects, we asked for help from some members of Kanoon mobile libraries, mostly primary students. Of course, our main goal was to collaborate with and have the company of artists.
How much Kanoon members were depending on their own in painting? Were they only painting pre-designed shapes or did they have any idea of or designing their own paintings?
Interesting question. We asked kids’ ideas before designing and planning. We aimed to discover their interests and needs. We asked them what they liked to be painted on the school wall. During the painting, we let them create their own painting on the walls we let them have. They considered themselves as the one who has a part and as a creator. This was enjoyable for us and for them.
How large was the school wall? Which parts did you paint, how long did it take?
Naturally, we had limited amount of time with large schools. So, we planned for the most important parts of the schools. We spent one day for each school.
How the project affected you and your group? What was your feelings after completing the project?
Difficult to describe. Imagine you are an adolescent and draw paintings next to your popular illustrator, have his company, for long hours you have the chance to talk about colors and painting to him; it is a unique unrepeatable feeling.
Those adolescents reached school no matter of any hardship like long distance or being on time since they were doing it with love.
We have heard that it was not only one project. After the first school, you have done a number of works in this field. How many schools and where?
That’s right. First, we started working at three schools; then we started forming a group and developed our project. We had certain principles for ourselves. We divided the work. So far, we painted 13 schools and centers for children. Those schools and centers were selected according to their needs: schools at villages, centers for supporting children and children of labor. What we are doing is voluntary and all the expense is covered by charity.
The charity is spent only on purchasing paint, and the necessary tools. Other expense like transportation, food and accommodation is on the performers or participants.
We have done wall painting at Gilan Province close to Rostam Abad; Halimeh Jan, Shahr Bijar, Oskolak, Reshteh Rood villages. In Yazd and Tehran at three schools, in suburb and two centers for Children Welfare Support; one center for supporting children of labor.
At which address children, coaches and those interested can follow your activities?
We have a page in Instagram. They can follow us at:@naghashi_divari_roosta
Let’s wrap up the conversation with a memory.
I have a memory from wall painting in Yazd Province that is exciting. The head of a computer company, who was accompanying us in one of the projects at a deprived school in Yazd, sponsored the children in the group and purchased the train ticket. He emphasized that we must go to the train station sooner. I have no idea why three colleagues and me could not arrive at the train station on time. To our surprise we missed the train.
In the middle of the way, we got off the care and paid a bike to take us out of the traffic but no use!
I was completely confused and could not think. One of my friends said, “We can rent a car and reach the train in the next train station. We asked the information desk at the train station and discovered that the train speed is very high and that we cannot reach the station. We went back home, ignited my car and travelled the distance between Tehran and Yazd singing, laughing and joined the group. Of course, it was not that bad since for moving around in the city we had a car.
Result: Never trust Tehran’s traffic.