By Iminza Keboge
Published January 26, 2022
His name is Damesh Nyambati Omari and he is determined to become the best artist in Kenya, if not the world.
“Do you promote artists or market their work?” he poses.
“I am an up and coming artist,” he says, without waiting for our response.”I am a visual artist.I also have other talents, such as music and football. Right now I am focusing on visual arts…I do commissioned paintings and bead work.”
Oh, really!
“Yes, This is some of my work…don’t you like it? I know I have potential to be even better!”
All right …
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“But I am not able to take my talent to the next level.”
Why not? we ask.
“This is due to lack of resources such as paint and brushes,” says the Nkubu (Meru, eastern Kenya)-based artist who signs his work as DâmÈsh HàkëÈm Ømårï.
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Tell us more about your artistic journey so far, we ask the 25-year-old.
“I have been drawing since I was a kid. But I learned the technical skills in high school. I haven’t been to college yet. I completed high school in 2014. I began doing art as a full time job in 2020. A man from Meru named Wallace supports me with canvas and paint. But it’s not the kind of paint that can take me to the next level. He also taught me bead work. My ups and downs are that it’s not easy to get exposure and improve my work. People in Meru don’t appreciate art that much and it’s hard to get a painting jobs. I mostly do bead work and it doesn’t pay as much. I only get enough to get by. My goal is simple; I want to be the best artist in Kenya if not the world. I want to take my talent to the next level and to sustain myself fully through art.”
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What’s Wallace’s surname? Is he a teacher? Why does he support you?
“He’s just somebody who is passionate about art. He supports because he thinks I have potential. But right now I am on my own for most of the things because his business crumbled and he moved to Nairobi for a while.I don’t know his surname,” Omari says.
Oh.
“I am currently working as a full time artist. I do paintings and bead work. I always had a passion for art since I was a kid. I was first in my class in primary school with 356 marks. I studied at St James Feeding Programme and Leaning Project in Mathare slums in Nairobi in primary school. I graduated to Jamhuri High School in 2011 where I learned the technical skills in art and design. I moved to Meru in 2015 after I graduated from high school. I am from a poor background so it’s not easy to get exposure and improve my work. I would like to take my talent to the next level. I need support. I am a hardworking guy and I think I can be great with the right kind of mentorship. I heard your organisation supports artists. I would like to be assisted to take my talent to the next level.”
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Omari says he may currently lack the necessary resources to reach his full creative potential but that he is nevertheless working towards realising his dream.
“I am a hardworking guy who doesn’t quit easily. People tell me I am the best artist from where I come from which is Nkubu in Meru. But I am not content with being great in Meru. I hope to reach the levels of Picasso and Van Gogh; I know I can be great with the right kind of mentorship and support. If you can help me please do. I promise you won’t regret your support of me,” he says as we wind up the interview.
Yes, won’t you support this passionate and hard working young artist!
