For the love of Art

When somebody’s love for something is deeply rooted in childhood, it is bound to go a long way. Especially if it is for the love of it, then it must take a special kind of interest to pursue it, not as a profession, but more as a hobby.

Arien Jamir has drawn on almost every notebook he can remember. For that matter, he even recalls getting his ears pulled for doing so. There is no doubt his interest for drawing started quite early, while he was as young as a student of class 3. “My math notebooks which were blank, had half numbers and half drawings”, he confesses. The attribute, which he says, comes from reading a lot of comics as he was growing up.

Humorously, he also adds, “notebooks were plain and boring then, even the text books, so sketching was sort of decorative and it became a habit. DC comics helped me in terms of writing too.” It is interesting to note that Arien Jamir is an avid writer as well and his writing ranges from poetry to essays and short stories. His works have been published in numerous magazines and newspapers.

His artistic affiliation is obvious and yet, he is somebody who chose to pursue something else on the academic front. He is a graduate of Loyola College, New Delhi, where he passed with a B.A degree in History. Interestingly, he went on to choose Law and is currently pursuing his LLB final year from Delhi University.

Without hesitation, he says he was interested in pursuing a course on creative arts but further expresses that unfortunately that did not happen. However, “learning isn’t impossible because there are so many resources which are easily available”, he affirms. Talking more about his art, he enlightens, “I can only use pencil (charcoal or lead) and pen”. “I tried some paintings, which were fun”, he goes on but still chooses to say, “I doubt I am an artist at all”.

The only difference, however is that he is a self-taught artist. His works have fetched him some income too, but he has given away more. More recently, his works were exhibited at the Afflatus organized by Touch India Trust during a fund raising exhibition in Delhi last year.

For him, “it’s more like a hobby, but hobbies have its effect on works we do, so it is not any lesser than a profession. It is in a way more durable than a profession too.”

Does he remember his first work? To this, he is prompt to reply, “the first creative sketch I can remember is sketching my door. I think that was the year Rio first got elected…I remember because I drew him on the door.”

Talk about his dream job and he is quick to say, “I’d settle for the best job I can get but with life, the dreams are unrestricted and always adding up. The word “job” nullifies the word “best” I think. But I would enjoy a job which has room for creativity. But to put it bluntly I want to be an entrepreneur.”

Art, for him is an expression of ideas and thoughts and to alter it and not necessarily to fill any space. “It does depend on what you are sketching though. The sense of fulfillment comes when the sketch good or different. Otherwise it can be disappointing too”, he explains.

On the other side of art, the talented youth wrote his first poem while he was in class 7, drawing lines from a dream. And if there is some credit he would like to give, then it’s got to be his dad even as he expresses, “My dad is pretty good at it, he is better than me. I learnt all school drawing works from him like pineapple, jack fruit, basket of fruits etc.”

His concerns for the society span over a series of issues confronting us today. Perhaps it is the medium of art, he can best use to address them, just like his work of art carries a message.

Headhunter Breakdown: The dao (machete) is being held like a gun, symbolizing the gun culture and reflects the loss of our culture and simple traditions. We no longer have our honour and we should not take too much pride of the past because of what we have become. 

Lipok Aier

His works show traces of inspiration drawn from the rich cultural heritage that is consciously or unconsciously embedded in the life of a Naga. Lipok Aier comes from a younger generation that compels competition even as he remembers how he first participated in an Art competition as a small school boy of Class-IV.

Unmindful of the fact that he did not win in the competition, this was perhaps an exercise that shaped him to face greater challenges in the days to come. His fascination for Art goes back to his early childish days, having blessed with a background of family who were Artists in their own special ways. Naturally, he feels that he grew up in such an influential environment that has also been instrumental in instilling the love of Art in him.

At 22, one can say he has achieved something because not every Artist’s work is good enough to share a space in the State Museum. For the lad from Waromung Village under Mokokchung district, this feat comes as a result of attending a one week Seminar held under the banner “Output”. Two of his works, which he created during this period are part of the prestigious house of Art in the state capital.

Talking about these, he explains that one of his works is a sketch called “Preserving Identity” while the other is a Painting that talks about love, peace, friendship and hate simultaneously. The former is a piece of work that involves several elements of the Naga tradition even as he enlightens on the various symbols found in the sketch such as the Tree, that represents the nature of Nagaland, the face of a Girl representing Beauty, a Shield that encapsulates tribal dancing and such other symbols like the Bull, Hornbill Feather, etc, all in a piece of work.

Art, according to him is “a way of expressing myself, which I cannot express through words”. Indeed, a picture, they say is worth more than a thousand words. He also likes Tattoing, while strongly emphasizing that it is also part of Art. This, he hays has not been favourable in our present society, but insists that tattoing has been there since our forefathers’ time….”it’s in the culture”, he strictly maintains.

The other side of him loves music, not simply but keenly. He is part of a Band, which, he formed along with a friend some years ago. Their music falls in the category of a genre called “Trance-Core Metal”. Simply called “Fear me Dear”, the Band has performed several gigs in the past in Kohima with him as the Bassist.

But the Artist in him seems to have emerged stronger, even as he confesses that although music and sketching/painting are all some kind of art, his passion lies greater in the latter. Currently a Diploma Student of Animation in the Arena Animation Koromongla at Bangalore, he is also fascinated by the modern tools of Art.

Mention may be made here that he was also trained at Aries Studio, Dimapur under British Filmmaker and Animator, Tara Douglas, who made the first Naga Animation Movie called “Man, Tiger, Spirit” launched during last Glocal Film Festival at Kohima.

He seems happy with the several platforms for Art being given by the State Government through Art and Culture while indicating these as immense opportunities to exhibit one’s artistic skills. To which end, he also feels that the youths of today should indulge more often in their talents in positive ways.

The mantra for him seems to lie in “Practice and Work Hard”, which, he feels should be everybody’s guide to success. When asked how he wishes to contribute to the society through his Art, he simply states his desire to become a Better Artist, because, for him, when one becomes a better artist, people know them, and when they do, the society at large is also benefitted.

He is a lad of few words but charmingly engrosses himself in the world of Art, which is evident even in the way his eyes light up when he starts talking about the subject. His work, sure does show sign of promise for greater things to come.