It was at the Carrefour des Arts that a crowd of arts enthusiasts, proud parents, supportive teachers, and young artists gathered for an arts exhibition, under the theme “Mon kontan ou”. The exhibition comprised artworks from pupils in the second year of Primary Education. They had written poems and produced accompanying artworks for a publication entitled: “I love Seychelles: Through the Eyes of Early Childhood Children – A Collection of Poems”. To further promote the emerging talent and publicised the creative potential of our Early Seychellois Artists, the Institute of Early Childhood Development went beyond book review to arts appreciation, and in collaboration with the Department of Culture and the National Arts Council, mounted an arts exhibition with a difference – to add value to the innovative ideas and the burgeoning skills of the youngest artists in Seychelles.
Thirty of the most striking artworks judiciously selected and vetted by two well-known artists, Mr Golbert Nourrice and Mr Robert Alexis were on display. These artworks, reproduced, enlarged and framed, were carefully displayed to bring out the early artistic flair of the young children.
The exhibition was inaugurated through words of appreciation, encouragement and advocacy for the Early Artists. In his opening address, the Minister reminded us of the many things that we can appreciate in our country through the innocent but keen eyes of the children. He went on to quote from a poem read by one of the Early Artist, El Alvis from Beau Vallon Primary School, entitled “Ou ris an lanatir” that explores the greenery of the trees, the sweetness of the fruits and the freshness of the breeze as a source of inspiration for her tranquil mind. The Principal Secretary for Culture, Ms Benjamine Rose echoed the Minister’s view and also emphasised the importance of allowing the children to develop themselves artistically, whilst the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Early Childhood Development, Mrs Shirley Choppy expressed how Seychelles is a real jewel as viewed from the children’s perspective, and further added that the artworks was a true expression of patriotism.
The symbolic ribbon was cut by the Honourable Alain St. Ange, Minister for Tourism and Culture, to open the exhibition to the public. Genuine interests were shown as the art enthusiasts toured the exhibition, talked to the children who stood by their artworks and discussed the possibility of purchase. Many arts enthusiasts expressed their interests in gracing their offices or front rooms with one of those art pieces and, surprisingly enough, thirty orders were summarily placed.
